Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) issued an update on the rail stabilization work in taking place in San Clemente, Calif., saying crews made significant progress in the ongoing emergency work this past week. Passenger rail service throughout the San Clemente corridor will remain closed for about five more weeks, according to the authority.  Crews are focused on the most vulnerable areas in San Clemente to reinforce the coastal rail line and protect it from the effects of sliding bluffs and coastal erosion. Significant progress was made on work to repair riprap in Area 1. The bulk of this past week’s work consisted of removing the remaining spans of the city’s damaged Mariposa Point pedestrian bridge in Area 3. Each steel span was approximately 80 feet long and weighed 20,000 pounds. Excavators were positioned on the beach and inland side of the track to begin repairing and reinforcing damaged riprap. The rocks are being strategically sorted and placed primarily within the area where riprap previously existed. That work will continue in Areas 1 and 2 throughout this week, typically between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. At the same time, OCTA, which is leading the project, is working to source 240,000 cubic yards of sand as part of the project that will be placed in Areas 1 and 2 north of Mariposa Point. At its May 7 meeting, the California Coastal Commission will consider OCTA’s proposal to construct a new catchment wall at Mariposa Point in Area 3 and restore the pedestrian beach trail. OCTA has been working with Metrolink, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and other stakeholders to find a long-term solution to the ongoing erosion of the coastal rail corridor.  LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. Why it matters: Coastal erosion over the years has left some of the city’s beaches with only a narrow strip of sand, cutting off public access in some areas. To fully replenish its beaches, San Clemente needs between 2 million and 5 million cubic yards of sand. The backstory: San Clemente and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have embarked on a sand replenishment project in which every five years, around 200,000 cubic yards of sand will be deposited on a half-mile stretch of beach between T Street and Linda Lane. The 50-year project will see around 2 million cubic yards of sand deposited. What's next: On Tuesday, city leaders will decide on sites the city can potentially get sand from before a consultant group can begin testing the sand later this year for viability. Read on ... for more about sand replenishment. San Clemente is at risk of losing its reputation as a beach town unless it finds sand to replenish its shorelines. So on Tuesday, the City Council will decide on a list of potential sites to pull from — hopefully close to home. Coastal erosion over the years has left some of the city’s beaches with only a narrow strip of sand, cutting off public access in some areas. To fully replenish its beaches, San Clemente needs between 2 million and 5 million cubic yards of sand. On Tuesday, city leaders will decide on sites the city can potentially get sand from before a consultant group can begin testing the sand later this year for viability. Hall said the city is trying to do what nature does naturally. “ We dammed up the rivers and we put freeways and railroad tracks and other things in the way so that the sand can't migrate to the beaches,” he said. San Clemente and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have embarked on a sand replenishment project in which every five years, around 200,000 cubic yards of sand will be deposited on a half-mile stretch of beach between T Street and Linda Lane. The 50-year project will see around 2 million cubic yards of sand deposited. But in 2023, when the project kicked off, sand was first deposited from Oceanside that turned out to be mostly cobble with very little beach-grade sand, damaging equipment, so it was paused until the team was able to find a better source. They were able to locate an interim source of sand at a quarry — or a pile of sand out in the water — off the Huntington Beach-Seal Beach area called Surfside Sunset, Hall said. Having to travel farther north to Surfside Sunset, Hall said, added to the cost. The California Coastal Commission then gave the city a grant to find sand closer home. On Tuesday, city leaders will choose from some of the options a consultant group, Coastal Frontiers Corp., presents to begin testing. “ If we can find a deposit of sand close to the city, the reward is huge,” Hall said. “The amount of not only money that will be saved, but the environmental impacts of all the air quality and everything.” Brett Sanders, a professor at UC Irvine, said the study to find pockets of sand that can be used for beach replenishment is a “really great opportunity.” “ We have very limited data on the availability of sand along the coastline of southern Orange County,” Sanders said, adding that finding sand closer to San Clemente will open up savings for taxpayers.  The beaches of Orange County, he added, are “enormously important for the economy of the region” as they drive tax revenue by attracting people to local hotels and restaurants. “When coastal communities look at the cost of maintaining the beaches, they look at the potential losses they might find in the future if they didn't have beaches,” Sanders said. “ Some of these investments in beaches start looking like a really good value.” One of the best things you can do to hold officials accountable is pay attention.Your city council, board of supervisors, school board and more all hold public meetings that anybody can attend. These are times you can talk to your elected officials directly and hear about the policies they’re voting on that affect your community. Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County train routes will temporarily begin and end at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station — completely cutting service to the lines’ four most southern stops: San Juan Capistrano Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner line will also be disrupted by the construction work, but a bypass bus will run between Irvine and Oceanside The temporary disruptions come just weeks after transportation authorities called for emergency repairs “to stabilize four areas most vulnerable to failure above the railroad track through San Clemente,” according to the Orange County Transportation Authority. Another landslide in San Clemente has closed the tracks to passenger trains Officials need a long-term plan to move this important service to stable ground away from the ocean’s edge This section of oceanside railway in San Clemente, and other areas of coastal Orange County, have repeatedly been closed in recent years as coastal erosion landslides and rockfalls have continued to affect the stability and safety of the track Railway officials have been under pressure to find a long-term solution for the critical railway which provides both public transportation and key freight services Advocates and lawmakers have become increasingly worried about the Lossan rail corridor — which stands for Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo — as climate change and declining ridership threaten the future of the line there’s been little movement to find or fund a permanent fix for the corridor Amtrak’s rail service through San Diego County is also experiencing frequent schedule changes due to a similar construction project aimed at stabilizing the bluffs in Del Mar. The construction to take place in San Clemente over the next several weeks is the first phase of a larger emergency project that OCTA authorities expect to take a year to complete. The initial work will restore rock reinforcements, known as riprap, along the tracks that have degraded due to wave damage and beach erosion, the agency said. Crews are also expected to place 240,000 cubic yards of sand in the area to help “stabilize the slope and protect the track.” Grace Toohey is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news for the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Sentinel and the Advocate in Baton Rouge. Toohey is a Maryland native and proud Terp. World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page News & Reviews News Wire Coastal Commission approves permit for work to protect San Clemente Only part of request is approved; transit agency OKs emergency stabilization work — The California Coastal Commission has approved an emergency permit allowing Orange County’s transit agency to undertake some stabilization measures along the rail line connecting Orange County and San Diego The Orange County Transportation Authority board authorized the OCTA to address four areas along the Surf Line in the San Clemente area considered to be at risk because of landslides and beach erosion That followed the April 10 issuance of the emergency Coast Development Permit to stabilize the rail corridor The work will require suspension of passenger operations by Amtrak and Metrolink but the date the work will begin and the duration of the service outage have not yet been determined “This action enables OCTA to act quickly and decisively to protect our coastal rail line,” OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee said in a press release we are helping to preserve a critical transportation link for Southern California the permit did not approve all of the measures sought by the OCTA The agency said its staff and legal counsel are reviewing the permit to determine the best path forward “Our priority remains clear: to move quickly make the most of the state and federal funding we’ve already secured and deliver as much of the needed work as possible as soon as possible,” said OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson “We appreciate the Coastal Commission affirming what we have long recognized — that an emergency exists along this corridor.” The Coastal Commission’s permit approved the work in Areas 1 and 2 (shown below) and part of the work in Area 3 Commission staff asked for further explanation why the situation in Area 4 constitutes an emergency The OCTA submitted the permit request on March 31 [see “Transit agency requests emergency permit …,” Trains News Wire The San Clemente area has been the site of slides dating to 2021 with an almost continuous series of disruptions between September 2022 and July 2023 More problems led to suspensions between January and March of 2024 and inject cement into the road bad to stabilize it They need to get this done or we will lose that slope Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today! Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands! Print Left-handed pitcher Mike Erspamer of San Clemente High completed Sea View League competition by throwing 27-2/3 scoreless innings in helping the Tritons clinch the league championship The Stanford commit has established himself among the best pitchers in coach David Gellatly’s 31 seasons ranking in the same breath as Andre Pallante all of whom reached the majors during Gellatly’s tenure Triton Baseball defeats Beckman 5-0 today at home. Every SVL win is big at this point in season. Stanford bound Mike Erspamer with the complete game shutout & 9 K’s; Kai Cesare with a 2 run double. Erspamer with the strikeout here! 👍⚾️⁦@ocvarsity⁩ ⁦@latsondheimer⁩ pic.twitter.com/R5PJnaEPAH “It will be tough to rank pitchers through the years but he’s right up there with the best I’ve had,” Gellatly said Erspamer is 6-3 with a 1.71 earned-run average and has 83 strikeouts in 49 innings Beach Volleyball: Taft Had 8 Pairs Compete In @CIFLACS Pairs Championships. 4 Advanced Out Of Pool-Play To Single Elimination Playoffs—All Finishing In The Top 10. Eva Velarde & Laila Braimah Were Toreadors Highest Finishers Placing 3rd. A Record 75 Pairs Competed. #RepTheCity pic.twitter.com/L5Runa0Tcj Here are updated Southern Section lacrosse results. