This past month, the bluff collapse at Grandview beach, which was responsible for the loss of three lives, has sparked new motivation to stabilize the cliffs to ensure this doesn’t happen again. The biggest obstacle to overcome is not political, but financial.
To help protect these sandstone cliffs from being eroded by the elements, engineers from the U.S. Army are developing a half-century project to reinforce the bluffs. By dumping more sand on the shore, the goal is to prevent the sea from bashing against the cliffs, making rockslides less common.
One of the main contributors to erosion is human behavior. The runoff created from irrigation from homes and businesses has seeped through the sandstone cliffs and caused them to deteriorate about 100 inches annually, whereas the natural erosion rate would only be 12 inches annually.
Former Solana Beach City Manager David Ott does not believe in the 50-year sand dumping plan. In 2013 he stated, “As the waves crash in, they take the sand out, and eventually take all the sand out.” The new sand may help prevent erosion for a few years, but eventually, that sand will be taken out to sea.
In 2012, San Diego spent $30 million to repair the beaches, much of which has already been washed away. Ultimately, deciding how much money to spend and which bluffs to invest in is the most significant decision to make regarding this issue.
As of now, officials are urging beachgoers to keep a safe distance from the cliffs. Encinitas Mayor Catherine Blakespear stated, “I know the natural shade provided by the cliffs can be enticing, but it’s obviously a risk not worth taking.” Better to risk your towel getting wet than to risk your life under the bluffs.
