This video/photo was created using Artificial Intelligence and does not depict actual U.S. Army Corps Engineers employees, contractors, equipment or planned work at this site.

Stop Fencing Hollywood Beach

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What’s Happening?

The Army Corps of Engineers is 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.

Map showing the 19 acres of Hollywood Beach to be fenced off The solid red rectangles in the map above mark areas for possible further expansion of the project.
The videos below show actual U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work being conducted on Hollywood Beach where the Army Corps will install permanent fences within the next several months.

The Army Corps employee in these videos started out driving well in excess of 20 mph (not shown). Because the force of an impact scales as the square of the velocity, a vehicular impact with a beach goer at 20 MPH involves sixteen times more energy than an impact at 5 MPH. The Army Corps could easily have run-over and killed a child playing or an adult sunbathing . The Army Corps is now lying and claiming that the driver was never going over 5 mph. This is a blantant falsehood.

These videos are NOT GENERATED BY A.I. These videos are not altered in any way, shape, or form.

If you do not want permanent fences installed by the Army Corps on Hollywood Beach, please send an email to stop this work immediately!

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.

Fencing at Hollywood Beach
Fencing at Hollywood Beach – tap to view detailed fencing map
Detailed map of proposed permanent fencing on Hollywood Beach For generations, this beach has been a space for relaxation, recreation, and connection to nature, all of which are threatened by the introduction of permanent, visible barriers. Permanent ropes and posts will disrupt the open, accessible feel of the beach, creating obstructions and dividing the land in unnatural ways. Furthermore, the signage will create a institutionalized atmosphere, reminding visitors of restrictions instead of providing a truly unimpeded and free beach experience:

Signage at Hollywood Beach

The Army Corps' Misleading FAQ: Fact vs. Fiction

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.

Is the project's legal basis still valid?

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.

Will herbicides be used on the beach?

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.

What kind of fencing will be installed?

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.

What does "dune restoration" actually mean?

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.

Is this project even necessary for the birds?

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.

  • High Nesting Success: In 2023, the nesting plovers had a 100% nest hatch rate, far surpassing the historical average. (F9b Plan, p. 18)
  • The "Dredging Paradox": The plan admits the current dredging cycle "sustains the character of dunes... most suited to supporting use by plover." (F9b Plan, p. 10)

The project seeks to "fix" a habitat that isn't broken by replacing a dynamic, successful environment with a static, artificial one.

Has the public been properly consulted?

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.

  • The official project plan (F9b) is dated May 2024, and the Biological Opinion was issued years prior to that date.
  • The public is being informed of a decision that has already been made, not consulted on a plan that is still in development.
  • With only months to go before the project starts, the Army Corps still has not held a single public meeting to discuss the plan.

This reverses the proper order of operations and makes a mockery of genuine public engagement.

From Open Beach to a Fenced-In Project Zone

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.

Why Permanent Ropes, Posts, and Signage on Hollywood Beach Are Harmful

Send your email to stop the fencing:

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If we have important information to share about Hollywood Beach, we will notify this mailing list.

Mail a Physical Letter

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:

  1. Copy the address below.
  2. Write a brief letter expressing your opposition to the fencing project on Hollywood Beach. Explain why the natural, open character of the beach is important to you.
  3. Print your letter, sign it, and mail it. Every letter makes a difference.

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

About Save Hollywood Beach

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.

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