The Army Corps of Engineers is permanently fencing off 19 acres of Hollywood Beach. The was no community consent. Countless objections from community members have been made to the Army Corps, to the California Coastal Commission, to the County of Ventura, and to the U.S. Congress. The Army Corps refuses refuses to stop, and is barreling ahead in the face of overwhelming community opposition.
Someone has already died. Oxnard police once ran over and killed a woman sunbathing on the sand. On March 20 an Army Corps vehicle sped across Hollywood Beach at more than 20 mph before slowing down when the driver observed a homeowner recording them with a camera. The Corps has no business operating any project here—lives are at stake and the next victim could be a child playing in the dunes.
Hollywood Beach has remained free and open for decades, allowing it to retain its natural, unspoiled beauty. The installation of permanent posts, ropes, and signage threatens to alter the open, natural character of Hollywood Beach and detracts from the aesthetic that makes it so special.
The Army Corps of Engineers published a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to address public concerns. However, the FAQ contains direct falsehoods, misleading statements, and critical omissions when compared to their own 94-page project plan (the "F9b Plan"). Below, we set the record straight by comparing their public claims to the facts found in their own documents.
USACE Justification: The entire project is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to offset the "harm" to bird habitat caused by dredging.
The Facts: The project's legal foundation is crumbling. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS)—the very agency that mandated this project—has proposed a rule change to rescind the definition of "harm" that includes "habitat modification." The FWS now states this definition "runs contrary to the best meaning of the statutory term 'take'."
The bottom line: The federal government is actively removing the legal requirement for this project. Continuing this destructive plan under these circumstances is illogical and irresponsible.
FAQ Claim: "No, there will be no use of herbicides."
The Facts: The Army Corps has changed its mind in response to public opposition.
The F9b project plan repeatedly details a multi-year strategy to use chemical herbicides, including glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup). The plan states the project will:
Utilize a "combination of physical and chemical control agents," with chemical treatments applied via sprayer at a concentration of 10%. (See F9b Plan, pages 27, 30, 32, 36)
The Army Corps should disclose in its FAQ the fact that it has modified its plans to use herbicides in response to public opposition.
FAQ Claim: The fencing is "symbolic" and "low-profile," using "posts/stakes and rope" that won't block access.
The Facts: The plan calls for a **permanent** barrier, not a symbolic one. According to the F9b project plan, the fencing is heavy-duty infrastructure designed to last for years:
"Proposed fencing will consist of 4x4 posts, or 5-inch diameter posts... set a minimum of 40 inches into the beach and... extend to a height of 36-42-inches above grade." (See F9b Plan, p. 37)
This is a permanent, 19-acre enclosure with an estimated service life of 6-10 years, designed to "curtail disturbance" and restrict public access.
FAQ Claim: A gentle "enhancement" of habitat with "low-profile dunes ranging from 0.5 to 4 feet in height."
The Facts: This is not gentle enhancement; it is massive earth-moving. The F9b project plan calls for heavy equipment to conduct a "BACK DUNE LOWERING" operation:
The project will demolish established dunes "that are now 10 or more feet above the surrounding grade" and remove "approximately 15,000-25,000 cubic yards" of sand. (See F9b Plan, pages 33, 37)
This is a dune demolition and heavy construction project, not the subtle "restoration" described in the FAQ.
FAQ Claim: The project is needed to "support species affected by dredging" by providing "replacement nesting and foraging habitat."
The Facts: The Army Corps' own data in the F9b project plan shows the birds are already thriving in the current, dynamic environment.
The project seeks to "fix" a habitat that isn't broken by replacing a dynamic, successful environment with a static, artificial one.
FAQ Claim: The Corps is organizing a public outreach event "to discuss the plan."
The Facts: This is a sham consultation. The plan was finalized and submitted for regulatory approval years before any public meeting was even scheduled.
This reverses the proper order of operations and makes a mockery of genuine public engagement.
The Army Corps' official project plan reveals a project that will fundamentally destroy the wild, open character of Hollywood Beach. This is not a minor restoration. It is a large-scale, long-term industrial project that will transform our peaceful beach into a managed construction site with heavy equipment, permanent barriers, and designated walkways.
