City of Oceanside’s RE:BEACH Pilot

The RE:BEACH Oceanside initiative is a multi-phase coastal resilience program established to address severe shoreline erosion and protect the city’s $500 million tourism economy. Following the publication of the City’s 2021 sand feasibility study, and in response to public outcry from a proposal to build groins (a traditional form of hard infrastructure to retain sand on beaches), the City of Oceanside decided to take a new approach that could help them move beyond traditional, less-effective dredging methods toward innovative “hybrid” solutions, both engineered and nature-based, for sand retention. 

The City partnered with Resilient Cities Catalyst to identify more innovative and community-supported approaches to sourcing solutions and in 2023, they conducted an International Design Competition, with a 15-member jury of experts and community members who evaluated and recommended designs based on physical effectiveness, financial feasibility, environmental impact, social benefit, and regional compatibility. 

In January 2024, the City Council unanimously approved Jury proposed "Living Speed Bumps" design by ICM. The project features two rounded artificial headlands at the shoreline to stabilize sand and one offshore artificial reef (900 feet out) to dissipate wave energy and promote sand deposition and will be built at the Tyson Street Park and Wisconsin Avenue beach segments, two areas of chronic erosion.

To learn more about the Design Competition and progress toward implementation of the RE:BEACH pilot to date, visit rebeach.org.