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com. Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has been honored seven times by the California Prep Sportswriters Assn. for best prep sports column. High School Sports LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio Metrolink changes: Passenger rail service will stop for about six weeks and will affect Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines Metrolink trains traveling southbound will go up to the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station Monday through Sunday Amtrak changes: Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will operate between San Luis Obispo and San Juan Capistrano and between Oceanside and downtown San Diego Buses will ferry passengers between Irvine and Oceanside Emergency work: Crews will repair and reinforce loose stone barriers known as “riprap” and place about 540,000 cubic yards of sand to restore the beach They will also begin construction on a 1,400-foot wall near Mariposa Point Orange County officials are moving forward with a series of projects to stabilize a stretch of coastal railway through San Clemente despite environmental critics saying the “haphazard” measures will only have short term benefits The emergency measures approved by the Orange County Transportation Authority board include the addition of more than 500,000 cubic yards of sand as well as the repairing and additions of rock along the coastal railway The California Coastal Commission’s permit approvals also include installing a 1,400-foot catchment wall to hold debris from landslides and restoring a pedestrian trail at Mariposa Point senior California policy coordinator for Surfrider Foundation said the “haphazard” short term rock walls won’t hold back the ocean and will instead destroy beach access for the public Environmental groups say that while the catchment wall will help address the issues that have led to railroad closures the continued addition of rocks is exacerbating coastal erosion and limiting public access to the beach But what the rocks do is that they put an arbitrary line in the sand and they fix the coastline right there,” said Suzie Whitelaw president of Save Our Beaches San Clemente Sackett added that the current walls prevent the public from walking from city beaches to San Clemente State Beach and San Onofre State Beach Whitelaw said sand is the the best solution for creating a long lasting buffer adding  ”the wide sandy beaches protected the tracks for 130 years until they got too narrow.” The beaches along the rail got so narrow that there was no dry beach left but sand replenishment efforts by the San Clemente City Council has now resulted in some dry sand in North Beach The California Coastal Commission granted emergency permits to OCTA but now the transportation authority needs to obtain permits from the Army Corps of Engineers for the sand with the project expected to start next year The commission also pushed back on a request to install a 1,200-foot rock wall near San Clemente State Beach a decision applauded by environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation “This is a $300-million public works project that the OCTA is trying to push through the emergency permit process which kind of circumvents environmental review and it's really frustrating,” Sackett said told LAist the work will result in the temporary closure of the rail line but the agency is still working out a timeline He added that OCTA obtained the money for the projects from the federal and state governments OCTA has spent about $40 million since 2021 to address emergency closures of the railroad “We want to make sure we have sufficient time to get enough meaningful feedback,” he said The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is coordinating with Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner on emergency reinforcement to protect the coastal rail corridor between San Diego and Orange counties the organizations suspended passenger rail service through San Clemente April 28 for approximately six weeks This will allow crews to safely perform emergency construction aimed at stabilizing sections of track at immediate risk from landslides and coastal erosion The emergency work is focused on priority areas in San Clemente along the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN), identified through engineering analysis where recent landslides have already caused significant damage The service suspension affects both Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines as well as Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner trains through the area Metrolink will continue to operate trains traveling southbound as far as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station Passengers should check Metrolink's website for the latest rail service updates Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will continue to operate modified service between San Luis Obispo and San Juan Capistrano as well as between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego Bus connections will be provided between Irvine and Oceanside Passengers are being directed to Pacific Surfliner’s website for schedule information and updates “This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers freight operations and public safety,” said OCTA and Metrolink Board Chair Doug Chaffee also Orange County’s Fourth District supervisor “While we recognize the inconvenience this action is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of this vital rail link.”  