This is what Pierpont Beach could look like.

‍ ‍THE “TAKING” OF PIERPONT BEACH

**** They want to create sand dunes on a major portion of Pierpont beach between San Pedro and Marina Park.

**** They want to plant them with native plants

**** They can then declare these dunes an ESHA (environmentally sensitive habitat area).

**** They can then rope them off so beachgoers are not allowed to walk or recreate on them.

***** They will provide roped off walkways from the end of some streets for access down to what’s left of the beach.

Who are “THEY”??

The California Costal Commission, The City of Ventura, and the State.

They met in 2022 to basically resurrect a “sand Management Plan” which had been put on hold in 2013. The major stakeholder in this plan, The PBCC, was not invited to participate and had no knowledge of the meetings.

What follows, is the Resolution which was unanimously passed by the Executive Board of the Pierpont Beach Community Council….

RESOLUTION:

By unanimous consent of the executive board of the P.B.C.C. 6/23/26

RESOLVED:

The California Coastal Commission (CCC), the city of Ventura, and the State are once again entertaining the idea of implementing a “Sand Management Plan” for Pierpont Beach.

It is essentially a replication of the same plan put forth in 2013 which was subsequently rejected and abandoned. It has now resurfaced and again, contemplates the creation of sand dunes which are planted with native plants….” remove non-native vegetation and restore native dune vegetation” (page 6 of the current proposed plan). As was the case back then, there would need to be roped off walkways from the end of the lanes down to the remaining portions of the beach to prevent beachgoers from walking on the planted dunes. At this time, Pierpont Beach has not been designated as an ESHA (Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area). That designation would occur when dunes are invested with native plants.

In the original 2013 plan, the engineered drawings contemplated planted dunes that represented 58% of the beach, leaving 42% for recreation. As we know, most of the wind intrusion is such that it blows towards the beach, which causes the width of the dunes to extend toward the ocean…thereby further reducing the remaining recreational area. Our beach is clearly designated as a “recreational beach” and this is undisputed.

In 2022, to revive and revise this plan, the CCC, State Parks, and the city met to discuss. The PBCC (representing the Pierpont residents who are most effected) was not made aware of the meetings and was therefore, not included in any discussions. This group consulted with Rincon Consultants, and the result was the draft of a new proposed “Pierpont Beach Management Plan” in May of 2023. In November 2024, The City Council approved a $1,125,500 Grant application to the Coastal Conservancy for funds to “develop a sand management plan.” The application clearly states….”restore approximately 5 acres of dunes and coastal habitat along Pierpont Beach” (page 5) and….” increase coastal habitat area for native coastal flora and fauna”…..also, “Elevate beach topography through dune creation.” Page 22 of the “plan” states…” Living shoreline projects can be costly. A recent project at Cardiff in Encinitas, California, cost nearly $700,000 per acre.” The acreage designated in the grant is five (5) acres so the estimated cost would be $3,500,000.

Until 1999, the city routinely pushed back wind driven sand that had accumulated at and over the street ends, back toward the ocean from where it had come. This served to both maintain and enhance the width of the beach. In 1999, the CCC refused to issue permits for the city to do this, so from that time, and until today, the City has been forced to transport the sand to Surfers Point as well as having to “stockpile it in city owned vacant lots outside the coastal zone” (page 2 of SMP). The “littoral drift” moves sand northwest-southeast. Currently the Harbor traps an enormous amount of this sand which has to be removed twice a year. Most of it is taken to Surfers Knoll and South Beach. There is no physical or legal barrier preventing this sand from serving as nourishment for Pierpont Beach. In fact, coastal engineers have recommended this for years. They say that if Pierpont received even 50,000 cubic yards of sand every 1-2 years, the beach would widen, and the groins would function better. Also, the groins can be upgraded. Most certainly the cost involved would most likely be less than the total estimated cost of design and implementation of a planted dune system, ($3,500,000 plus design, $1,125,000 and annual maintenance) which would do nothing to widen the beach.

The PBCC is opposed to any action that would in any way, and at any time, limit beachgoers ability to walk, or recreate, on any portion of Pierpont Beach between Marina Park and San Pedro Street. The position of the PBCC is that the practice of pushing sand back toward the ocean as it did prior to 1999, should be reinstated.

For additional information, click on the boxes below…..