Ventura Promenade repairs 2026

The report below is adapted from from ActCoastal, a campaign to protect California’s coast by bringing transparency and accountability to the actions of the California Coastal Commission — the independent state agency responsible for protecting the coast and the public's right to access and enjoy it.  Surfrider staff track and comment on issues before the California Coastal Commission at its regular meetings which occur in a different city each month.  

ActCoastal Meeting overview

On May 13, 2026, the Coastal Commission approved the City of Ventura's application for rock armoring across 600 feet of public beach to protect the Promenade near Surfer's Point. The City has been armoring this stretch of eroding beach since at least 2011 with no long-term plan, and the beach has paid the price. Fortunately, the Commission used this CDP as an opportunity to require the City to draft a long-term hazards plan that evaluates feasible alternatives to armoring, which offers a glimmer of hope for the beach’s future. 

Ventura Promenade project 2026 

The City of Ventura's Promenade, constructed in 1969, is a pre-Coastal Act beachfront walkway that has been increasingly threatened by wave attack over the last quarter century. The approvals included formalization of previous emergency armoring, placement of additional armoring, drain repairs, and the replacement of a damaged beach access staircase among other promenade improvements.

Combined, the two permits authorize approximately 2,668 cubic yards of rock across 600 linear feet of existing revetment on the beach, roughly a third of the promenade's total length. Notably, the City's own consultants identified 900 linear feet of revetment requiring proactive attention, meaning additional armoring requests may be forthcoming.

Surfrider's Concerns

Surfrider has voiced concerns about riprap placement at this site since 2001, when the City floated the idea for riprap that was eventually placed in 2011. Chief among those concerns was that the City had not adequately considered impacts to public beach access and recreation. Fifteen years after the riprap was placed, history has proved Surfrider right. The beach continues to erode, dislodged riprap takes up ever more beach space, and the staircase and promenade foundation are hammered at high tide, necessitating emergency repairs and, now, additional armoring. This cycle of armoring and beach loss continues with no long-term plan and is happening steps away from the Surfer's Point managed retreat project, the gold standard in sustainable coastal adaptation.

Surfrider opposed additional armoring but did support the Commission's conditions for it. Most significantly, the revetment additions are authorized for a limited 10-year period only, after which the City must return with a long-term hazards management plan that evaluates feasible alternatives to continued armoring. That plan must harmonize with the City's forthcoming Beach Management and Adaptation Plan, which will guide long-term coastal adaptation for the downtown shoreline. Surfrider requested that both planning processes include meaningful public participation opportunities, and staff agreed, revising the conditions accordingly. 

Surfrider also requested that the staircase replacement be moved to a safer location or set landward of the existing structure rather than merely prohibited from extending further seaward, but staff declined, citing extensive design coordination already completed.  Apparently the city abandoned prior plans from 2011 which included relocating the stairs and adding a rinse-off shower at Paseo de Playa.

Ventura Promenade Repair plans, 2011

Previous plans to relocate stairs, 2011

Stairs @ Ventura Promenade June 13, 2026
cobble buried bottom stairs following large south swell

Ventura Promenade June 13, 2026
prior riprap to be retained (A above)

Stairs @ Ventura Promenade June 13, 2026
prior riprap shifted down onto beach
curiously this zone is outside the permitted work zone (D above)

The Coastal Act reserves emergency authorization for genuinely unforeseen situations

Lastly, Surfrider requested that any additional armoring requests be wrapped into the existing 10-year authorization period established here, and that any additional emergency armoring requests be denied outright. The Promenade has required armoring for over a decade, including multiple rounds authorized via emergency permits. Wave damage along the Ventura Promenade is a predictable consequence of maintaining hardened infrastructure on an eroding shoreline. Surfrider will be watching, and will challenge any additional emergency armoring at this site that attempts to bypass the careful planning standards the Commission established here.

Stay informed

Ventura's Local Coastal Plan Update will contain the city's plan for adapting to sea level rise. This includes a specific "Beach Adaptation and Management Plan" (BAMP), which will likely touch on long-term options for the promenade area. Surfrider advocates that the BAMP should rely on nature-based adaptation and retreat as much as possible to preserve healthy beaches and coastal access! 