OCTA’s overall stabilization work will include approximately 95 percent sand and five percent riprap only where needed to stabilize the slope and protect the track OCTA says this is the largest volume of sand ever placed on San Clemente beaches in a single effort to protect the rail line and stabilize the coastline The complete package of emergency measures needed to protect the rail line include:  OCTA says a full Coastal Commission hearing on additional work areas is expected in early May with continued coordination to address the most urgent threats identified While stabilization activities begin with emergency track closures OCTA notes it continues advancing environmental clearance and long-term coastal resiliency strategies OCTA says it will continue to coordinate with its rail partners and provide timely updates to the public regarding service restoration construction progress and beach access impacts.  The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors authorized emergency actions to stabilize sections of railroad track threatened by coastal erosion and landslides in San Clemente moving forward with urgent work to ensure continued passenger and freight rail operations through South Orange County The board’s approval authorizes OCTA CEO Darrell E Johnson to take all necessary steps to protect a vital stretch of track through San Clemente beach erosion and degrading riprap pose a serious threat to the rail line.  “This action enables OCTA to act quickly and decisively to protect our coastal rail line,” said OCTA Chair and Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee the California Coastal Commission reviewed OCTA’s submission for a permit and issued a partial emergency coastal development permit to stabilize the coastal rail corridor OCTA says that while the action is a positive development it does not include approval for all the elements it has identified as critical to protecting the corridor OCTA staff and legal counsel are thoroughly reviewing the permit to determine the best path forward.  “Our priority remains clear: to move quickly make the most of the state and federal funding we’ve already secured and deliver as much of the needed work as possible “We appreciate the Coastal Commission affirming what we have long recognized – that an emergency exists along this corridor.”  OCTA says the board’s emergency action reflects months of engineering analysis environmental planning and collaboration with regulatory agencies each requiring tailored responses to protect the rail corridor from progressive and unpredictable coastal hazards The agency notes the work will include approximately 95 percent sand and five percent riprap where needed to stabilize the slope and protect the track OCTA says the effort is the largest volume of sand ever placed on San Clemente beaches in a single effort to protect the rail line and stabilize the coastline.  the catchment wall and shoreline protection structure work is anticipated to take up to eight months to complete The Coastal Commission approved the emergency coastal development permit for Areas 1 and 2 Coastal Commission staff has requested more information as to why an emergency exists in Area 4.   In response to community and environmental stakeholder feedback most of the stabilization activities will occur within the rail right-of-way minimizing impacts to adjacent coastal areas.  The OCTA Board also amended its fiscal year 2024-25 budget to allocate an additional $135 million to advance the work.  is part of a long-term coastal resilience strategy OCTA has issued a request for information to identify qualified sand dredging contractors and is advancing environmental clearance for offshore sand sourcing The agency notes construction for sand placement is anticipated to begin as early as 2026 while staff is continuing to identify ways to streamline the procurement permitting and environmental processes.  supporting the movement of military assets between installations along the West Coast.  The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) submitted an Emergency Coastal Development Permit to the California Coastal Commission to expedite work to stabilize four areas most vulnerable to failure above the railroad track through San Clemente.  OCTA notes the permit allows it to take immediate steps to protect a critical link in the state’s rail network The agency first issued a request for information (RFI) for contractors to provide dredging and transport options to expedite the sand placement component of the projects OCTA expects to place approximately 540,000 cubic yards of sand.  emergency action is necessary to prevent additional disruption of vital rail service continued erosion requires quick action to repair and replace existing riprap and deliver enough sand to help protect the tracks.  OCTA has coordinated closely with the Coastal Commission and the California State Transportation Agency and other stakeholders since 2021 when an unstable private slope in the Cyprus Shore community of San Clemente forced the first of several closures totaling more than a year along the rail line that has been in place since the 1880s.  The agency says it has addressed ongoing emergencies as they have occurred, and through a comprehensive process, four additional areas were identified that require immediate action to prevent loss of property and essential public rail services, as well as for the protection of life and public safety to avoid a catastrophic bluff failure.  “We appreciate the state agencies understanding that OCTA needs to take emergency action to help ensure the ongoing safe operation of the rail line and prevent additional disruptions of service and damage to critical rail infrastructure,” said OCTA Chair and Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee.  OCTA notes the board is expected to consider an action that will allow OCTA CEO Darrell E Johnson to enter into emergency contracting agreements to expedite work on the four Coastal Rail Stabilization Priority Projects that were identified in 2024 as most vulnerable.  