San Elijo Campground Under Threat From Erosion
California State Parks is asking the California Coastal Commission for follow-up approval to keep a 240-foot-long revetment they installed in February 2023 at San Elijo State Beach Campground in Encinitas.
The emergency repairs came after some brutal winter storms in 2022-23 caused major erosion, prompting Governor Newsom to declare a state of emergency in early January. The damage was so severe that even President Biden added San Diego County to the federal emergency declaration.
The storms left a pre-existing bluff revetment in rough shape, putting 14 campsites and the campground’s southernmost turnaround at risk.
Without quick action, the State Fire Marshal could have ordered the closure of those campsites due to a lack of emergency access. To prevent that, State Parks brought in 1,900 tons of massive boulders and 1,000 tons of beach cobble to shore up the eroding bluff. The fix spans about 240 feet and helps protect one of San Elijo’s most vulnerable spots.
State Parks considered other options, like doing nothing or trying nature-based solutions, but ultimately decided that keeping the revetment in place was the best bet for now. Coastal Commission staff agree, recommending approval to avoid future emergencies at the popular campground, even though hard structures like revetments aren’t ideal because they can speed up erosion and shrink the beach over time.
To limit the damage, the revetment was designed with tapered ends and a steep slope to reduce its footprint. The project also includes some conditions, like a five-year authorization to give State Parks time to study long-term solutions that might have less of an impact. The revetment will be closely monitored to ensure it doesn’t spread beyond its approved area.
While it’s true the revetment takes up some beach space, it’s also critical for keeping the campground open and accessible for both campers and emergency vehicles. For now, it seems like the best compromise to protect one of Southern California’s favorite coastal spots.