Local emergency declared in California beach city to stabilize coastal bluffs ahead of super El Niño

THE TAKEAWAY

• Carlsbad declared a local emergency as officials work to stabilize coastal bluffs threatened by ongoing erosion.
• Officials hope to protect the coastline ahead of potentially strong El Niño conditions this winter.
• Officials plan to place boulders along the existing rock revetment, extending approximately 192 feet to the north.

A San Diego County beach city declared a local emergency Wednesday as officials work to stabilize coastal bluffs threatened by ongoing erosion ahead of potentially strong El Niño conditions this winter.

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Carlsbad City Manager Geoff Patnoe announced that the emergency declaration will accelerate stabilization work along a portion of South Carlsbad Boulevard.

During a routine inspection in June, city staff observed bluff erosion along South Carlsbad Boulevard, north of the bridge at Las Encinas Creek, an area under the city's authority.

Of Carlsbad's seven miles of coastline, six miles are owned and managed by the State of California through State Parks.

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"We immediately took several precautionary steps, including placing cones and caution signs in the area, applying sealant to prevent moisture from getting into the pavement and protect any cracks, and continuing to closely monitor the bluff for movement," Patnoe said.

The city also brought in independent geotechnical experts to conduct a professional investigation of the bluff and roadway.

By August, officials had begun working with the California Coastal Commission on potential emergency stabilization measures and the permits needed to complete the work.

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After receiving the geotechnical report on Sept. 8, officials declared the local emergency. The report recommended emergency stabilization measures, including extending the existing rock revetment approximately 192 feet to the north.

"This is exactly the kind of quick, proactive action our city takes in areas under our authority," Patnoe said. "In fact, we’ve declared other emergencies this year which allows us to expedite repairs that would normally require a formal bidding process, which can take months."

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City officials said repairs could begin as early as this week, pending permit approval from the California Coastal Commission.

Officials plan to place boulders along the existing rock revetment, extending approximately 192 feet to the north, to provide additional bluff and shoreline protection.

"As we’ve seen throughout this year, the city takes a proactive approach to monitoring and maintaining our infrastructure, particularly ahead of storm seasons, so we can identify potential issues and address them before they become problems," Patnoe said.

"We understand this is a heavily traveled roadway, and maintaining its integrity is essential to protecting public safety, as well as property and our coastal environment," he continued.

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The existing revetments were installed in 2009, 2015 and 2016. Over the years, small cracks and other signs of erosion have begun to appear. However, the street currently protected by the existing revetment remains stable.

The emergency declaration comes as coastal erosion continues to threaten communities along the California coast. Approximately 20 oceanfront homes were evacuated in a Long Beach neighborhood on Sept. 8 after powerful swells accelerated coastal erosion.

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The coastal erosion also reportedly triggered the collapse of Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage’s home into a sinkhole.

Officials warn that conditions could worsen as potentially strong El Niño conditions impact the California coast this winter.