This June, the Coastal Commission’s enforcement report brought long-awaited good news: the illegal seawall at Victoria Beach has finally been removed. For those of us who’ve followed this issue since 2018, it’s more than a technical compliance update, it’s a major victory for California’s beaches, public access, and climate resilience.

Back in 2018, Surfrider stood alongside Commission staff to support the enforcement orders for 11 Lagunita Drive in Laguna Beach. At the time, we emphasized how significant this case could be: it was one of the first moments the Commission was poised to require removal of an illegal seawall. We said then—and still believe—that enforcement like this sends a strong and necessary message: unpermitted coastal armoring will not be tolerated.

Now, after years of legal back-and-forth, the seawall is gone, and the property owners have reconfigured their development out of harm’s way. This matters. It means that Victoria Beach, one of Orange County’s most iconic coves, now has a chance to naturally adapt to sea level rise rather than being locked in place by concrete. It means the beach still has a future.

No mitigation fee or penalty can reverse the loss caused by seawalls. When we harden our shorelines, we lose beaches. Full stop. This case proves that real enforcement of the Coastal Act can make a difference, not just on paper, but on the ground, and for the public.

We're grateful to the Coastal Commission staff for sticking with this case, and to the Commissioners who made the bold choice back in 2018 to support seawall removal. Your leadership is why Victoria Beach still exists as a public resource, and why this case now stands as a powerful precedent for future enforcement.

This is what protecting the coast looks like. And it’s worth celebrating.

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(Image/ Los Angeles Times)