OCTA says it is estimated that 5,100 cubic yards of riprap is needed to protect the track near Mariposa Point and nearly 50 times that amount – 240,000 cubic yards – of sand will be placed At the southern end of the project near San Clemente State Beach the agency notes 1,400 cubic yards of riprap repair 22,000 cubic yards of engineered revetment seawall or functionally equivalent structure and 300,000 cubic yards of sand have been identified as necessary to protect the track the agency estimates 95 percent of the project will be sand placement and five percent will be riprap placement.  South Orange County beaches eroded without adequate renourishment coastal rail corridor and endangering our national defense and commerce,” said OCTA Director and Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley OCTA secured more than $300 million to protect the four hot spot areas most vulnerable to catastrophic failure along the corridor OCTA is releasing our request for information to all sand renourishment contractors to begin the process of placing up to 540,000 cubic yards along San Clemente’s beaches.”  OCTA notes that while all of the activities are necessary to resolve the emergency they are expected to occur on different timelines based on their complexity and availability of contractors and material the design and amount of materials will be further refined and are subject to change as design is advanced The agency says most of the activities will occur within its rail right-of-way.  securing the permit does not relieve the agency of its responsibility for environmental mitigations but it does enable them to expedite the design and construction processes OCTA estimates the projects could be delivered one to two years sooner than the standard permit process would allow.  OCTA says the emergency work is consistent with the $305 million in state and federal grant funds OCTA received in late 2024 for the effort The agency notes the LOSSAN corridor also plays a crucial role in the U.S.’s Strategic Rail Corridor Network by supporting military logistics freight movement and passenger transportation ensuring connectivity between key military installations and commercial hubs along the West Coast.  coupled with our Emergency Coastal Development Permit application to the Coastal Commission shows the urgency we’ve placed to restore the safety and stability of our beaches and coastal rail corridor,” Foley said “I appreciate the Coastal Commission’s consideration and willingness to work through an emergency permitting process.”  News & Reviews News Wire Emergency repairs to halt Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to offer modified schedule bus bridge; Metrolink to suspend service on southernmost segment — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and service on two Metrolink commuter lines will see disruptions starting this Monday as the Surf Line is closed in San Clemente to allow for emergency repairs The work is expected to last approximately six weeks For the Pacific Surfliners, modified service will continue between San Louis Obispo and San Juan Capisitrano and between Oceanside and San Diego. A bus bridge will operate between Irvine and Oceanside. The timetable for service during the closure is available here Just five Surfliner round trips will operate daily on the Oceanside-San Diego segment instead of the usual 11; nine of 11 will operate on the portion north of the closure to Los Angeles Metrolink has announced service on the Orange County Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line will originate and terminate at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station; no alternate transportation will be provided between Laguna/Niguel Mission Viejo and Oceanside The closure will permit the Orange County Transportation Authority which owns the portion of the rail line including San Clemente to undertake emergency stabilization measures in an area where lineslides and other erosion have led to frequent service disruptions in recent years “This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers, freight operations and public safety,” OCTA and Metrolink Chair Doug Chaffee said in a press release this action is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of this vital rail link.” I’ve been on one of these bus bridges before They’re pretty efficient but you have to haul your stuff off the train onto the bus then back onto the train to San Diego this summer but figured something like this would happen so I’m flying instead during these closures the freight do run through these construction zones Does this work mean no traffic anytime of the day or night how will the equipment at San Diego get any heavier maintenance Pols who only look at national figures will just assume the national Amtrak number of riders low much like the last FY Print San Clemente leaders are looking to work with U.S Customs and Border Protection to add cameras along the city’s beach and pier with the aim of apprehending people trying to enter the country illegally On Tuesday, members of the City Council asked City Manager Andy Hall to meet with CBP agents to install and monitor the cameras, which officials said were intended to curb illegal panga landings as restrictions on border entries tighten Mayor Steven Knoblock told The Times that South American criminals were a motivation for the operation Customs and Border Protection officer patrols in a truck along the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Imperial Beach Schaben / Los Angeles Times) “San Clemente has had significant crime issues with the sophisticated Chilean burglary rings hitting our neighborhoods on a very systematic basis and continues to be a problem,” Knoblock said via email “Our local police services are doing a good job of keeping our neighborhoods protected The camera project will provide additional security for our citizens.” The city’s move comes after council members declined to back a push by Knoblock to join a lawsuit brought by Huntington Beach against Gov. Gavin Newsom and Dist. Atty. Rob Bonta over California’s sanctuary law The