To keep informed on the City's process, subscribe to the LCP mailing list. 

Source: ActCoastal Meeting Overview, San Pedro, May 2026 

On this blog: 

Ventura Promenade repairs, July 2010

Ventura Promenade repairs, May 2011

Promenade Emergency Repairs, May 2020

Surfers' Point emergency revetment, Feb 2016

C-St Ventura - cobble and erosion Dec 2015

Shore & Beach article

 

“Surfers Point managed shoreline retreat project: Lessons from a cobble beach pilot on a dynamic delta”
Bob Battalio, Marc Beyeler, David M. Hubbard, A. Paul Jenkin, Kiki Patsch, and Louis A. White

Abstract

The Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project in Ventura, California, USA, demonstrates an alternative to conventional shoreline armoring by using natural materials and geomorphic design to avoid the negative consequences associated with riprap and seawalls. This paper evaluates the physical performance of Phase 1 of the project, which constructed a dynamic cobble berm/sandy beach and dune system within the active delta of the Ventura River. The design replicated shore form and function while relocating infrastructure inland to restore space for coastal processes. The project met multiple objectives including erosion and flood mitigation, access and recreation benefits, and restoration of natural morphology and ecology. Implementation required extensive coordination among public landowners, managers, regulators, funders, stakeholders, and the public. The engineering design consists of a base layer of cobble, topped with sand and vegetated dunes, intended to respond dynamically to elevated waves and river flows, and variable sediment input from upcoast and the Ventura River. Monitoring from 2011 through 2024 shows a dynamically stable and resilient system. The project provides a valuable case study for cobble-based living shorelines in high-energy coastal environments. An applied geomorphology approach informed by reference sites is a valid basis for establishing the geometry and materials for cobble-boulder berms and vegetated dunes. Landward realignment of built infrastructure was required to provide sufficient space for natural processes. Setback distances were informed by wave run-up calculations. Parametric equations for wave run-up combined with engineering judgement can inform development setbacks. Native dune vegetation and low-relief foredune geometry have proven resilient within this coastal flood plain, with the cobble berm providing protection. The natural infrastructure has accommodated erosion events, dissipated wave run-up and recovered repeatedly with sand deposition since construction in 2012.

"Shore & Beach" is the quarterly peer-reviewed journal of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).  ASBPA is an association of coastal engineering professionals with state chapters such as the California CSBPA.  The journal publishes papers that contribute to the knowledge base necessary for sound coastal decision-making and the important contemporary debates concerning shores and beaches everywhere. Content includes coastal scientific, economic, social, and political findings, coastal observations, and editorials.

References:

“Surfers Point managed shoreline retreat project: Lessons from a cobble beach pilot on a dynamic delta" Bob Battalio, Marc Beyeler, David M. Hubbard, A. Paul Jenkin, Kiki Patsch, and Louis A. White

A pdf of the article may be downloaded here

Shore & Beach ASBPA: https://asbpa.org/publications/shore-and-beach/

More on this blog:

Natural Shoreline Case Study

Surfers' Point case study

Climate.gov (another case study)

Surfrider Love Your Beach tour

On May 22, Earth Day 2025, the Surfrider Foundation stopped in Ventura with the "Love Your Beach" California tour  to raise awareness and defend the California Coastal Act.  

Paul Jenkin led a walking tour of the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project currently under construction, followed by an informal gathering at Topa Topa Brewery in downtown Ventura.  Postcards were circulated to collect signatures and will be delivered to elected officials at this year’s Coastal Day in Sacramento.

Paul Jenkin explains how "managed retreat" makes room for natural beach processes

Paul Jenkin explains how windblown sand migrates across the dune-less area created for kiteboarding
 in Phase 1 of the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project

In the news:

"Love Your Beach" tour stops at Surfers Point in Ventura, Surfrider calls on public to support Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, VC Star, April 24, 2025

The Surfrider Foundation spent Earth Day at a Ventura beach, one of the advocacy group's first stops on a tour to rally support for California's Coastal Act.  The decades-old law helps protect coastal resources and public access, said Jennifer Savage, Surfrider's California policy associate director. Over the years, those rights have become woven into the state's identity, she said. Now, some may not think they need to be defended.

