Rebar, pipes, pilings and rocks exposed by disappearing sand are adding another danger at the famous surf break.
Powerful surf and significant erosion have changed the landscape at Newport Beach’s Wedge, exposing debris that had long been buried beneath the sand.
Recent reporting documents exposed wooden pilings, pipes, rocks and rebar as the beach experiences severe erosion. Lifeguards are monitoring conditions while surfers and bodysurfers navigate hazards in an already notoriously powerful break.
City studying the erosion
The Newport Beach City Council has voted to study the erosion issue as changing beach conditions push the waterline and breaking waves closer to nearby infrastructure and homes.
The Wedge was created by changes associated with the harbor entrance and jetty in the 1930s and is famous for unusually large waves produced when incoming swells interact with the structure. Visitors should follow posted warnings and lifeguard instructions as conditions change.