law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials San Clemente doesn’t have its own police force but is patrolled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department which the sheriff has said “does not enforce federal immigration law.” The camera project, however, means the city can work with federal immigration officials. The mayor originally presented the project as being staffed by local volunteers, the Orange County Register reported But council members decided Tuesday to turn to the CBP to do the surveillance Knoblock says the city has seen a recent uptick in immigrants lacking documentation arriving in late-night and early-morning hours via pangas outboard-powered boat is typically used for fishing Panga vessels are often used to smuggle migrants and narcotics, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s website federal agents coordinated with local authorities to halt 12 smuggling operations in Orange About 90 individuals who were in the country illegally were apprehended along the coastline of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach, San Pedro, Malibu, Newport Beach and Santa Catalina Island The small boats arriving at San Clemente beaches bring about 15 to 20 individuals each “People have observed pangas crammed with illegal aliens and then scattering in the community or jumping into a van which is parked nearby and ready to receive them,” Knoblock said Knoblock said the cameras will operate 24/7 and will be placed on the San Clemente Pier and multiple homeowner association structures between the northern and southern ends of the beach to provide federal agents with about seven miles of surveillance “I’m recommending the cameras being aimed oceanward with a rotating telescopic lens and thermal imaging for night viewing,” Knoblock said “This additional visibility will hopefully provide interdiction prior to [migrants] hitting our beaches.” The city is also looking to provide open viewing access to the public — similar to its current livestreaming coverage of San Clemente Beach. Daily Pilot staff writer Gabriel San Román contributed to this report. Jasmine “Jaz” Mendez is an editorial assistant at the Los Angeles Times. She previously was a reporting intern for the Metro Desk, covering housing in Los Angeles. Mendez graduated from Cal State Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in Spanish-language journalism. ShareSaveCommentLifestyleDiningSavoring A Taste Of Seattle On The San Clemente PierByLeslie Kelly Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Leslie writes about food while roaming the U.S 12:06pm EDTShareSaveCommentSeafood from the Pacific Northwest is featured on the menu at Fisherman’s Restaurant in Orange County and the busy kitchen hits the mark at this popular spot Here’s what makes this cross-state connection extra special Fisherman's Restaurant in San Clemente features seafood from the Pacific Northwest More delicious connection is thanks to the owners San Clemente’s shoreline is distinguished by a wooden pier that dates back to the days when those served as the hub of commerce piers have become landmarks that visitors embrace and on which fisherfolk try their luck with destructive storms making rebuilding efforts necessary in the decades that followed The casual restaurant that sits above the water at the shore end of the pier opened in 1983 with a sister location on the north side launching later The owner, Hal Griffith, was known in Seattle for his efforts to save Pier 57 on the city’s waterfront back in the late 1960s. That’s the home of the original Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar, a bustling tourist favorite with an extensive menu Griffith’s preservation efforts were at first resisted by a city government looking to modernize, according to an exhaustive story on HistoryLink.org he prevailed and Seattle’s waterfront became one of its biggest attractions especially after opening of a new Overlook Walk that connects the area to the Pike Place Market (With lots of stops along the way for a perfect selfie.) Fisherman’s enjoys the kind of incredible location that might make it easy to jack up the prices and let the quality slide but that wasn’t the case during a recent breakfast Watching the surfers from the deck of Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar in San Clemente More of the attractions of this waterfront eatery owned by a Seattle family After spending snowbird season in Palm Springs I hit the road in my 23-foot Thor Gemini motorhome and made a beeline for the California coast Hugging the shoreline on the way back to the PNW has become a time-honored tradition and one of the greatest joys of this incredibly scenic route is scoring seafood by the seashore I was intrigued by Fisherman’s boast of showcasing sea creatures from the Northwest and while the excellent server details on when the fish was caught were a little hazy the seafood benedict seemed like the right move especially since my husband and I had walked from the beautiful San Clemente State Beach campground we watched the surfers riding waves just below the deck The meal arrived and the Benedict was piled high with an impressive assortment of sea creatures: small scallops The hollandaise was nicely done and didn’t drown the main attraction as is too often the case when it comes to Benedicts there was room for improvement in the drip coffee department That Seattle connection seemed lacking in the cup shy of the characteristic dark roast kick That didn’t seem to matter to diners at surrounding tables who looked happy sipping on mimosas and Bloody Marys After breakfast, we walked back to the park through the lively shopping district and eventually hit the San Clemente State Beach’s terrific visitor center There’s a self-guided tour of the early California surfing culture that’s well worthing catching Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — San Clemente Mayor Steve Knoblock has proposed using technology and