San Clemente Surfers Fight $100 Million Railroad Renovation Project
There’s a battle brewing in Orange County, CA.
On one side, there’s concerned San Clemente beachgoers and surfers, hoping to save their eroding coastline through sand replenishment. On the other, there’s the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) and millions of dollars.
In a new petition from the former faction, they state:
“We, the undersigned citizens, business owners and visitors of Orange County, California, express our firm opposition to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) proposed emergency plans to place more riprap and revetment on San Clemente’s coastline. We urge a reevaluation of the proposed investment in these hard-armoring projects, which are detrimental to our coastal environment and beaches. Instead, we support and advocate for the restoration of our beaches through sand replenishment.”
Even big-name local surfers are fighting the good fight. Like Kolohe Andino, who hopped on social media to spread awareness, writing:
“If you are an SC OG, a five year local or vacation here or just hate idiots ruining beaches. Please read the link in my bio and sign the petition. Show these rail road kooks who they messing with… spread the word.”
So, what’s “hard-armoring” and “riprap” as mentioned in the petition?
Basically, it’s rocks and concrete used to stabilize shoreline infrastructure – in this case, the Pacific Surfliner train tracks, which runs directly through San Clemente’s coast. As an alternative, petitioners are suggesting the use of sand replenishment as opposed to hard-armoring, with hopes that the beaches will come back, too.
Spearheading the campaign against OCTA, and for sand replenishment, is Bring Back Our Beaches. Further explaining the situation in San Clemente, they write:
“San Clemente is in crisis: our beautiful, historic beach town is losing its beach, the golden sand disappearing at an unprecedented rate. So drastically is this pattern of sand loss increasing that the beaches can no longer replenish themselves naturally. Which leaves it up to the city to implement an extensive, sustainable program of sand replacement and recurring beach nourishment before time runs out, and San Clemente loses its beach.”
In addition to opposing the monstrosity that a rock and concrete structure will impose on San Clemente’s beaches, there’s also the issue of surf spots. Without a natural flow of sand, the local surf spots (in this area, all beachbreaks) will undoubtedly suffer.
OCTA’s plan to hard-armor the coast is scheduled to happen before fall; the petition against that plan is gaining steam. This is a developing story; more to come.
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