After 26 Years, Rep. Mike Levin and Army Corps Secure Federal Plan to Bring Sand Back to Oceanside’s Beaches

Skip to content I Want to Hear from You About Your Health Care Concerns. NEW: Rep. Levin Announces New District Data Map to Showcase Federal Project Funding. Close About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You Español Close Search Site SEARCH About Services Federal Project Funding Map Federal Policy Impact Resources Clean Energy Tax Credits Help With A Federal Agency Constituent Success Stories Grants Applicants Commendations and Greetings Tours and Tickets Military Academy Nominations Internships Flags Surplus Books Program Art Competition Constituent of the Month Congressional App Challenge Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Program Member-Designated Transportation Projects Community Project Funding Requests The Congressional Award News Press Releases In The News Op-Eds Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscription Offices Internships Request a Meeting with Rep. Levin Website Problem I Want To Hear From You MENU Español Search Instagram Icon Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Youtube Icon Bluesky Icon Home News Press Releases June 01, 2026 After 26 Years, Rep. Mike Levin and Army Corps Secure Federal Plan to Bring Sand Back to Oceanside’s Beaches Watch Rep. Levin’s Full Remarks Here OCEANSIDE, CA — Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) today announced a breakthrough in the decades-long fight to restore Oceanside’s eroding coastline: after 26 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft plan to bring sand back to the city’s beaches through long-term beach nourishment. He was joined by Mayor Esther Sanchez, Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce, the Army Corps, local business owner Donna Kalez, and environmental advocate Bob Ashton. The announcement comes as the Army Corps completes its spring dredge of Oceanside Harbor, placing 320,000 cubic yards of sand on local beaches just in time for summer — the largest replenishment the city has seen in years. The Corps’ recommended approach is beach nourishment on a regular renourishment cycle: sand placed directly on Oceanside’s beaches, with no seawalls or hard structures. The Corps identified it as the most technically feasible, most environmentally acceptable, and lowest-cost way to mitigate erosion and restore the shoreline. The plan complements the City of Oceanside’s RE:BEACH initiative, which is designed to keep nourished sand in place longer. The draft is open for public comment through June 30, 2026. The Corps will then complete a Report from the Chief of Engineers to recommend the plan to Congress to authorize and fund for construction. For more than 80 years, the harbor at Camp Pendleton — built by the federal government in 1942 — has disrupted the natural flow of sand down the coast and driven chronic erosion in Oceanside. The federal government first acknowledged responsibility in 1953, but the fix stalled for decades. When Rep. Levin entered Congress in 2019, the Army Corps had abandoned the study. He secured a provision in federal law requiring its completion and later secured over $4 million to finish it, clearing the path for the plan announced today. “For 26 years, Oceanside has been asking the federal government for one thing: a real plan to bring back the sand this harbor took. Today, we finally have it. And the answer is simple — sand, and lots of it,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “When I got to Congress, this effort was dead. I secured the requirement in federal law that the Army Corps study be finished, and I secured the funding to get it done. Now we have the plan, and I won’t let up until that sand is on our beaches for good.” “This is an incredible point that we now have a project,” said Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez. “That two-year study that took from before 2000 until now finally did happen and finally came up with the best alternative. Thank you, Rep. Levin, for everything you do for our beaches and our harbor.” “Oceanside is doing things that no other community on our coastline is doing,” said Environmental Advocate Bob Ashton. “Today we celebrated not only the dredge, but the delivery of a project that has been in the works for a very long time.” “Thank you to Congressman Levin,” said Oceanside Deputy Mayor Eric Joyce. “His years of support for this project are the only reason we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. With steady effort, we got to the point where sand is replenishing our beaches.” “My family and I are so proud to own a busin