Save as much as we can, for as long as we can.
That’s the new motto for Toni Nelson, who heads the community advocacy group Capo Cares, as the Dana Point resident pushes for the continual effort to save Capistrano Beach before it disappears into the sea – much of it has in recent years.
Work kicked off recently to add more than 500 sand cubes to a stretch of Dana Point, an emergency measure to save a city storm drain and water quality treatment facility that also inadvertently is helping a portion of pathway used frequently by walkers, joggers and bikers that is in danger of crumbling.
Capistrano Beach and the south end of Doheny State Beach have been battered by high tides and surf in recent years, chomping away sand that once blanketed the two areas. The eroding beach has resulted in the loss of volleyball courts and fire rings, its toppled tall palm trees and last year strong storms pummeled a seawall and basketball court so badly they had to be removed.
Now, the storm drain outlet pipes are visible on the beach and parts of the treatment facility are in harm’s way, according to a city announcement about the work.
“Continued erosion of just a few feet could result in the destruction of the multi-million dollar facility, which would result in the movement of facility debris into the ocean along with discharge of storm drain runoff that the city is required to treat,” the announcement says.
If not protected, “the combination of uncontrolled storm drain flows and wave action could also erode the adjacent earthen-supported poles that support electrical lines which serve numerous residences, traffic signals, railroad crossing controls and pump stations,” the announcement says. “Further, the railroad tracks could be directly impacted by erosion.”
Each sand cube holds about a yard of sand, with more sand added between and behind the cubes for a total of about 1,500 cubic yards of sand, said Matt Sinacori, the city’s public works director.
While the area is county land, the city has an easement for the infrastructure, allowing them to do the protection work to about 150 yards of beach, he said. The city was granted an emergency permit for a temporary solution from the California Coastal Commission.
The work to fill the sand bags started in late August and is expected to continue through the end of September.
The trail, popular for bikers and walkers who frequent the beach path, will remain accessible, Sinacori said. “This is going to do a lot for the trail.”
Nelson said she hopes even more will be done to save the pathway, which connects the two beaches and gives Capo Beach residents access to nearby Doheny and the Dana Point Harbor. Without it, Capo Beach becomes an island, she said.
“I’m hoping (the Coastal Commission) sees it as important for beach access, and something worth saving,” she said. “A path like this is being used hundreds of times a day, for strollers, bikes, walkers. It’s important to be able to walk along the shore, and that’s worth saving.”
A similar project happened earlier this year further south using sand bags to help fill in the eroding beach and save what was left of the parking lot and a newly created area with picnic tables and fire rings at Capo Beach near Beach Road.
Nelson said she’ll be meeting with OC Parks landscape architects about ideas for the area long term. She’s hoping the conversations will include the historical significance about the area, such as the old beach club that was once here.
“We’re not just talking about a beach, we’re talking about a culture and history,” said Nelson, who launched an online petition calling for action to save the entire pathway. “There’s a whole sense of community tied up here. People have been passionate about saving it.”
Nelson said the work is an example of how the city, county and state can all work together to save the coast.
“It really shows good cooperation between the three agencies,” she said. “It’s really nice to see all three agencies talking and cooperating in a common goal.”
She’s also been lobbying decision makers to try and tear up a portion of the State Parks’ parking lot – closed because of erosion – to remove the asphalt and bring in sand to make new beach space.
“No cars can use it, no one can turn around safely. There’s no way they can rebuild that parking lot,” she said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if they could create a beach for people to put towels on?”
Nelson said she knows many of the fixes may be temporary as Mother Nature continues to eat away at the coast, but she wants to fight for the beaches to stay for as long as possible.
“Even though we know it will be eventually lost. If you save it five or 10 years, it’s a big chunk of a childhood,” she said. “I’m hoping the Coastal Commission will see that it’s important.”