During the local stop, Paul Jenkin, Surfrider's Ventura campaign coordinator, lead nearly three dozen on a tour of the shoreline restoration at Surfers Point.

Called managed retreat, the project is expected to make room for the beach by relocating a damaged path and eroding parking lot at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Jenkin called it rewilding the coast.

He and others started advocating for the work back in the 1990s, pushing for an alternative to building a sea wall – a temporary fix that experts say can exacerbate issues. A first phase of the project wrapped up more than a decade ago, and the second phase started late last year.

"We’re allowing the beach to naturally come and go," Jenkin said. Because of that, the beach will be there long after others disappear, he said. 

Keeper of the Coast

 Thirty years ago I embarked on my journey with the Surfrider Foundation. I am so honored to be recognized as a "Keeper of the Coast," joining the ranks of those who have truly made a difference in protecting and restoring our ocean, waves, and beaches. Sincere thanks to Chad Nelson and Surfrider for supporting my life's work.

El Niño winter swells 2023-2024

 

The 2023-2024 winter season has had similar coastal impacts as the 2016 El Niño event.  Higher sea levels and a signature strong Pacific storm track has focused wave energy and impacted beaches and infrastructure up and down the California coast.  In Ventura County, the beaches were stripped of sand exposing those areas most vulnerable to future sea level rise.

On December 28, 2023, the leading edge of a building pacific swell sent a storm surge over protective walls in the Pierpont neighborhood.  

A video of people and cars being flushed up the street went viral and made national news.  Ocean water and debris flooded the lanes in the Pierpont neighborhood, and there was some damage to docks at a marina in the Ventura Harbor. 

    

In response to this event, the City of Ventura and County firefighting units built three miles of sand berms the length of the developed beaches in Ventura and Oxnard. These berms were removed during the week of March 4 with authorization from the California Coastal Commission and Army Corps of Engineers.

A pierpont resident was quoted in the news saying, "We did have a breach, as the surge came over into my backyard in December. Then the next day, they put the berm up, and I had no worries after that. It totally disrupted my view, but that's a small price for the protection having all of your stuff ruined."  This echos the sentiment of beachfront residents who have resisted efforts to build permanent protective dunes and prevailed in a lawsuit requiring the City of Ventura to remove windblown sand accumulating in front of their properties.

Ventura County Fire Dept removing sand berm
Oxnard Shores, 3-5-2024

Commentary:

This event was predictable using the advanced weather and wave models currently available.  Surfers regularly use these models to know when the best conditions will occur.  In this case the swell had been monitored and tracked as it developed off the coast of Japan and built all the way across the Pacific Ocean.  The leading edge of these swells typically have a very long period indicative of the huge amount of energy from the extended "fetch" of high winds transferred to the sea surface.  The irony was the "too little too late" emergency response from local government.  Better awareness of ocean conditions and long term planning is clearly needed as climate change fuels ever bigger storm systems and rising sea levels.  Local tide gages were registering around one foot above the predicted astronomical tide, primarily a result of thermal expansion from the warm water throughout the Pacific Ocean fueled by El Niño.  These events are already happening before significant sea level rise.  According to the California Coastal Commission we can expect "as much as a 66-inch increase in sea level along segments of California's coast by the year 2100."  Under that scenario the Pierpont community will be under water much of the year.

  

Stormsurf wave prediction for 12-28-2023

Reference:  

watch the Stormsurf videos to learn more about El Niño and ocean wave generation.  

