OC beach cities seek sand before possible super El Niño

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — San Clemente and Newport Beach are moving to shore up beaches after Hurricane Marie swells accelerated erosion and ahead of what experts say could be a super El Niño this year, according to Voice of OC.

The response has exposed a sharp contrast between Newport Beach, which is expediting a routine sand project, and San Clemente, where officials say years of limited replenishment, rail-line protection work and funding gaps have left beaches among the county’s barest.

Voice of OC reported that coastal officials are seeking more sand and shoreline protections after last month’s swells pushed sand out to sea and prompted emergency declarations from several cities and the governor’s office.

San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall said at a Saturday gathering that the city had fallen behind other coastal communities. "We haven’t been as aggressive as we probably should’ve been," Hall said, according to Voice of OC.

San Clemente officials said the city is facing a sand deficit of 2 million to 4 million cubic yards. Cameron Cosgrove, a San Clemente local and author of the Measure M ballot initiative, said, "The estimate, roughly, to pick up four million cubic yards is $100 million," Voice of OC reported.

Measure M would add a 1% sales tax for 10 years if approved by more than 50% of voters in November, with money going toward sand purchases and city fireproofing. San Clemente leaders also approved $1 million in emergency coastline spending, and the city is set to receive another $1 million from the state government under a push from State Sen. Tony Strickland, according to Voice of OC.

Officials and residents also pointed to rocks placed by the OC Transportation Authority to protect the Pacific Surfliner rail line. "I hope they’re going to push as hard on getting sand on the beach as they have been to get rocks on the revetment," Hall said, according to Voice of OC.

In Newport Beach, city officials plan to move about 100,000 cubic yards of sand from the Santa Ana River to West Newport later this month. "Sand replenishment in West Newport typically happens each winter, but due to the anticipated El Niño storms, the City is partnering with the County to expedite this work to protect homes and the coastline," Newport Beach city spokesperson Georgia Rios said in a statement reported by Voice of OC.

OC Public Works spokesperson Jamie Cargo said county staff have moved sand onto Newport Beach city beaches for the past nine years, but Voice of OC reported that city staff will lead the work this time.