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12.13.24

Surfrider Celebrates Major Milestone for Coastal Resilience at San O!

Exciting news for coastal resilience in Southern California!

The California State Coastal Conservancy has awarded the Surfrider Foundation a one million dollar grant to support shoreline resilience and continued access to San Onofre State Beach.

San O has long experienced chronic erosion that has carved away at the limited parking available for beach users each time a high tide, swell event, or strong storm moves in. The grant awarded to Surfrider will fund surveys of the beach and hire coastal engineers to explore whether a nature-based project to protect the shoreline is possible.

The coasts, by nature, are defined by constant change. They continue to form new boundaries between land and sea—this becomes difficult to reconcile within the narrow zone where rigid development and dynamic coasts overlap. This is true even within the seemingly undeveloped natural space we enjoy at San O. With the only reasonable vehicle access to the beach being on the beach, erosion events have dramatically impacted accessibility, as we witnessed firsthand during last year’s temporary closure.

San O is not only the ancestral homeland of the Acjachemen and an important Indigenous cultural epicenter but also a cornerstone of California’s early surf history. Today it remains a beloved gathering spot to catch long, gently peeling waves, as well as enjoy vigorous volleyball games and ever-important beach naps. Ensuring uninterrupted public access by strengthening the shoreline’s resilience is a major priority for local Californians and the more than 2.5 million visitors who enjoy it each year. 

Surfrider embarked on a process of active listening this past summer, and is working to center the community through all stages of the long-term planning process at San O. Since then, in partnership with California State Parks, the San Onofre Parks Foundation, and the San Onofre Surfing Club, the Surfrider Foundation has:

  • Given numerous presentations to help people understand the dynamics shaping our coastal zones, sparking awareness and dialogue about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
  • United voices across communities to petition for continued public access to San O, advocating for a lease renewal that kept this iconic beach under State Parks stewardship.
  • Held community group workshops, creating a space where representatives from local Tribes, surf clubs, adaptive users, and other public figures mapped out their concerns and hopes for the beach’s future.
  • Hosted on-site pop-ups, asking visitors how they use and value the beach—learning about their favorite spots, areas of concern, and what makes San O special to them.
  • Facilitated important discussions between land managers and community stakeholders, building trust and fostering a collaborative approach to both the most immediate needs and long-term planning.

Screenshot 2024-12-12 at 10.57.53 AM

Left: San Onofre Surfing Club members place point on a map at the club's annual surfing competition.
Right: Living Shorelines Coordinator, Alex Ferron, addresses LA volunteers at a coastal dynamics presentation. 

Through this process, the intention has been to gather information from diverse aspects of the community about their vision for the future of San O, with the ultimate goal of informing the most suitable nature-based adaptation strategy that will protect the long-term resilience of the beach for all people.


This grant brings us all one step closer to realizing a resilient future for San Onofre State Beach so that future generations can enjoy this quintessential Southern California surf break.

Stay tuned for public meetings about the future of San Onofre and opportunities to get involved in the long-term planning process.