Oceanside Coastal Dunes Restoration Project - January 2026

Oceanside Coastal Dune Restoration 

Coastal dune restoration involves techniques to rebuild or enhance existing dune systems, which are crucial for coastal protection, habitat preservation, sand retention and other ecosystem services. These techniques include adding sand to dunes, planting vegetation, and using engineered solutions like fencing to trap sand. The primary goal is to stabilize dunes and facilitate natural dune creation processes. 

• On December 20, 2023, Oceanside City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City to accept a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program grant, to support the installation and monitoring of the Oceanside Coastal Dune Restoration Project. See Staff Report

The Oceanside Coastal Dunes Restoration Pilot Project, proposed at Harbor Beach, San Luis Rey and North Strand beaches, will restore coastal dune habitat using green engineering techniques. The dune restoration proposed in these locations will showcase the benefits of having dunes on the back beach on a small scale, which may be useful to inform future coastal management planning efforts. As vegetated dunes help stabilize sand on the back beach, they become a natural form for sand retention. Additionally, with the natural increase in beach elevation, dunes provide coastal flood protection.

Historically, dunes were part of the landscape in Oceanside and restoring them will enhance the beach user experience and provide educational opportunities about the ecological and historical importance of dunes to indigenous peoples. The passive, but effective and efficient restoration techniques proposed to be used in Oceanside are also being used in coastal dune restoration efforts throughout the state.

The pilot project includes several restoration sites along Oceanside’s shoreline. At Harbor Beach, dunes will be restored near the North Jetty (Plot 1) and the Harbor Beach roundabout area (Plots 2–4). Additional restoration plots are located along the North Strand (Plots 1–4), while the San Luis Rey River Mouth will feature designated dune restoration exclusionary areas. Together, these sites provide a representative range of back-beach conditions where restoration can demonstrate how vegetated dunes support sand retention and coastal resilience.

• See Dune Restoration Project Plans for the full site map

This passive, but effective and efficient restoration technique being used in Oceanside is also being used in coastal dune restoration efforts throughout the state.

Ponto Dunes Restoration Project - April 2025

Media Coverage

For additional questions please contact Coastal Zone Administrator, Jayme Timberlake JTimberlake@oceansideca.org