Hollywood Beach Neighbors Oppose Impacts from Army Corps of Engineers Proposal
Tracy Lehr
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – Hollywood Beach homeowners have plastered their Ventura County neighborhood near Oxnard with signs opposing an Army Corps of Engineers project.
The signs read: “Stop Fencing Hollywood Beach. The Army Corps will be installing permanent ropes and posts on Hollywood Beach. Email the Army Corps to stop!”
The signs also feature a QR code linking to https://savehollywoodbeach.com.
Residents with signs in beachfront yards oppose a plan they say calls for as much as 19 acres of dune habitat restoration. The Army Corps says the project would include permanent fencing to protect the endangered Western Snowy Plover and the California Least Tern, as well as the removal of nonnative plants such as ice plant and invasive grasses.
Army Corps biologist Natalie Martinez Takishita said the Hollywood Beach Restoration Plan is designed to meet federal mitigation requirements under the Endangered Species Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act, and would include “symbolic fencing and signage… standard practice to aid with restoration success while maximizing public access.”
But residents fear the “symbolic” fencing will be permanent and will restrict public use of a beach they say has been open and shared with wildlife for decades.
“This fight isn’t just about one beach in California. It’s a dangerous precedent,” said resident Jody Fisher Sero during a recent virtual public outreach meeting. “If a federal agency can disregard overwhelming public opposition to fence off Hollywood Beach, it can happen in any community in our state.”
Some homeowners also object to the use of herbicides to remove nonnative vegetation, noting that glyphosate—the active ingredient in Roundup—was listed in earlier project documents. “Glyphosate is classified as carcinogenic,” said resident Katherine Ulish. “I don’t understand why you would spray poison on a beach zoned for public recreational purposes.”
Others worry the creation of low-profile, man-made dunes could block ocean views, reduce property values and make it harder for residents and visitors to reach the water. Local realtor Ann Howorth told the Corps that permanent fencing and restricted access “can reduce property values by 20 to 25%,” amounting to “a decrease of a million dollars or more” for higher-end homes.
Several speakers questioned why Hollywood Beach is the focus when dredging has been performed every other year and temporary nesting-season fencing has been used successfully to protect the birds. “Why here and why now?” asked longtime resident Steve Katz. “The dredging has been going on for decades… What was going on before?”
Other residents suggested moving the project to nearby stretches of state-owned shoreline. “There are plenty of other sites within 10 miles that already have suitable habitat and wouldn’t disrupt one of the most accessible and well-loved public beaches in Ventura County,” said Sharon Levy.
In a dredging permit, the Army Corps referred to the plan as The Channel Islands and Port Hueneme Harbor Maintenance Dredging Project Dune Habitat Restoration. Some residents also take issue with that name, saying the project’s focus has shifted toward expanding bird habitat.
Tank Sears, a lifelong resident, said neighbors only learned the scope of the plan after noticing unusual activity on the beach. “There has been no public meeting, no community mailers, no transparent outreach,” he said. “We were shut out of it completely.”
The Army Corps says it will use public feedback from the meeting to refine the plan before awarding a contract.
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