Sea Level Rise - California Coastal Commission

In the News:

Rogue wave injures eight, damages coastal motel in Ventura, KCLU | By Lance Orozco, Published December 28, 2023

Temporary sand berms intended to prevent coastal flooding are being removed in Ventura County, KCLU | By Lance Orozco, Published March 5, 2024

See damage from heavy surf in Ventura's Pierpont neighborhood, VC Star, Dec 29, 2023

On this blog:

Surfers Point - first real test

Headwaters to Ocean (H2O) Conference

The California Shore and Beach Preservation Association (CSBPA) and Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON) organized the 2023 Headwaters to Ocean (H2O) Conference.  This was the first big in-person gathering of professionals involved in watershed and coastal  health, restoration, and management since the COVID pandemic.

On Tuesday November 28, BEACON convened their science advisory panel and stakeholders for a morning meeting followed by lunch and guided tour of the Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project.  

H2O was a two day conference held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Ventura Beach on November 29-30. 

The H2O conference serves as a catalyst for collaboration across various fields, industries, institutions, and organizations united by their shared interests in topics related to water, oceans, coastal environments, sediment management, resilience, and the intersections between terrestrial and marine systems.  

A session on Surfers' Point included presentations from Paul Jenkin, Surfrider Foundation, Bob Battalio, ESA, Dave Hubbard, CRC, and Kiki Patsch, CSUCI.  The talks covered the history, engineering, dunes, and monitoring.

Paul Jenkin presented the lunchtime plenary talk, "A Lifetime of Coastal Activism; A Retrospective" or "Headwaters 2 Ocean; Ventura River, a Case Study"

H2O Conference Website: https://asbpa.org/2023/08/15/h2o-2023-conference/

 

Surfers' Point Nature Based Solutions video

"Fighting Climate Change with Nature," a video produced by the Surfrider Foundation featuring the Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project:

Short version (60 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fpbvWNfW3k

 

More at https://www.surfrider.org/fighting-climate-change-with-nature

Surfers' Point funding ok'd

 At the June 1st meeting of the California Coastal Conservancy the board approved $16,200,000 to the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) to construct Phase 2 of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project, a sea level rise adaptation project that relocates existing infrastructure landward and restores beach dune habitat, in Ventura. 

Surfrider submitted a support letter saying:

Surfers’ Point has been the flagship campaign of the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation since its inception in 1991.  For more than 30 years our members have advocated for the community-based solution to coastal erosion offered by this project.  The construction of the first phase in 2011 has proven the efficacy of this approach and we look forward to completing the project.  In recent years the rapid loss of the remaining bike path and parking lot has increased the urgency to relocate this visitor serving infrastructure out of harms way.  Implementation of the proven buried cobble berm and sand dunes will restore nature-based resiliency to this extremely popular stretch of coast.

Construction will begin after Labor Day, 2024

On this blog: Surfers Point

Reference:

COASTAL CONSERVANCY Project No. 08-057-02 Staff Recommendation June 1, 2023

 In the News:

Ventura gets $16M to move crumbling path, parking lot farther from crashing waves

Ventura Rivermouth after flood

On January 9, 2023, flows on the Ventura River peaked over 35,000 cfs.  At this flood stage overbank flows enter agricultural lands and flow through the RV Park and were high enough to flow over Highway 101 stopping traffic.  These flows exit to the ocean through the historic second mouth of the river in Emma Wood State park visible to the left in the photo below.  Although the official flows are not yet in, this was perhaps a once-in-a-decade flood similar to 2005.

High flows transport significant amounts of sediment down the river and into the Pacific Ocean.  A large cobble berm formed at the rivermouth and was transported along the shoreline at Surfers Point by the coinciding large Pacific swell.  Subsequent swells and tides continue to rearrange this berm, and sand has moved into the rivermouth with a reduced wave climate.  Surf conditions since the flood indicate nearshore sand bars, and this sand will move onshore making for wide beaches in the summer months.    

Ventura Rivermouth 1-10-2023

Taylor Ranch and RV Park upstream of Ventura Rivermouth 1-10-2023

Ventura Rivermouth 1-18-2023

Surfers Point 1-18-2023

Ventura Rivermouth 1-18-2023

Ventura Rivermouth 1-31-2023
(credit: Dr. K Patsch)

(All photos courtesy Rich Reid rich@richreidphoto.com except where noted)

  

Photopoint monitoring

Last week a "Photopoint monitoring" station was installed at Surfers' point, a collaboration between Surfrider and the Ventura Land Trust.  Photopoint utilizes a fixed camera mount to allow beachgoers to photograph the shoreline from fixed points in order to systematically capture changes in the vegetation, dune morphology, sea level rise, and beach evolution over time.

