San Clemente Opens Public Review of Nature‑Based Shoreline Adaptation Plan (June 10 – July 13, 2025)
San Clemente’s Reef-Based Coastal Plan Could Redefine Shoreline Protection: The city’s new draft feasibility study proposes innovative, nature-based offshore reef structures to combat beach erosion, reduce sand loss, and protect vital infrastructure.
Public Input Now Open Through July 13: Residents have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to weigh in on a major coastal adaptation plan that could shape the future of San Clemente’s beaches and serve as a model statewide.
The San Clemente Sun’s Official Stance:
At the San Clemente Sun, we believe the city’s Nature-Based Adaptation Project is a bold and necessary step toward safeguarding our coastline against accelerating erosion and sea-level rise. While we recognize that no single solution is perfect, this draft study reflects thoughtful integration of ecological design, public engagement, and long-term planning. We urge residents to participate in the comment period and support this pivot toward sustainable, science-backed shoreline protection. Our coastline is not just a boundary—it’s a lifeline. Let’s invest in it wisely.
On June 10, 2025, the City of San Clemente officially released the Draft Nature‑Based Adaptation Project Feasibility Study for public review and comment, available through July 13, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in the city’s coastal resilience efforts, spotlighting innovative, “green infrastructure” strategies—such as reef-like offshore structures—to help reduce beach erosion and improve retention of replenished sand.
What the Study Proposes
Multi‑Purpose Reef-Like Structures
The core of the draft study is exploring the feasibility of deploying nature-based reef structures—engineered offshore reefs that mimic natural habitats to:
Reduce wave energy before it reaches the shoreline
Trap and stabilize sand placed on beaches
Provide ecological uplift (support marine life habitats)
Extend the lifespan of conventional beach replenishment efforts
Integrating with Existing Sand Programs
The adaptation features aren’t standalone—they’re designed to complement:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) beach nourishment
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) regional sand efforts
Opportunistic sand programs like SCOUP (Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program)
This synergy aims to reinforce investments, reduce costs per cubic yard of sand, and boost shoreline stability.
Here’s a coastal resiliency feasibility study from two years ago that explores many of the same themes currently under discussion.
The city of San Clemente held a recorded community meeting to discuss its Nature-Based Coastal Resiliency Feasibility Study. Community Development Director Cecilia Gardo Daily and specialists from Moffatt & Nichol presented draft conceptual designs aimed at addressing coastal erosion. The meeting outlined the current erosion challenges, proposed nature-based and structural solutions, and invited public input through surveys and Q&A.
The study builds upon prior assessments and monitoring efforts, including shoreline surveys from 2022 and 2023, to identify erosion hotspots from Shore Cliffs down to Cypress Shores. Proposed interventions range from dune restoration and living shorelines to engineered structures like groins, offshore breakwaters, and permeable pilings near the pier. Emphasis is placed on integrating multiple benefits—coastal protection, recreation enhancement, habitat creation—while adhering to criteria such as shoreline stability, public access, and environmental sensitivity.
Stakeholder engagement is central to this two‑year process, funded by California Coastal Commission grants. Public feedback and agency coordination will guide the refinement of a draft conceptual design report in early 2024 and a feasibility study by late 2024, with a final submission planned by December 2025. The city is also exploring regional collaboration, sand sourcing opportunities, and offshore borrow sites to support a long-term, adaptive approach to coastal resilience.
Why Now? Rising Erosion, Rising Seas
San Clemente has been steadily pursuing its coastal resilience agenda over the past 3+ years:
A Shoreline Monitoring Program, launched in 2022, profiles 12 shoreline stations semi-annually
A Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (SLRVA) submitted in December 2019§.
A Coastal Resiliency Plan, certified in December 2021
Targeted city grants—such as the Coastal Commission’s LCP Round 7—supporting the expansion into next-level pilot projects
These steps highlight a data-driven process: from mapping erosion patterns (“hot spots”), to envisioning remedies via the current Reef-Adaptation Feasibility Study.
What the Study Covers
The draft report includes:
Analysis of critical erosion areas (May surveys, bathymetric data, historical erosion traces)
Preliminary reef-concept designs—varied configurations, depths, distance offshore, and material types.
Integration strategies, linking reef features with existing nourishment, SCOUP acquisitions, and USACE frameworks
Regulatory and financial appraisal, mapping potential permitting pathways and identifying funding gaps.
By June 2025, the draft was the product of over 30 months of study—building directly from seaside planning gathered since early 2022.
Supporting USACE Nourishment Project
This adaptation draft is closely linked to the USACE San Clemente nourishment plan:
Authorized under 2014 WRRDA funding
Scheduled to place ~251,000 cubic yards of sand across a 3,412‑ft stretch, repeated every 6 years through 2073
Initial nourishment began Dec 2023; paused early 2024 following grading issues, then resumed at 115,000 cubic yards in April 2024
The draft study proposes reef structures that could prolong sand retention, reducing the frequency and volume needed in future re-nourishment.
Environmental & Ecological Benefits
Nature‑based reef structures can:
Provide habitat for fish, invertebrates, and kelp communities
Boost biodiversity while shielding the coast
Absorb wave action more gently and adaptively than hardened solutions like seawalls
This approach aligns with both state and federal trends toward hybrid or fully “green” coastal infrastructure solutions suitable for sea-level rise adaptation.
Public Engagement & Next Steps
How to Participate
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to:
Review the draft online at www.san‑clemente.org/sand
Submit comments by July 13, 2025 (city staff will evaluate all public feedback)(san-clemente.org)
What Happens After July 13
Public input is reviewed and summarized
A final feasibility report is prepared—likely fall 2025
Priority pilot projects are recommended for design, permitting, and funding
Pilot structures may be installed as early as 2026–27, depending on outcomes
Public voices in the review period can influence design choices, site selection, environmental safeguards, and funding partnerships.
Why It Matters Locally and Regionally
For San Clemente…
Promotes year-round beach recreation: wider, longer-lasting sand means better public access, tourism, and community health.
Shields key infrastructure: beaches buffer against waves and storms, protecting the coastal rail line and bluff properties
Delivers long-term cost efficiency: reef retention features may reduce the need for costly hard-armoring or frequent dredging.
For the Region…
This Feasibility Study could serve as a blueprint for similar coastal cities in Southern California.
Integrates seamlessly with ongoing regional resilience efforts, such as those at Capistrano and Dana Point.
Supports California's broader ambition to prioritize green infrastructure and adapt coastal communities to sea-level rise.
Key Facts & Citations
Public comment window: June 10 – July 13, 2025
Monitoring & planning timeline: Shoreline monitoring since 2022; Coastal Resiliency Plan 2021 (san-clemente.org)
USACE nourishment: ~251,000 cy sand; first placed Dec 2023, resumed April 2024 at 115,000 cy
Grant context: Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program (LCP) Round 7 grant funding
San Clemente’s Draft Nature‑Based Adaptation Project Feasibility Study represents a bold, next‑gen step in shoreline protection—one that blends science-backed measurement, green infrastructure, community engagement, and strategic funding. By enabling reef-inspired structures to trap sand and dampen waves, the city hopes to fortify its 4.9-mile coastline in a sustainable way. But before designs move forward, public comment through July 13 is critical to shaping what could become a model for coastal resilience up and down California’s sun‑bleached coast.
⚠️ Now is the time—whether you're a resident, surfer, beach business owner, or environmental advocate—to visit san-clemente.org/sand and voice your views. Your input can directly influence the final design, environmental protections, and timeline of a project that’s shaping the future of San Clemente’s shoreline.