The plan will fence off a massive portion of the beach that has been open to the public for generations. The sheer scale is staggering.
"The total area involved in the enhancement and expansion is 19.42 acres."
This isn't a small, temporary enclosure. This is the permanent removal of nearly 20 acres of public recreational space, effectively privatizing it for a single, experimental purpose.
Source: Project Plan, p. 28
The term "restoration" masks the reality: this is a major construction project. The plan explicitly calls for heavy equipment to demolish existing, stable dunes.
The "BACK DUNE REGRADING" will remove "15,000-25,000 cubic yards" of sand from dunes.
Imagine bulldozers and heavy machinery operating on the quiet sand, reshaping the entire landscape. That's thousands of dump-truck loads of sand being excavated and moved, forever altering the beach profile.
Source: Project Plan, p. 36
The plan details the installation of permanent, industrial-style infrastructure that will shatter the natural aesthetic of the beach.
"Proposed fencing will consist of 4x4 posts, or 5-inch diameter posts... set a minimum of 40 inches into the beach" with an estimated "service life... between 6-10 years."
Permanent informational kiosks, co-located with trash cans, will be installed at access points. Hollywood Beach will no longer feel wild and free; it will feel like a managed park with rules and barriers.
Sources: Project Plan, p. 40, 46, 47
The freedom to wander across the wide, open beach will be a thing of the past. The project will funnel the public into managed corridors.
"To ensure that the expansion does not block access, regular trailways would be provided in alignment with existing access routes from the public streets to the beach."
Instead of an open expanse, beachgoers will be relegated to defined paths through the 19-acre habitat zone. The feeling of open space and the unobstructed views of the ocean will be lost, replaced by rope lines and signs directing your every step.
Source: Project Plan, p. 26
The project includes a detailed "Integrated Pest Management Plan" that relies heavily on chemical herbicides. It's not a possibility; it's a core component of the plan.
"Treatment will be by Ranger Pro glyphosate herbicide... at 220 ft²/gallon of herbicide solution."
The appendix includes a formal "Pest Control Recommendation" for applying nearly 10 gallons of this glyphosate mixture per acre, right on the sand where our families and pets walk and play.
Sources: Project Plan, p. 31, 35, and 63
A government agency is supposed to serve the people. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is acting like an occupying force, imposing its will on our community without consent and in the face of overwhelming opposition. This isn't just about fences; it's about the flagrant dismissal of the democratic process.
For years, this destructive project was planned behind closed doors. Critical decisions were made and federal approvals were secured, all without a single public meeting. With the project start date looming, the Army Corps still has not faced the community it is impacting. This is a deliberate strategy to avoid accountability.
Thousands of you have spoken out. You have signed the petition. You have emailed the Army Corps and public officials. The opposition is clear, massive, and unwavering. And yet, the Army Corps barrels ahead, completely ignoring your voice. They are treating our community's concerns as an inconvenience to be dismissed.
This is a calculated subversion of the democratic process. By finalizing a plan in isolation and refusing to engage with the public, the Army Corps is sending a clear message: your voice does not matter. They believe they can operate with impunity, destroying a beloved public beach against the express will of the people who use and cherish it. We cannot let them.
Send a quick email to stop the fencing of Hollywood Beach. The button opens your mail app. Just add your name and tap send.
A physical letter carries significant weight and demonstrates a high level of commitment. After you've sent your email, please take a few moments to mail a letter. It's a powerful way to ensure your voice is recorded and considered.
Follow these simple steps:
Mail your letter to:
Honorable Jodi Clifford
Chief, Planning Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
915 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1109
Los Angeles, CA 90017-3409
Save Hollywood Beach is devoted to protecting the wild, open character of Hollywood Beach in Ventura County, California.
The Goal:
The best stewardship of Hollywood Beach is hands-off: let the wind shape the dunes, let the tides wash the sand, and let families and wildlife share an unfenced coastline. Keep Hollywood Beach natural for generations to come.
Writing email for you...