A delayed sand project that aims at replenishing San Clemente’s beaches will resume this week, following several months of uncertainty around the long-awaited effort. Workers were busy the past several days erecting fencing and staging the construction area on the south side of the pier and in the nearby parking lot, readying the area for when the contractor, Manson Construction, brings in its dredging boat to haul sand from offshore of the Surfside-Sunset area on the north end of the county. Patches of rocks sit on the beach near the pier as workers prepare the area to receive new sand in ..read more

The chain-linked fences are down and the popular coastal pathway lining the north end of San Clemente has reopened following a two-month closure due to landslide damage and work to hold the hillside off the nearby railroad tracks. The bridge at Mariposa Point connecting the northern section of trail to the rest of San Clemente, however, remains closed indefinitely, city officials said. “Long-term solutions for this area will require additional repair and improvements,” officials said in an announcement. “The timeline for restoring this important Beach Trail connection is unknown.” The North Be ..read more

The first of two public meetings will be held this week to discuss how the Orange County Transportation Authority can protect its tracks through south Orange County coastal towns, where the ocean and sliding hillsides threaten the rail line. The first will be a virtual meeting at 5 p.m. on April 11, hosted by the OCTA to discuss a study of trouble spots and near-term proposals to try and protect the tracks, while the second will happen in-person on May 30 at the San Clemente City Hall. The section of rail through south Orange County is part of the 351-mile rail corridor between San Luis Obispo ..read more

Veterans of Camp Pendleton’s 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines gathered Saturday, April 6, at Park Semper Fi in San Clemente to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Ramadi and remember 33 fallen troops. The event, which was expected to draw hundreds, 33 Gold Star parents and past commanding officers, included an installation of a plaque dedicated to the Marines and sailors who gave their lives in the service of their country during the seven-month battle in the Iraqi city in 2004. Gold Star Mother Dianne Layfield, left, hugs a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Battle of Ramadi w ..read more

It didn’t matter that the waves were tiny and the water was toe-numbingly frigid – surfers were stoked early Monday, April 8, to get back to their beloved surf spot at San Onofre State Beach. “Better than nothing,” one surfer said after gliding on a small wave that rolled in at the beach now accessible again after the dirt access road leading into the unique surfing sanctuary just south of San Clemente reopened Monday following a two-month closure for repairs. “It’s what makes San O special, to be able to drive down and park right on the sand where you surf,” said Dan Brady, of Irvine, a ..read more

Alex Lima wins the US Air Force Air Show during the Jack’s Surfboards Pro 2024 Challenger Series in Huntington Beach on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Kirra Pinkerton of San Clemente wins the 2024 Challenger Series qualifier in Huntington Beach on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Zoey Kaina competes and wins in the US Air Force Air Show during Jack’s Surfboards Pro 2024 Challenger Series in Huntington Beach on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) Luc ..read more

One person was detained by sheriff’s deputies following a residential fire in San Clemente on Sunday morning. The fire broke out shortly before 5:30 a.m. in the 2300 block of Calle La Serna, where bright orange flames could be seen shooting from the roof of the house, surrounded by smoke. It took firefighters 49 minutes to get the blaze under control, the Orange County Fire Authority said on X. A significant amount of the home was destroyed, with an estimated $750,000 in damage to the structure and roughly $250,000 in damage to the contents, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said. Still, he added, firefig ..read more

It was a San Clemente showdown, a final match up that would pit long-time friends – but rivals in the water – against each other for the prestigious Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach title. World Tour veteran Griffin Colapinto matched up against fellow San Clemente surfer Cole Houshmand at the event in Australia – and in the end, it was the rookie who earned the victory, marking his first-ever World Tour win. “I’m speechless. This is unreal. I honestly don’t think this will sink in for a while,” said a smiling Houshmand in a live interview with World Surf League officials.  “There’s no one I ..read more

The iconic San Clemente Ocean Festival is coming back full force this summer, organizers say, after a scaled-down event last year and several cancellations in recent years. Organizers are gearing up for the two-day event, this year to be held on July 20 and 21, which will not only include the lifeguard competitions and races, but also the return of family events such as the 5K beach run, sandcastle building, a rubber ducky race, a kids pavilion, “Grom’s Rule” surf contests and the festival area. King Neptune, played by Ed Howie of San Clemente, gets a high five from kids at the 2018 Ocean ..read more

By Phil Diehl The San Diego Union-Tribune An artificial reef built to offset marine life killed by the seawater cooling system at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is finally doing its job, now that the power plant has been shut down for more than a decade. The reef is essentially an anchor for giant kelp, which grows tall and thick to create the forests of the sea. A form of brown algae, the kelp reaches from the sea floor to the surface, creating a shady tower of shelter for all kinds of fish, spiny lobsters, sea otters, sea lions, sometimes whales and even birds. Kelp forests provid ..read more