The study is authorized under Section 414 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-541) and is 100-percent federally funded. The authorization directs USACE to develop and screen an array of alternatives, assess environmental impacts and evaluate the least cost alternative to identify a mitigation plan that is environmentally acceptable and meets the study’s objectives. The authorization is for the study only – additional authorization and funding will be required to move to construction.
Public Comment Request: Draft Integrated Feasibility Report/Environmental Assessment
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District is seeking public comment on its Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment and draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the San Diego County Shoreline Mitigation Study, Oceanside, California.
The integrated report and appendices may be downloaded as PDF documents from the links provided.
USACE is accepting comments on the Draft Integrated Report and draft FONSI for 30 days. Comments must be submitted no later than June 30, 2026.
Comments should be as specific as possible and address the analysis of potential environmental impacts. Reviewers should organize their participation, so that it is meaningful and makes the agency aware of the viewer's interests and concerns using quotations and other specific references to the text of these documents. Matters that could have been raised with specificity during the comment period on the draft integrated report may not be considered if they are raised for the first time later in the decision process. This comment procedure is intended to ensure that substantive comments and concerns are made available to the USACE in a timely manner, so USACE has an opportunity to address them.
Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made public at any time.
Please submit comments or questions regarding the Draft Integrated Report via email to sdcs@usace.army.mil with subject heading “SD County Shoreline Mitigation Draft IFR Comments.” Comments may also be submitted by mail and must be postmarked by June 30, 2026, and addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Los Angeles District
Planning Division
Attn: SD County Shoreline Mitigation Draft IFR Comments
915 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 930
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Study Overview and Draft Integrated Report
The study was conducted in accordance with Section 414 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-541), as amended, and Section 1210 of the Water Resources Act of 2024 (Pub. L. 118-272), which authorizes the USACE to identify alternative plans to address shoreline erosion and other impacts resulting from the construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor in 1942 as a wartime measure and to restore beach conditions along the affected public and private shores to the conditions that existed before harbor construction. While Camp Pendleton Harbor continues to play a critical role in national security, its construction has disrupted natural sediment transport processes and induced erosion downcoast in the City of Oceanside. Erosion impacts have increased coastal storm risk to public and private property, degraded valuable environmental habitats and reduced recreational opportunities that are vital to the local economy and regional identity.
The USACE plan formulation process focuses on two primary objectives: (1) mitigating erosion caused by the harbor and (2) restoring pre-harbor beach conditions. A systematic framework was used to develop, screen and evaluate a range of structural and non-structural measures to meet these objectives. This process led to a final array of alternatives:
-
Alternative 1 (BN-10): Beach nourishment only, with a 10-year renourishment cycle. In this alternative, sand would be dredged from a borrow site and placed on the beach to mitigate the effects attributable to the harbor construction. Due to normal sand losses over time as waves and tides move sand along the shore in a process called longshore sediment transport, sand would be placed again every 10 years to maintain the target mitigation beach profile.
-
Alternative 2 (GR-10): Beach nourishment combined with the construction of 11 groins, with a 10-year renourishment cycle. In this alternative, sand would similarly be dredged and placed along the beach, however groins would be constructed to retain the sand in place longer, interrupting longshore transport of sand, reducing the quantities of sand that would need to be placed during each nourishment cycle.
-
Alternative 3 (No Action): Under this alternative, no federal project occurs. This is equivalent to the Future Without Project scenario.
These alternatives were evaluated and compared based on their estimated costs, technical performance in meeting project objectives, and environmental impacts, rather than economic benefits, in accordance with study-specific guidance.
Tentatively Selected Plan
The Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) is beach nourishment with a 10-year renourishment cycle (Alternative 1), which is found to be the most technically feasible, environmentally acceptable and least cost alternative to meet the objectives of mitigating erosion and restoring beach conditions. The TSP has additional incidental benefits, including creation of wider beaches in areas experiencing acute erosion and producing coastal storm risk reduction benefits to infrastructure and public and private property, beach recreation benefits in an area accessible by multiple modes of public and private transit, and public safety benefits in the form of additional lateral access for lifeguard and maintenance vehicles.
USACE has prepared a draft environmental assessment for the proposed action in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Department of Defense NEPA Implementing Procedures (June 30, 2025). USACE has made a preliminary determination that the effects of the proposed action would not be significant, and the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted. Following public review, USACE will make a final determination on whether to make a FONSI.
Additional Information
If you would like to be added to the list for email updates, please email SDCS@usace.army.mil with your request.