The Oceanside Harbor includes both Camp Pendleton Harbor (constructed in 1942) and the Recreation and Small-Craft Harbor (constructed in 1963). Sand from the construction of these harbors was placed on City beaches following various coastal construction projects, adding over 5 million cubic yards (cy) of sand to the beach between 1944 – 1982. Since the completion of the Harbor projects, a continued deficit of sediment in the littoral cell that flows to Oceanside beaches has created a persistent state of erosion. Previous USACE studies estimate that Oceanside Harbor has caused a 1.4 to 1.6-million cy loss of sand volume from Oceanside beaches since 1942. Sand loss has caused the beaches south of Oceanside Harbor to retreat 6.6 ft/year in some areas.

Section 414 of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) 2000 directs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to study the options to mitigate for erosion and other impacts resulting from the construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor, and restore beach conditions along the affected public and private shores. Section 414 commits the USACE to compete the Study that would inform a future design and project aimed at restoring Oceanside beaches to conditions that existed before the construction of the harbor. Additionally, Section 414 directs USCAE to complete the study at full Federal expense and, as amended in 2007, within 44 months of funds being appropriated.

Funding for the Study was appropriated in 2015. Funds for the study ran out in 2016 and the Study was put on hold until funds were re-appropriated in 2022. Despite the short time frame, a draft of the Study was largely completed in 2016 and indicated that a couple project design options could solve the erosion issue. A background literary review, modeling of the shoreline, and analysis of available sand sources from offshore borrow areas was all completed before the Study was paused.

In January 2022, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced he had secured $1.8 million in federal funding for the Oceanside Special Shoreline Study to restart. Unfortunately, with the Study paused for over 6 years, the Study had to be considered a new start project, and was given a renewed 44 months to complete. Though a draft of the Study is substantially complete and several required technical studies have already been conducted and finalized, the Study does not formally need to be completed until 2026. The Study will include recommendations on a preferred project to alleviate erosion problems caused by the Del Mar Boat Basin.

For more information on the Army Corps study, view the USACE Fact Sheet for San Diego County Shoreline.

Background Report (2000):
The San Diego County Shoreline Expedited Reconnaissance Study (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2000) was an early technical report that identified the federal interest in addressing downcoast erosion impacts caused by the construction of Oceanside Harbor. Conducted under a 1992 U.S. House Committee resolution, the study confirmed that the construction of the Oceanside Harbor contributed to sand loss and shoreline retreat along Oceanside beaches south to Loma Alta Creek. The findings from this report established the foundation for the current Section 414 Special Shoreline Study and its focus on long-term mitigation and beach restoration.

View the San Diego County Shoreline Technical Report, by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2000

Media Coverage

• Federal money allocated to finish key Oceanside shoreline study, San Diego Union-Tribune, June 1, 2025