As the City of Oceanside grapples with an alarming sand erosion problem on its beaches, officials have turned to global experts for innovative solutions. Three finalists, SCAPE Landscape Architecture, Deltares with Deltares USA and MVRDV, and International Coastal Management, were chosen from an international competition to devise groundbreaking, environmentally conscious strategies for sand retention according to The Coast News.
Known as the Oceanside Coastal Resilience Design Competition, or RE:BEACH, a jury and advisory committee of local, state, and national experts reviewed proposals before the city and project team selected the finalists. In partnership with Resilient Cities Catalyst and consulting firm GHD, the initiative aims to mitigate erosion caused by the compounding impacts of climate change, the Oceanside Harbor, and nearby industrial development, as reported by The Vista Press.
Oceanside's sand supply issues largely stem from the Oceanside Harbor, which includes both Camp Pendleton and the Oceanside Recreation and Small-Craft Harbors built in 1942 and 1963, respectively. Despite adding over five million cubic yards of sand to city beaches between 1944 and 1982, the harbors have trapped much of the sand meant to flow onto Oceanside beaches from the north. This has resulted in a chronic state of erosion on these beaches as sand moves south, with some areas retreating at a rate of 6.6 feet per year, as per the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Over the past years, the city has been working on the Sand Nourishment and Retention Pilot Project to address its sand erosion issue. The project's second phase is currently ongoing and has sparked controversy among coastal cities to the south, like Carlsbad. They argue that Oceanside's installation of groins or other hard structures might cause adverse effects on southerly beaches.
In response, Oceanside has switched gears and adopted a more inclusive approach, fostering collaboration through the RE:BEACH project and forming a diverse jury of experts from around the globe. This more cooperative effort hopes to find a solution that avoids harm to down-coast neighbors and promotes a big-picture approach to beach preservation, as highlighted by Sam Carter, the founding principal of Resilient Cities Catalyst.
By leveraging the expertise of international design firms, the project aims to develop innovative and sustainable sand retention infrastructures that preserve Oceanside's shoreline and reduce coastal stressors on the built environment. The design competition finalists are expected to create a healthier environment for the city's beaches and help them evolve with the changing climate.
The first public workshop, scheduled for August 29th at the city hall, will mark the beginning of a series of workshops and additional opportunities for public input and engagement on design alternatives created by the finalists, as stated by Oceanside Coastal Zone Administrator Jayme Timberlake. The city encourages active participation from locals in determining the future of Oceanside's beaches and achieving an ideal solution that can adapt to the shifts brought on by climate change.
Once the design proposals are finalized, the project will be brought to the City Council in early 2024 for final approval. Working alongside the global climate adaptation experts, Oceanside seeks to make the city's beaches sustainable and resilient for generations to come by tackling sand erosion head-on with novel approaches and collaborative efforts.
