Oceanside City Council Approves ‘Living Speed Bumps’ Location to Combat Coastal Erosion

The Oceanside City Council voted Wednesday to unanimously approve the siting recommendation for the “Living Speed Bumps” pilot project.

The concept, developed from the RE:BEACH Oceanside International Design Competition, involves constructing two small headlands at Tyson Street Park and Wisconsin Avenue and an offshore artificial reef between them to restore and preserve sand on beaches south of the Oceanside Pier.

“By piloting this project, the city is taking proactive measures to responsibly address both chronic coastal erosion and sea level rise along the shoreline, whilst adding another coastal management tool to the toolbox,” said Jayme Timberlake, coastal zone administrator for the city.

The “Living Speed Bumps” concept mimics natural coastal features in California, such as headlands and reefs. Just like in nature, these features are expected to dampen the erosion of sand from the beach and from the sandbars, which increases the efficiency of sand management activities and prolongs the retention of placed sand along the shoreline.

A comprehensive siting analysis over the summer identified the area between Tyson Street Park and Wisconsin Avenue as the ideal location for the project, based on factors such as amenities, risks and environmental sensitivities. Public engagement further refined the criteria and confirmed the final selection, according to the city.

For updates on the “Living Speed Bumps” project, go to the city’s RE:BEACH website at rebeach.org.