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January 2, 2010 -

New Year

Not much new on coastal access law lately, though enforcement and services are remaining pretty bleak due to California’s ongoing budget crisis.  The reductions in lifeguard services, particularly at state beaches, is particularly bad news and will undoubtedly, inevitably, lead to more bad news.

On the bright side, your host did do some “field research” at the Del Mar Penguin Plunge yesterday with the husband and several hundred of our closest friends.  Happy New Year!

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May 22, 2008 -

North San Diego County cracks down

According to the Union-Tribune, Del Mar has followed San Diego and the Torrey Pines State Park in instituting a ban on alcohol at public beaches. 

On a related note, the City of Oceanside has increased the authority of their lifeguards to issue citations for petty offenses.  Even though the vote was unanimous, it was interesting that the North County Times article did report at least one city council member, Esther Sanchez, inquiring about the impact of extra duties on the core responsibility for water safety.

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March 8, 2008 -

Alcohol ban copycats

To avoid extra work from responsible adults trying to avoid San Diego’s alcohol ban, the state beach at Torrey Pines is instituting a one-year trial ban of their own.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune article reporting on the new prohibition, only three beaches in San Diego county will continue to allow alcohol consumption: “Del Mar, Solana Beach and the Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado.”

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January 11, 2007 -

Riprap to be removed in Del Mar

Del Mar (San Diego County), is reportedly planning to remove private erosion barriers on public beaches between 17th and 29th Streets.  From the San Diego Union-Tribune article:

“I think the riprap serves to check the energy of the wave as it’s breaking . . . but as far preventing erosion, I’m doubtful,” said Pat Vergne, Del Mar’s community services director and chief lifeguard, who has observed the city’s beaches for more than 20 years.

Hany Elwany, a coastal engineer affiliated with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, concurred.

“Riprap does not prevent erosion, but it does protect property from storm damage,” he said. “Del Mar’s beaches undergo very large seasonal cycles . . . as much as 150 feet a year, and that is normal.”

 According to the article this does not impact properly engineered seawalls.

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Interesting Sites

70 Percent Good site focusing on reporting and documenting break conditions for waveriders
Coastal Marine Resource Center Non-profit from the New York-New Jersey Harbor Bight
Free PB Opposition to additional beach regulations at San Diego’s Pacific Beach
Race for the Oceans A forum for swimmers and swimming fans to dive in to ocean conservation.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.
Wave Ride Net Surfing and surf spots