Re-defeated Pismo Beach Seawall

Photo credit Daniel Dreifuss/Santa Maria Times

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City of Pismo Beach had proposed to build two seawalls at St. Andrews Lift Station (Seacliff Dr. and Baker Ave.) and Vista del Mar Lift Station (Vista del Mar Ave. and Ocean Blvd) in Pismo Beach. On March 9, 2011, the Coastal Commission objected to consistency determination and effectively denied the proposal.

In January 2013, a resurrected version of the seawall for St. Andrews Lift Station came before the Coastal Commission. Although the new proposed sculpted seawall project was an improvement from the previously proposed rock revetment, the project in its essence was still seeking to armor an 80+ year old lift station which should be moved instead of protected. The Commission conditionally concurred with the consistency determination and is requiring that the City of Pismo Beach return to the Commission in five years with a plan to move the threatened infrastructure.