Orange County residents blast emergency shoreline armoring

Residents and surfing advocates told the California Coastal Commission that emergency riprap permits meant to protect an aging rail line in San Clemente are instead destroying public beach access. The Commission's own executive director issued the latest permit, allowing up to 15,000 tons of new rock near the tracks through next July, after high tides and a looming El Niño threatened the corridor.

Surfrider's policy coordinator counted more than 30 such emergency armoring permits across Orange County, adding up to roughly 30,000 tons of boulders for what he called temporary protection and permanent beach loss. One commissioner asked, reasonably, how something studied for five years still qualifies as an emergency.

The rail authority says sand placement remains a priority and points to plans for 690,000 cubic yards of it, plus $300 million secured for coastal projects. It just has not happened yet, and the timeline has slid from 2028 toward sooner, maybe, pending permits, funding sources and dredging equipment that do not yet exist in one place.

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