California Coastal Commission Approves Coastal Development Permit to Construct Catchment Wall and Restore San Clemente Beach Trail

On May 7, the California Coastal Commission approved a request for a Coastal Development Permit to construct a catchment wall at Mariposa Point and restore the pedestrian trail. The permit authorizes the construction of a 1,400-foot-long catchment wall in Area 3, on the inland side of the track. Although crews have placed temporary concrete barriers between the track and the inland bluff to create a safe workspace for crew, the schedule to construct that wall is still being determined.

More than 400 feet of temporary concrete barriers have been installed along the inland side of the track near Mariposa Point, creating a safe work zone for crews to build an approximately 1,400-foot-long catchment wall in the coming months. This area, referred to as Project Area 3, also includes plans to restore the beachside pedestrian trail.

Sand Nourishment

OCTA is concurrently working to source 240,000 cubic yards of sand as part of the project that will be placed in Areas 1 and 2 north of Mariposa Point.

Riprap Repair

Crews finished strategically placing large boulders, also known as riprap, in Areas 1 and 2, totaling approximately 5,900 tons of riprap to protect the tracks. The rocks were sorted and placed primarily within the area where riprap previously existed to protect against coastal erosion.

In total, approximately 5,900 tons of riprap were installed—more than 1,700 tons less than the original construction estimate of 7,650 tons. This reduction was achieved through efficient use and reorganization of existing riprap, allowing the project team to reinforce the track using less new material while still meeting safety and stabilization goals.