EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Erosion has become an extreme issue in Southern California. Orange County’s coastline has started to evaporate amid rising sea waters and stronger winter storms.

Last fall, rail service in San Clemente ground to a halt as crews worked to stabilize tracks, some of which had moved more than 2 feet toward the ocean due to erosion. In 2018, Capistrano Beach’s boardwalk was destroyed after intense rains.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents the fifth district and sits on the board of the Orange County Transportation Authority, says addressing coastal erosion is a top priority for her as climate change continues to wreak havoc on Southern California beaches.

“We have hurricanes that are pushing further south. Some of the artificial protections for the railroad track are actually causing more coastal erosion because as the waves hit the rip-rap, those big boulders, it actually causes the waves to dig into the sand and pull it back. So we have a lot of work to do,” she acknowledged.

Erosion has had an enormous impact on property owners and the coastal rail system. Foley noted urgency is necessary to find long-term solutions to limit the shrinking of Orange County’s beaches, and that previous leaders have procrastinated on tackling the crisis. 

“We just need to listen to the scientists. I mean, come on. We’ve been having these conversations about climate change and climate action and trying to encourage policymakers to listen to the scientists. I think it’s way past time,” she said.

Recently, OCTA unanimously voted to work with local scientists and universities to research coastal dynamics. The University of California, Irvine experts have partnered with the board to study beach erosion and how to protect the coastal rail system.

Supervisor Foley said this is a promising step toward fighting coastal erosion in Orange County. The climate crisis will not be solved overnight, but she hopes residents are more aware of the issue now.

“It’s affecting everyone on the coast, the people who live here, who work here. I think we are starting to see some change, but local government is actually where we’re going to see the most change in terms of a sustainable future.”

Let "Inside the Issues" know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.