Crystal Cove Lifeguard Tower Caisson Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024050359
Public Agency
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Document Title
Crystal Cove Lifeguard Tower Caisson Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/8/2024
Document Description
Project will convert three temporary lifeguard towers at Crystal Cove State Park, into three permanent lifeguard towers founded on 36" cement caissons. The caissons will be imbedded into bedrock, at a depth to be determined by a geologist. The potential impact is negligible as sand and water can move around the 36" caisson. The three locations for these permanent towers are lifeguard tower C3 (located approximately 125 meters up-coast from Moro Beach pedestrian access tunnel), lifeguard tower C6 (located at Reef Point between Scotchman's Cove and 3.5 Cove), and lifeguard tower C9 (located in Crystal Cove Historic District nearest Cottage #12). The beach conditions continue to degrade each year. There are low levels of sand returning to the shoreline due to heavy storm and high tide events, in addition to sea level rise. These events strip the beach of sand where lifeguard towers are placed. The lifeguard towers cannot be moved further back from the waterline due to the immediacy of the bluffs that surround the beach areas. These lifeguard towers are critical to public safety due to high level of visitation to these beaches, the limited number of patrol vehicle access due to bluffs and high tide impacts, and the low-line-of-site visibility due to the numerous coves that make up the Crystal Cove State Park shoreline.
Contact Information
Name
Joe Fayer
Agency Name
California Department of Parks and Recreation; State Parks
Job Title
Associate State Archaeologist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Laguna Beach, Newport Beach
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Crystal Cove State Park
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3, Section 15303- New Conversion of Small Structures
Reasons for Exemption
This project consists of minor alterations to existing structures, of which has been reviewed and considered to have negligible impacts to natural, cultural, or public resources.
County Clerk
Orange