PROJECT DESCRIPTION: 

The authorized project for coastal storm damage reduction in Encinitas, includes initial construction of a 50-foot-wide beach fill along a 7,800-foot-long stretch of shoreline, using 340,000 cubic yards of compatible sediment, with re-nourishment – in the amount of 220,000 cubic yards – every five years on average over a 50-year period of federal participation, for a total of nine additional nourishments. 

The authorized project for coastal storm damage reduction in Solana Beach, includes initial construction of a 150-foot-wide beach fill along a 7,200-foot-long stretch of shoreline, using 700,000 cubic yards of compatible sediment, with re-nourishment in the amount of 290,000 cubic yards every 10 years on average over a 50-year period of federal participation, for a total of four additional nourishments. 

Material for the beach fill is dredged from offshore borrow sites, located off the coast of San Diego County. For the initial fill, sand was dredged from an offshore source beyond depth of closure, using a site designated as the SO-5 borrow site, located offshore of San Dieguito Lagoon. The material was placed hydraulically and directly onto the two receiver sites within the Encinitas and Solana Beach project segments using a hopper dredge with pump out capability.

Physical monitoring of the performance of the project occurs annually throughout the 50-year period of federal participation. This plan provides coastal storm damage reduction throughout the project reach and maintains the existing recreational beach. A comprehensive mitigation monitoring and reporting plan is incorporated into the authorized project.

The Final Integrated Feasibility Study and EIS/EIR and Chief of Engineers' Report for the Encinitas-Solana Beach Coastal Storm Damage Reduction Project, San Diego County, California, was signed April 26, 2016. The Record of Decision was signed June 22, 2017.  The project was authorized for construction in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016.  The authorized name is San Diego County, CA (formerly known and referred to as Encinitas and Solana Beach, CA).

Initial Construction Phase

The project’s initial construction phase began in December 2023 and was completed in May 2024.

On May 19, 2025, the American Society of Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) selected the Encinitas-Solana Beach Project for the 2025 Best Restored Beach Award.  The widened beaches were being used by California grunion for spawning before construction was completed demonstrating the need for widened beaches for ecological as well as recreational and storm damage risk reduction purposes.

ENCINITAS before and after photos:

LEFT PHOTO: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas 2004 (Preconstruction); RIGHT PHOTO: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas 2024 (Post Construction)

SOLANA BEACH before and after photos:

LEFT PHOTO: Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach 2004 (Preconstruction); RIGHT PHOTO: Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach 2024 (Post Construction)

One year of pre-construction monitoring was completed and two years of post-construction monitoring is in progress and includes the following:

• Habitat monitoring
  • Rocky reef monitoring/habitat mapping
  • Rocky intertidal monitoring
  • Surfgrass monitoring
• Borrow site monitoring
  • Seabed morphology
  • Water quality
  • Benthic habitat quality
• Surf zone monitoring for surfing
• Physical beach transects
• Lagoon monitoring

Pre-project monitoring reports have been finalized and are located in the final document section. 

The table below shows a current status of post-construction monitoring.

Points of Contact: