OCTA advances coastal protection as sand work stretches beyond El Niño

OCTA’s board voted 14-4 Monday to reaffirm an emergency declaration aimed at protecting southern Orange County’s coastal railroad and beaches, but planned sand placement is not expected to finish until June 2027, according to Voice of OC. That is after the National Weather Service expects the current El Niño system to end in March 2027.

The timing leaves questions about protection during the coming winter storm season along a coast where waves have already damaged tracks and interrupted rail service. The emergency declaration speeds contractor selection but does not remove regulatory requirements or equipment constraints, Voice of OC reported.

According to an agency report cited by Voice of OC, OCTA plans to place 690,000 cubic yards of sand along the coast. The allocation includes 240,000 cubic yards between North Beach and Mariposa Point and 450,000 cubic yards at San Clemente State Beach.

Sand placement is anticipated from February through June 2027, with the schedule dependent on permits and available dredging equipment. OCTA spokesperson Eric Carpenter said in a Sept. 29 email to Voice of OC that suitable dredges are scarce and often booked months ahead. The agency is seeking a dredger from Oregon.

The emergency declaration allows OCTA to bypass the lengthy contractor bidding process. Carpenter said environmental review and regulatory approvals remain necessary despite that authority, according to Voice of OC.

John Dow, a member of Save Our Beaches, challenged the schedule at Monday’s board meeting. He said the planned timing did not match the agency’s stated goal of providing protection before El Niño winter storms, Voice of OC reported.

Storms following Labor Day weekend forced the San Clemente rail line to close for more than a week after waves washed over and damaged the tracks. OCTA installed riprap to stabilize the line; Voice of OC reported that such rock placement is known to accelerate erosion.

A separate engineered shoreline protection structure is scheduled for construction from February 2027 to February 2028. Design details were not available, according to Voice of OC.

Elsewhere on the Orange County coast, Newport Beach declared an emergency and closed its pier indefinitely after high tides flooded surfaces along the Balboa Peninsula the Friday before publication, Voice of OC reported. In San Clemente, the sand project’s completion remains contingent on approvals and equipment availability.