Overview
- Repeated south swells and high tides this summer have eroded beaches across Southern California and damaged infrastructure, with major sand loss at Tamarack State Beach in Carlsbad and retreat at Point Dume in Malibu.
- Over the weekend, lifeguards in Newport Beach rescued 425 people and carried out thousands of preventative actions while strong waves washed sand onto Aliso Beach’s west parking lot and forced its closure.
- Cities including Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and San Clemente have removed at-risk utilities, closed access points, built berms, staged sandbags and cleared drains to protect roads, restrooms and parking lots.
- NOAA and the National Weather Service are monitoring eastern Pacific tropical systems that could boost swell and, together with El Niño-driven higher baseline sea levels, increase the risk of larger waves and storm surge through fall and winter.
- State parks and local engineers are beginning damage assessments and design work for repairs, but officials warn temporary fixes will not solve chronic coastal retreat and that coordinated funding and long-term planning will be needed.