San Onofre State Beach (San O) is more than a beach. It’s a place of culture, a sanctuary for wildlife, a world-class surf spot, and a home to generations of coastal memories. However, like so many beloved shorelines, San O faces significant challenges from chronic erosion, which threatens safe, reliable access.

For the past two years, Surfrider has been working hand-in-hand with California State Parks, San Onofre Parks Foundation, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Ajcachemen Nation, and the community of San O lovers to understand what’s most important about this place and what we need to protect to keep San O special for the future. Here’s how that journey has unfolded — and how you can join us to shape the next chapter.

2024 Community-Centered Efforts

One thing is certain: for public access to continue, land management decisions will need to be made. Surfrider strongly believes that for coastal planning processes to be successful and serve the communities most impacted, those processes must center community voices. 

To help us better understand what questions should be asked to inform a long-term vision for San O, in 2024, Surfrider hosted the first San Onofre community workshop. This focused meeting brought together an incredible range of voices: land managers, Surf Club board members, stand-up paddleboarders, Tribal members, adaptive surfers, and more, to share their feedback on what matters and concerns them most at San O.

2024; Community members share perspectives over maps of San O.

 We handed out large maps of the beach and asked attendees to mark them up, noting what makes San O special and what’s at risk. The result? A powerful collection of local knowledge and priorities — diverse in motivation, and excitingly aligned in values and vision.

Most common words from every community response from 2024.  

 Later that year, we adapted the workshop into a pop-up version so we could meet folks on the sand at San O. During the fall, we set up at major events, like the San Onofre Surfing Club’s Annual Surf Contest, and asked passersby to share their thoughts using an interactive map.

Left, survey respondent at the beach; Right, map populated with over 200 responses

  Did you see us out there? If you missed the feedback stations, we still want to hear from you! Take the online version of our community mapping survey today: 

In addition to these listening sessions, community involvement has taken the form of direct action within the State Park. In January of 2025, the Trestles Beach & Habitat Cleanup series launched. In partnership with California State Parks and San Onofre Parks Foundation, the public was invited to participate in recurring monthly events within the Park, featuring Climate Action Plan habitat restoration and beach cleanups. In the first 4 months, volunteers removed over 5,000 pounds of invasive plants and 400 pounds of trash, making space for beneficial native species to thrive.

Volunteers removing invasive ice plant at Trestles.

The Trestles Beach & Habitat Cleanup is a reocurring monthly event open to the public. Registration is required, if you'd like to join, you can find more information and RSVP HERE. 

Funding The Effort

In January 2025, the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) awarded Surfrider a grant to support the development of a nature-based shoreline resilience design. Securing this funding is an exciting and crutial step toward a more resilient future at San O.

This funding will cover the cost for ESA, the engineers behind Surfers' Point, to study the beach, including geotechnical surveys and sediment sampling, as well as community engagement events scheduled to coincide with important milestones in the project, providing not only updates but opportunities for public input to influence the design project’s direction. Upon completion of this phase, multiple design options will be vetted by the public and land managers, leading to the selection of one design to carry out with a preliminary engineering design. 

Environmental review, final design engineering, and future implementation are not funded through this grant — and Surfrider will be applying for the appropriate continuation funding, potetially supported through California’s voter-passed Prop 4 initiative, when relevant.

2025 Community Workshop - Short Term Access Strategy

Following events like 2024’s El Niño season, which wiped out access to San O for months, there remains a genuine concern about maintaining access to San O.  Even with the most optimistic timeline, San O will still have to weather multiple winters before an agreed upon design is ready for implementation. With the SCC grant in motion, Surfrider kicked off 2025 by asking the community to help State Parks reimagine short-term access solutions for San O.

Participants talked, shared ideas and mulled over considerable challenges, like, how can adaptive surfers access the water if the road is completely closed to vehicles?

2025 meeting attendees responding to poster promts.

While these challenges are complex, they are not insurmountable. These conversations are already helping to shape short-term steps that will bridge the gap until a longer-term solution is in place.

You’re Invited: San O Public Assembly

We’re thrilled to announce the first San O Public Assembly, a forum for anyone who loves San O and want's to get learn more and get involved in the proccess.
   
This will be your chance to:

• Hear about the shoreline resilience project and timeline.
• Meet the engineers studying the beach and developing the shoreline project designs.
• Learn about upcoming stewardship opportunities.
• Help shape the outcome of a nature-based design that protects San O for generations.

Coming this December. Sign up for the interest list below if you’d like to be alerted when the date and location is confirmed.

Bring your voice, your vision, and your love for San O — because the ocean, waves, and beaches are for all people (and lobsters and dolphins, and even the screeching grackles).

From beginning to end, one thing will stay constant: the belief that San Onofre’s future should be shaped by everyone!

Ways to stay involved:

Take the community mapping survey, HERE  
Join us on the sand at Trestles Beach and Habitat Cleanup HERE

Sign up to receive San O updates directly to your inbox:
Signing up here will add your email to our "San O" specific mailing list for relevant updates