Surfrider Ventura Chapter coordinator Cassie demonstrates the new Photopoint at Surfers' Point

Photopoint Monitoring is an effective way to document environmental change over time, thereby providing historical information to aid decision-making by resource managers. Our objective is to document the natural/anthropogenic changes to the shoreline caused by dredging, seasonal changes, and king tides for ongoing research into sea level rise. 

Installation team, L to R: Katie, Cassie, and Dan

CI Harbor jetty and breakwater repairs

Over the past few weeks the US Army Corps of Engineers has been working on the jetties and offshore breakwater at Channel Islands Harbor.  Concerned beachgoers contacted Surfrider with concerns that the South Jetty was being extended and could impact the surf conditions at the popular Silver Strand Beach.  Although initially it was hard to find any detailed information on the project, the Corps and Port District ultimately provided drawings that illustrate the work being done.

South Jetty at Channel Islands Harbor, 2013 
https://www.californiacoastline.org

Over time coastal structures like these degrade as wave action displaces the large boulders and the structure "slumps" into the sea floor.  Periodic maintenance is performed by importing boulders which are placed on the existing structure to bring it back to its design profile.  The illustrations below show this:

More info:

Much Needed Repair Work Starts at Channel Islands Harbor Entrance,  Channel Islands Harbor website

SPL-2021-0512-NLH Channel Islands Harbor Breakwater, US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District

Coastal Commission approves Surfers' Point Phase 2

At their April, 2021 meeting, the California Coastal Commission approved (with conditions) modifications to the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project in Ventura, CA.   Application No. 4-05-148-A1 (City of Ventura and 31st Agricultural District, Ventura) aims to modify portions of the Managed Retreat project to support the recently completed plans for Phase 2 of the project.

The project was originally approved in 2006, but due to limited funding only about half of it was constructed in 2010-11. These amendments to the original permit No. 4-05-148  reflect a revised layout of the parking lots which will increase the total available spaces for day use, overflow, and temporary surf check parking. (See the prior analysis of parking on this blog here)

"The proposed reconfiguration would result in the addition of approximately 151 total parking spaces, approximately 64 of which would be located in the high frequency parking lot, and approximately 87 in the reduced frequency parking lot. [...] The proposed project reconfiguration would also add approximately three (3) twenty minute parking spaces that allow for drop-off or for the public to check water or surf conditions (these spots are called “surf check” parking spaces), for a total number of approximately 27 “surf check” parking spaces. Shoreline Drive is proposed to be relocated to improve circulation, with its terminus at the parking lot to be further east. The previously approved gatehouse/ticket booth located at the entrance of the parking lot would be relocated approximately 160 feet to the east, and a vehicle turn around would be added. 

"The surface material of the parking lot is also proposed to be changed from a permeable surface to asphalt. This change in surface material would also apply to the portion of the parking lot that was constructed in Phase 1 along with the new portions of parking lot to be constructed in Phase 2. [...] It was determined that the original turf grass parking lot is not feasible in current drought conditions and other permeable surfaces are infeasible as water is unable to adequately infiltrate due to the high ground water table.

 

Modifications to Parking Layout
Surfers Point phase 2

A separate permit (A-4-SBV-06-037) covers the "tidelands" portion of the project.   Phase 2 includes modifications to the originally approved managed retreat project to extend the cobble berm and vegetated sand dunes to merge with the promenade and recently constructed emergency revetment.  The changes would extend the cobble berm and vegetated sand dunes approximately 150 ft east (14,800 cu.yds. of cobble and 17,825 cu.yds. of sand), reconfigure public access amenities, and revise landscaping plan, at Surfer’s Point, City of Ventura, Ventura County. 

