Save Our Beaches San Clemente

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Save Our Beaches San Clemente

Our mission is simple: to restore and preserve San Clemente’s beaches through practical, cost-effective, nature-based solutions.

11/05/2026

Tomorrow, we will be demanding stronger protections for San Clemente’s beaches.

Ahead of the November 5 Coastal Commission hearing, our letters have already helped prompt revisions to OCTA’s proposed coastal armoring permit. These are small but meaningful steps forward, creating opportunities for stronger safeguards as plans are finalized.

But our most important request remains: OCTA must be required to maintain a wide, sandy beach in front of its armoring for as long as that armoring remains.

We’re also calling for a smaller armoring footprint and the restoration of continuous public beach access.

The Coastal Commission’s own staff report acknowledges that one-time sand replenishment may not be enough to preserve public access over time.

Protecting the railroad should not come at the expense of our public beaches.

Tomorrow’s hearing is an important opportunity to ensure the permit includes lasting, enforceable protections for our coastline.

11/01/2026

Over the past year, hundreds of volunteers have connected with thousands of neighbors to discuss beach erosion, wildfire risk, and the future of our community.

As Election Day approaches, we encourage everyone to get the facts and read the measure for themselves.

Thank you to everyone who has helped bring this important conversation to our community!

🗳️ Election Day is November 3!

Learn more at protectsanclemente.org.

10/30/2026

We need your voice at next Thursday’s Coastal Commission hearing!

Save Our Beaches will be speaking remotely via Zoom at the November 5 hearing, and we are urging you to join us. About two dozen people spoke up at last month’s hearing. This month, we need even more voices standing up for San Clemente’s beaches.

If you spoke last month, please speak again! And if you haven’t spoken before, we encourage you to watch the video of last month’s speakers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7sic51Hgc8) and join us this time.

The OCTA permit is Item #11 on Thursday’s agenda, so we won’t know exactly when public comment will begin. To make participation easier, we’ll set up a group chat to keep everyone informed of the meeting’s progress, so you won’t have to listen to other agenda items that are before our hearing.

Please dm or email ([email protected]) us your email & phone number to let us know that you will join us.

Every voice matters. Together, we can make a difference for our beaches!

10/30/2026

Election Day is just around the corner, San Clemente!

As November 3 approaches, here's a quick reminder of the basics behind Measure M: the cost, duration, and how the funding would be structured.

Measure M proposes a dedicated funding source for two important community priorities: beach restoration and wildfire prevention.

🗳️ Election Day: November 3

Learn more at protectsanclemente.org.

10/28/2026

With San Clemente facing ongoing beach erosion and wildfire risks, Measure M proposes dedicated local funding to address both challenges.

Here’s what the measure would do:

🏖️ 50% for beach protection: At least 70% of spending from the Beach Protection Fund would go toward sand replenishment, retention, and erosion control.

🔥 50% for fire protection: Funding could support wildfire prevention, hazardous vegetation removal, emergency response, and community preparedness.

💰 1% local sales tax: An additional 1¢ per taxable dollar, with most groceries and prescription medications exempt.

📋 Public accountability: Separate restricted funds, annual independent audits, public reporting, and a 10-year expiration unless voters approve renewal.

🗳️ Election Day is November 3! Learn more about the proposal and what your vote means at protectsanclemente.org.

10/22/2026

Great article by South OC Surfrider and Mitch Silverstein highlighting what we've been saying for years: piling more rocks along our coastline is not a long-term solution.

Two new independent reports examine the impacts of shoreline armoring at Cyprus Shores and the proposed expansion at San Clemente State Beach. The findings raise serious concerns about accelerated erosion, disappearing beach access, and damage to our surf breaks.

At Cyprus Shores, approximately 27,000 tons of rock have already been placed along the shoreline. Now, we risk seeing the same thing happen to more of our public beaches.

It's time to prioritize sand replenishment, nature-based solutions, and long-term planning instead of continuing to pile on more rock. Vote YES on Measure M.

Thank you to Surfrider for continuing to advocate for San Clemente's beaches!

🔗 Read the full article here: https://southoc.surfrider.org/news/new-independent-reports-armoring-san-clementes-beaches-to-save-the-railroad-is-a-losing-strategy-for-everyone

10/21/2026

FIVE YEARS OF BOULDERS. WHERE'S THE SAND?

After five years of dumping boulders, damaging beaches, wasting taxpayer dollars and failing to keep the rail line resilient, OCTA finally acknowledges what we've said for years:

a sandy beach buffer is essential to dissipate wave energy.

Overdue acknowledgment. Now repair the damage-and deliver the sand. NOW.

10/15/2026

We're excited to see companies like Shoreline Erosion Control Solutions (SECS) exploring innovative approaches to coastal erosion.

Their modular shoreline protection systems are designed to reduce wave energy and erosion while supporting more natural coastal environments. We see promising potential in this technology as an alternative to traditional riprap dumps and believe solutions like these deserve a closer look in San Clemente.

🌊 Our beaches deserve solutions that preserve both our coastline and the sandy beaches we love.

And we think Ogg would make an excellent addition to our San Clemente surfing community! 🏄‍♂️

🎥 Video courtesy of SECS

10/14/2026

🚨 15,000 Tons of Rock Could Be Coming to San Clemente State Beach.

OCTA has received approval from the California Coastal Commission to place up to 15,000 additional tons of rock along San Clemente State Beach, beginning roughly a quarter-mile south of the Calafia parking lot.

This video, taken in September 2026, shows the already-narrow beach facing continued pressure from erosion and shoreline armoring.

BOULDERS KILL BEACHES. 🪨

📣 Want to help save San Clemente's beaches? DM us to learn how you can get involved and join the fight to preserve our coastline!

10/11/2026

At this week’s California Coastal Commission hearing, residents and coastal advocates challenged the continued placement of rock along our shoreline.

Our own Chairman, Gary Walsh, joined the conversation, calling attention to years of delays in getting much-needed sand back on our beaches.

We understand the importance of maintaining the coastal railroad, but protecting the tracks shouldn’t come at the expense of our public beaches.

We need more than temporary fixes. We need sand replenishment, long-term solutions, and accountability.

📰 Read the full story from Courthouse News Service.

Address

San Clemente, CA

Website

https://www.saveourbeachessc.org/

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