volunteers to help curb illegal immigration via the water in the beach city Mayor Steve Knoblock said he’d like to install higher tech cameras with infrared and other capabilities at various locations in the city including on the pier and volunteers to help monitor the camera feeds and alert proper authorities if a panga is spotted Meanwhile, in Santa Ana, Councilwoman Jessie Lopez has proposed reconvening the city’s Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group that had stopped meeting in 2020 The group offered recommendations on how to bolster Sant Ana’s sanctuary city policy and oversaw the city’s fund dedicated to helping locals facing deportation Santa Ana officially became Orange County’s first sanctuary city with a vote on Jan Coastal Frontiers Corp., a consultant hired last year to carry out a sand investigation project, gave the San Clemente City Council an update Tuesday about its recent efforts. The exploration plan has identified 11 possible borrow sites, mostly along Orange County’s coastline, from north to south. Working with an $800,000 contract, only six of the sites can be scouted for a week’s worth of sediment sampling later this year. As a cost-saving measure, the goal is to find beach-quality sand as close to San Clemente as possible, even if the prospects are admittedly slim. TimesOC San Clemente City Council brought in Leslea Meyerhoff on a three-year contract in October 2023 to serve as coastal administrator She’s receiving kudos and the ‘sand czar’ nickname for her efforts “This approach is a balance between the desire to focus on the San Clemente area itself with the realization that that we think there’s a low probability that we’re going to find that sand close by,” Greg Hearon a principal engineer with Coastal Frontiers A higher probability of finding beach-quality sand is expected in north O.C. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tapped the borrow site during the first phase of a 50-year sand replenishment project in San Clemente last year after the original Oceanside dredge location spewed cobble-strewn sediment and caused delays A total of 251,000 cubic yards of pumped sand widened the beach surrounding San Clemente Pier But the borrow site’s distance from San Clemente added to the project’s overall costs San Clemente and its consultant are looking to dial down the cost of future sand replenishment, if possible, by finding a deposit closer to home, especially after a beach sand sales tax ballot measure failed to pass in November. “The reward of finding sand that close is enormous,” Hearon said. “It can completely change the economics of a project.” A mother and her son enjoy a cool morning at the beach in San Clemente. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) Councilman Victor Cabral expressed reservations about spending time and money on exploring possible borrow sites that have a low probability of providing enough sand. “We spent millions of dollars through the Army Corps of Engineers surveying all the area in front of San Clemente,” he said. “They had determined, based on the same testing that you appear to be doing, that there was no sand in this area. What is it that you’re doing differently than the Army Corps?” Hearon noted that the spots Coastal Frontiers has identified differ somewhat from those in the Army Corps survey but acknowledged the geology wouldn’t have changed significantly since then. “Dana Point might be the exception,” he said. “San Mateo [Point] around the corner… our geologist has identified a high spot in the bedrock that looks like it might be a stranded beach that hasn’t been explored. That has us intrigued.” San Clemente Mayor Steve Knoblock did not want to dismiss low probability sand sites near San Clemente as zero possibility ones. “We don’t know that there’s not sand there,” he said. “If we do strike gold, it will be a quantum change in how we get sand to our beach. It would be incredibly quick, incredibly inexpensive and voluminous. I think it’s worth the investigation.” The exploration is awaiting the approval of two permits before it begin, possibly by late summer. The Orange County Transportation Authority is now considering sand nourishment as part of a potential solution to guard San Clemente’s train tracks from eroding beaches and fragile bluffs An opportunity for the sand investigation project to expand and include all potential sites identified work that is funded by a California Coastal Commission grant awarded last year rests with the Orange County Transportation Authority San Clemente is in discussions with OCTA, which has its own sand needs in San Clemente as part of a plan to armor the rail line that runs along its coast. On April 10, the California Coastal Commission approved a partial emergency coastal development permit for OCTA to speed up plans to protect the tracks from landslides and coastal erosion. In the permit application, OCTA laid out a proposal to add 540,000 cubic yards of sand from an offshore source, in addition to repairing more than 9,000 tons of riprap to protect four critical areas of the rail line. The partial permit doesn’t approve all of the hard armoring elements, but on Monday the OCTA Board of Directors authorized the agency to undertake emergency actions to stabilize the tracks. San Clemente and OCTA seek to forge a partnership in the search for offshore sand deposits. “We’ll be working with [OCTA] to see if we can expand this study to beyond just our seven days,” said City Manager Andy Hall. “Let’s say that we found some really promising sites on day seven, but we wanted to do some additional studies. What I’ve been told is that this study can be expanded. It just costs about $60,000 a day.” Hall stated that OCTA would cover any expansion expenses. If a dredge site closer to San Clemente is identified, the city will move forward with permitting next year. Gabriel San Román is a feature writer for TimesOC. He previously worked at OC Weekly – as