Modifications to Cobble Berm and Dunes
Surfers Point phase 2

The permit will require electric vehicle charging stations to be installed in the new parking lots:

The special condition to require electric vehicle charging stations is consistent with Coastal Act Section 30253 because it will reduce energy use and provide an opportunity for users of electric vehicles to access the coast. 

During discussion of the project, Coastal Commissioners Shelley Luce, Matt O'Malley, Mike Wilson, Mark Gold and Donne Brownsey raised concerns about the change of surface material of the parking lot, citing concerns over potential water quality impacts from runoff and uncertainty around mitigation of those impacts. Based on these concerns, Coastal Commission staff added a required Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) and water quality monitoring condition into the permit amendment. The permit was approved unanimously.

Background

The Coastal Commission staff report includes an interesting summary of the history of the project dating back to the first bike path, located approximately two to 20 feet seaward of its current location, that had been partially destroyed by storms in the winter of 1982/3.  (Hints of this original bike path are visible along the eroding bluff today)

In 1984, the Commission certified the City of San Buenaventura’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) which created a 250-foot wide oceanfront corridor for recreational use, extending west from Surfer’s Point Park to the Ventura River.  The LCP was amended in 1986 such that "temporary bicycle and hiking trails...and temporary parking which do not require construction of a shoreline protective device, may be permitted within the setback area established by the geotechnical study.” 

In 1988 and 1989, the Commission approved two permits for improvements within the Commission’s original jurisdiction, CDP Nos. 4-88-123 and 4-88-130, that were associated with construction of Shoreline Drive, the 352-space parking lot, and other development in the oceanfront corridor at Surfer’s Point.

The oceanfront corridor improvements were constructed in 1989. In the summer of 1991, shoreline erosion began undermining portions of the bicycle path. 

In November 1991, Commission staff received a request from the City of Ventura/31st Agricultural District for an emergency permit to place five to six ton rocks along an approximately 260 foot length of the backshore in order to protect the bicycle path from erosion (CDP No. 4-91-060-G). The emergency request was denied in favor of relocating the undermined section of the bicycle path slightly inland. In explaining the Executive Director’s denial of CDP No. 4- 91-060-G, Commission staff noted that the improvements in the oceanfront corridor had been constructed on the understanding that they were temporary in nature and therefore could not be protected with shoreline protective devices. 

On December 11, 1992, following continued undermining of the bicycle path and parking lot, the City of Ventura issued itself an emergency coastal development permit for construction of a rip-rap revetment, and the revetment was constructed the following week, from December 14 – 16, 1992. Commission enforcement staff issued a stop work order on December 15, 1992, and further pursued removal of the revetment through enforcement and legal measures.

This emergency revetment remained in place until 2010 when it was removed along with the collapsing parking lot during construction of Phase 1 of the Managed Retreat project.

Commentary

Although the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project has been widely recognized as an innovative and effective approach to coastal management, it is just as much an example of failed coastal management.  Conflicting mandates and the inability to coordinate amongst the multitude of federal, state, and local government agencies has directly impacted this important public trust resource.  It is hard to quantify the benefits lost to decades of crumbling infrastructure and mismanagement at what should be the "crown jewel" of the City of Ventura.  This mismanagement stems from a lack of understanding and respect for the underlying dynamic landform of the Ventura River delta, combined with the bureaucratic failings of fragmented governance.   The fact that this issue has already lingered for four decades is stark foreshadowing to the future impact of sea level rise on the California coast.  In the meantime, we can only watch as the ocean slowly erases the mistakes of the past...

Reference

Coastal Commission Staff Report: Application No. 4-05-148-A1 (City of Ventura and 31st Agricultural District, Ventura)

On this Blog

Surfers Point (all posts)

Surfers’ Point Managed Retreat Phase 2 update, Oct 2020 - final plans and costs

Surfers' Point Phase 2 update, Dec 2019 - parking analysis

The Managed Retreat Process at Surfers Point, Nov 2010 - Phase 1 construction

Surfers' Point erosion damage Jan 2021 - current conditions

Natural Shoreline Case Study

Surfers' Point case study

Climate.gov (another case study)

US Climate Resilience Toolkit

Rincon Island decommissioning

Rincon Island, an oil facility off the coast of Ventura County, is being decommissioned by the state. 

https://www.slc.ca.gov/oil-and-gas/rincon-island/

 

State of California officials say they’ve reached a milestone in the state’s transition away from fossil fuels and toward a clean energy future.

