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Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mayors of Orange County’s coastline cities, and local officials from the Orange County Board of Supervisors joined Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) to share an update on the Surfside-Sunset & Newport Beach Replenishment Project, and to highlight the funding secured earlier this year in a major piece of legislation. Championed by Rep. Steel, $15.5 million in funding for the much-needed project was approved by Congress and signed into law in March. Col. Julie A. Balten from the USACE provided an update on the project’s timing, sharing that the sand replenishment will begin in 2024.
“For more than a decade this has been a top priority for me and our local community, and I’m proud to deliver this much-needed support for Orange County. Our beaches are our lifeblood, and this project will ensure the safety of our communities and the health of our coastline for generations to come. I’m grateful for the support of these local leaders and thank the U.S. Army Corps for their partnership,” said Rep. Steel.
“The sand replenishment project is more than just preserving coastal space for recreation, it is important in preventing flooding and other infrastructure damages caused by eroded shorelines,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, who represents Orange County’s First Supervisorial District. “I am proud to see local, state, and federal lawmakers working together to get the funding we need to protect our coastlines.”
“The City of Newport Beach greatly appreciates the work of Congresswoman Michelle Steel to secure funding for the sand replenishment project, as well as the advocacy work of our neighboring beach cities and other partners,” said Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon. “In a few short years, the additional sand from this replenishment project will help enhance our waterfront and protect against flooding of Peninsula homes and businesses.”
“This is a critical project for the long-term environmental and economic health of the Newport Beach waterfront,” said Newport Beach Councilmember Diane Dixon. “I’m pleased that we could come together today and recognize the efforts of Congresswoman Michelle Steel and the multi-agency, multi-office collaboration that it took to get the sand replenishment project funded and implemented.”
The coastline of Orange County has been eroding for decades. The cause of this destruction is not “global warming” but actions taken by government agencies during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Studies showed that the State of California had rivers controlled and harbors constructed, the federal government received an operational naval base but with the cost of losing the natural, restorative sand flow to the local beaches. From 1965 until 1995 twelve stages of reconstruction were provided by the USACE funded 67% by the federal government, 30% by the state of California and 3% by local communities. Federal funding became a major issue in 1995 and since then only two Stages of replenishment have been provided over twenty seven years. The coastline is being destroyed. During her term in office, Michelle Steel has outlined the problem and demonstrated the urgency of a solution being provided. Federal funding, held up for years, was provided in 2022 because of her persistent congressional presentations,” said President of the Surfside Storm Water Protection District John Kriss.
With the support of Orange County leaders and project stakeholders, Rep. Steel engaged with Appropriations Committee leaders to emphasize the importance of the local project. The funding will go towards the project and aid the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the beach repair, which is more than a decade overdue.