a reporter, podcast producer and columnist – until the newspaper’s closing in late 2019. In 2023, San Román was part of the breaking news reporting team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park. He may or may not be the tallest Mexican in O.C. He snapped off a barren branch as a cautionary tale. “These weeds that are growing out there … they’re ready to burn,” Cabral said. “If these caught fire, those hillsides would be up in flames very easily.” In the wake of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, San Clemente called Tuesday’s special meeting to assess the threat to the beach town’s hillsides, which have caught fire before. “We think this all happened in L.A., but we’re still at risk here,” Cabral said. “We need to take this seriously.” San Clemente hasn’t experienced significant wildfire losses since warm, dry Santa Ana winds fanned a January 1976 blaze that torched 2,400 acres and burned 15 homes. But with stark images of widespread destruction in L.A. County, council members unanimously approved a slew of measures aimed at clearing brush before a blaze ignites. Equestrians self-organized volunteer horse rescues during the Airport fire after a previous team under the county’s emergency services significantly scaled back its efforts The special meeting followed a news conference by Laguna Beach city officials on Monday that highlighted efforts to maintain adequate water supply to hydrants a lesson learned after the 1993 Laguna Beach fire San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall felt confident on that front “We test our hydrants on a regular basis,” he said during the meeting “We try to make sure all of our reservoirs are full.” Hall did cite an area for improvement with the need for a closer reservoir for helicopters to use as a dipping station when helping efforts to contain and extinguish wildfires council members authorized Hall’s office to accept donated chainsaws rakes and other tools from local hardware stores Volunteers will also be allowed to help with canyon clearing Hall can also negotiate right of entry agreements with property owners for wildlife prevention efforts San Clemente had already looked into goat grazing strategies for its hillsides Laguna Beach has used such a program for nearly three decades. More recently, Anaheim turned to goats to clear brush from the eastern part of the city. San Clemente will soon begin a pilot program that is expected to clear a 10-acre swath of hillside over three months of grazing. “Other cities have done it,” said Mayor Steve Knoblock. “It’s an inexpensive, environmentally friendly project.” News Laguna Beach has implemented a number of programs to protect itself from wildfire Goat grazing has been part of fire mitigation efforts for nearly three decades council members declared a wildfire prevention week with the same designation slated for this fall An Orange County Fire Authority community forum on wildfire safety and preparedness is expected to be announced soon Knoblock stressed the need to be proactive in the face of wildfire threats but drew a distinction between the risks in L.A He claimed arson was responsible for the L.A an immigrant lacking documentation was apprehended with “five cellphones and a UN money card on him.” which were popularized on social media on apps like X drew a quick disclaimer from Councilman Mark Enmeier “I would just say that before we make accusations that we know what the facts are that we wait for reports to come out before we say something that may not be accurate An immigrant lacking legal authorization to be in the country who was arrested on a probation violation is considered a person of interest in connection with the smaller, contained Kenneth fire. No arson arrests have been made with regard to the much larger Eaton and Palisades fires. SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Seventy-eight miles off the coast of San Diego is San Clemente Island and the Navy said an unwanted visitor breached government property Sunday evening when he landed a plane on that piece of land Navy and is managed by Naval Base Coronado “It just seems to me like that would be a security breach,” said Bob Lawrence a reporter who covered the military for decades for ABC 10News The Navy said they put the island on lockdown after finding the man’s plane at around 7 p.m the man stole one of their trucks and began driving it around the property “To have a civilian fly onto it and do whatever Lawrence flew to San Clemente Island with the Navy in 2013 to report on their ecological preservation of the land But the space is primarily used for Navy SEAL and Marine training and is not accessible to the public this guy either had a plan or was a little ‘cuckoo’ to go out there and do that kind of thing You just don't go onto a Navy base and take a vehicle,” Lawrence said Naval security teams waited until daylight Monday to search for the man The Navy said they apprehended him at around 10 a.m. “I'm guessing the guy knew what he was doing Most of the vehicles have on them ‘Navy property,’ so there’s no doubt,” said Earl Wederbrook “The airspace around San Clemente is not restricted Wederbrook showed ABC 10News a flight map that he said most pilots have access to A line around the island indicates that pilots should avoid the area there's a warning stating that this is a national defense operating area which may be hazardous to non-military aircraft “If somebody just lands there because they want to land there that's a violation of many different rules and regulations,” Wederbrook said The Navy said this man is a repeat offender and did the same thing in October 2023 they got a restraining order that was supposed to prevent him from coming onto the island The Navy had to release him after two days because they are not a law enforcement agency ABC 10News learned the Navy plans to take further legal action against him Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.