On Feb. 4, the State Lands Commission and the Department of Conservation’s California Geological Energy Management Division announced they’ve plugged and abandoned all 50 oil wells on Rincon Island, a small 2.3-acre artificial island off Mussel Shoals in Ventura County.

Rincon Island is one of a handful of remaining offshore oil structures in state waters, stated the agencies, which also announced the plugging and abandonment of all 24 state onshore production wells, and two additional onshore wells that were not part of state lease operations but had been deserted.

The state took responsibility for decommissioning Rincon in 2017, after the operator declared bankruptcy. It plugged and abandoned the 74 wells ahead of schedule, under budget and without incident or spillage, the Commission stated in a news release.

Plugging and abandoning the wells is the main component of phase one of a three-phase process that includes developing and executing a decommissioning plan. Work on the plan will include extensive public outreach and engagement, according to the Commission.

The remaining phase one work, underway now, consists of site clearance activities to remove decrepit oil production infrastructure and should be completed by June 2021, officials said.

For more information on the Rincon Island decommissioning status and the next steps in the process, visit www.slc.ca.gov/oil-and-gas/rincon-island/.

(article from Ojai Valley News: rincon-island-oil-wells-unplugged

Surfers' Point erosion damage Jan 2021

 

During the first week of February, 2021, the barriers along the eroding coastal path at the Ventura County Fairgrounds were moved back for public safety.  Several more parking spaces have been eliminated as the ocean continues to take back the beach.  

Erosion undermines the bke path,  Jan 13, 2021

This year's damage was more than anticipated, as relatively calm conditions were predicted with "La Nina" conditions dominating the Pacific Ocean.  However, an anomalous storm track developed producing a series of large swell events during the entire month of January, some coinciding with the year's highest tides.  Good for surfers, bad for beachfront property managers.

9 am January 14, 2021
(high tide 6.36 ft @ 9:30 am)

Large swell at Surfers Point, Jan 18, 2021

The final design for "Managed Shoreline Retreat" has been completed, but the process appears to be on hold.   Un-managed retreat continues... Fencing, concrete curb, and asphalt litter the shoreline along the most popular beach in Ventura County.

Overview looking east from the restored beach toward the eroding parking lot
slated for relocation in Phase 2 of the Managed Retreat project

Overview of Surfers' Point looking west - the parking lot in the foreground 
would be relocated out of harms way in Phase 2 of the Managed Shoreline Retreat project 

Artist rendition of the proposed Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project

Surfers' Point Managed Retreat Phase 1 - Jan 13, 2021
Phase 1 of the project continues to demonstrate resiliency to high surf
(note high tide line and exposed cobble berm)

Update from the City of Ventura:  

The City helped the Fairgrounds remove part of the wood fence, dig out the landscape area, pave the planting or parking area level with the path, and move the temporary fence over for some extra clearance from the eroded area. A few parking spaces had to be taken out to make it safe for pedestrians to pass. The hope is that this is enough to last through the summer, however that is weather dependent.

The City also reapplied for State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways – Public Beach Restoration Grant in the amount of $5.5M last month. This includes the beach side of the $10.1M estimate but not the new paved parking lot, lighting, and other amenities.

On this blog: 

Surfers’ Point Managed Retreat Phase 2 update
Surfers' Point Update Spring 2019
Surfers' Point Phase 2 concepts
Grant approved for Surfers' Point
Surfers' Point project moves forward

Winter 2021 swells:

North Pacific Overdrive - Highlights from Two Weeks of Nonstop North Pacific Swell, Surfline.com

Mondos Cove Stairway Preliminary Design

On Oct 21, 2020, BEACON presented a concept for improved beach access at the popular "Mondos Cove." The preliminary plan illustrates a new concrete stairway to provide access over the boulder riprap shoreline down to the beach.

