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Project Authority: This study was authorized by Section 103, River and Harbor Act of 1962 (PL 87-874), as amended that empowers the Corps of Engineers to participate in the cost of protecting shores of publicly owned property from storm damage. Under this authority, more commonly known as the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP), the Corps of Engineers may be authorized to plan, design, and construct projects without additional project specific Congressional authorization.
Project Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine alternatives to protect existing shoreline threatened by erosion problems that are currently being experienced by the City of Pismo Beach and assess feasible measures to solve the identified problems.
Project Area Description: The project area is located along the shoreline in the northern portion of the City of Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. Pismo Beach is situated on a narrow marine terrace bordered by the beach and ocean on one side and the hills on the other. The shoreline of Pismo Beach consists of wide sandy beach at the southern end and high seacliffs, rocky coast, and narrow beaches at the northern end. The seacliffs are in an active state of erosion and vary in height from 10 feet to over 100 feet above low crested beach berms. Five shoreline sections within the northern end of Pismo Beach and one section within the southern end have been identified as erosional:
a) Memory Park at Baker Ave. (St. Andrews Lift Station, Figure 2);
b) Ocean Boulevard at Vista del Mar Ave. (Vista del Mar Lift Station, Figure 4);
c) Ocean Boulevard at Capistrano Ave (Figure 3);
d) 2 sites along Price Street between Dinosaur Caves and Shelter Cove
Lodge (Figures 5 and 6); and
e) Cypress St. Lift Station (Figure 7) Background: The Corps completed an Initial Appraisal Report (IAR) in February 2002. The IAR determined that a retreat on-grade bridge to provide support for Price Street was a feasible measure to mitigate the on-going bluff retreat problem. However, it was determined that even with the armoring of the bluff toe, the upper bluff would continue to erode due to the geophysical instability of the present over-steepened upper bluff as well as the erosion induced by sub-aerial factors such as excessive surface runoff during the winter months and the flow of groundwater. Federal participation in mitigating any potential bluff erosion is only applicable to the existing problem related to the oceanographic factors (e.g. storm wave induced damage). Therefore, at the time of the IAR, federal involvement in a feasibility study to further evaluate the alternative measures to prevent continued upper bluff retreat was not warranted. In 2007, the city of Pismo Beach requested that the Corps relook at the project area because of increased erosion since completion of the IAR in 2002. After reinvestigating, it was determined that erosion to the bluffs is occurring as a result of wave attack to the toe of the bluff. It was determined that federal involvement is warranted. Project Status: The Corps is currently developing and evaluating alternatives for the Pismo Beach Shoreline Project. Drafts of the Environmental Assessment and coastal engineering documents for the Pismo Beach Shoreline Protection CAP 103 Study will be available in April/May timeframe of 2010.
Map: 
Figure 1. Pismo Beach Project Sites.
Photos: 
Congressional Interest: Lois Capps (D - CA). Non-Federal Sponsor: City of Pismo Beach
Kevin Rice, City Manager
760 Mattie Road
Pismo Beach, CA 93449-2056
(805) 773-7007, Fax (805) 773-7006
http://www.pismobeach.org/ Technical Documents/Presentations: Initial Appraisal Study (IAS) Shoreline Protection, Pismo Beach, CA – Feb. 2002 (2.2 MB PDF)
Pismo Beach Shoreline CAP 103 Study Project Management Plan – Sept. 2008 (2.8 MB PDF) Points of Contact: Monica Eichler, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
915 Wilshire Blvd (CESPL-PM)
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 452-4012 Marriah Abellera, Lead Planner
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
915 Wilshire Blvd (CESPL-PD-WS)
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 452-3835 Greg Fuderer, Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
915 Wilshire Blvd. (CESPL-PA)
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 452-3923, Fax (213) 452-4204 |