The following are comments submitted on behalf of the Ventura County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation:

RE: Mondos Cove Public Beach Access Stairway Preliminary Design 

Dear Marc,

Thanks for your presentation on the preliminary design concept for improving beach access at Mondos Cove beach along Old Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura County. The gentle waves at this popular beach have introduced surfing to many residents and visitors, but parking along the busy highway and access to the sand over the boulder riprap can be hazardous, especially for families with small children. Surfrider supports the efforts of BEACON to improve beach access at Mondos Cove. Please consider the following comments as you advance this important project:

Other locations should be considered for the crosswalk and stairs. The current proposal places foot traffic at the narrowest part of the highway and potentially creates a safety hazard for families waiting to cross the highway with small children, bulky beach gear, and surfboards. Safety may be improved by moving the stairway a short distance to the southeast, or providing two separate crosswalks.

The current stairway design encroaches onto the beach. Constructing stairs in the manner shown will expose the structure to unnecessary damage during winter storms. During periods of high waves waves break on the boulder revetment and there is very little sandy beach. As witnessed elsewhere in the county, wave action and impact from cobblestone and other debris will erode the proposed concrete stairway. As currently drawn, the bottom few stairs are particularly vulnerable. This situation will only worsen with rising sea levels. (See https://www.venturariver.org/2010/07/ventura-promenade-repairs.html)

Consider building the stairs parallel to the road so they are protected by a wall on the ocean side - ideally the whole structure would be within the footprint of the existing riprap. The Coastal Commission may require this as part of their permitting process. The structure will last longer with a parallel configuration, and this is what most of the private stairways look like along adjacent Pitas Point. (see attached sketch and photo)

Sketch (in red) showing alternative stairway alignment to avoid beach encroachment and minimize future damage

Aerial view of parallel stairway alignments along Pitas Point

Stairway design may be optimized by adjusting the rise and run. The current design shows 6” risers, which results in a lot of stairs and a long run. Depending on applicable code, stair rise could be increased to 7” or 8” (IRC (International Residential Code) calls for a maximum rise of 7 3⁄4”.) This would make the length of the stairs more compact, but a bit steeper.

Other materials should be considered. Given the uncertainty of future planning and accommodation for sea level rise, a simple timber stairway (or two) installed over the riprap may serve to enhance beach access for the next decade or more. This may be a cheaper and easier alternative to provide a short- to medium-term solution. Many of the adjacent homeowners have wooden accessways that seem to be quite durable.

ADA option should also include stairs. If an ADA ramp is desired, stairs should also be included. The accessway constructed with the recent seawall reconstruction down the coast did not include stairs, and the long switchbacking slope of the ADA ramp is awkward.

Consider long term planning for the site. An integrated plan should be considered to include parking, traffic control, protection of utilities, as well as beach access. For example, a seawall may be needed in the future to protect the highway and extensive utility lines on the ocean side of the street. Parking should be improved to provide a safer, cleaner environment. Signage and speed bumps or other traffic calming measures should be considered to slow traffic through this high use area. Whatever is built now should be able to accommodate future changes.

Develop an alternatives analysis. Given the limited budget for constructing improved beach access at this site, other conceptual alternatives should be developed considering the suggestions above with cost estimates in order to determine the best course of action.

Surfrider has consistently advocated for improved safety and access at Mondos Cove beach for the past two decades. We appreciate this new initiative and look forward to working with BEACON on developing a cost effective and timely solution to this important concern for all beachgoers.

UPDATE May 2021:

from BEACON: https://beacon.ca.gov/news/mondos-cove-beach-access-stairway/

Mondo’s Cove Beach access stairway revised design drawing and description is included below. Based on the input from neighboring residents, stakeholders and interested members of the public, the consultants to BEACON, Jensen Design and Survey, Inc., have produced a revised stairway design and orientation that better addresses site conditions and alignment of the shoreline.