DANA POINT — The California Coastal Commission approved modifications Oct. 7, 2026, to the proposed Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, while the project’s construction timeline has been pushed back as officials await additional funding and regulatory approvals.
One of the primary changes involves relocating the project’s subsurface slant wells to the north day-use area of Doheny State Beach. According to South Coast Water District officials, geological studies found the previously proposed location near the campground could not reliably supply enough seawater.
The project is designed to produce up to 5 million gallons of drinking water per day and provide South Orange County with an additional locally controlled water supply. The proposed desalination facility would be located near Pacific Coast Highway and Stonehill Drive, adjacent to San Juan Creek.
Rather than drawing water directly from the ocean, the project would use slant wells installed beneath the seafloor. Seawater would filter through sand before entering the intake system, an approach officials say is intended to reduce impacts on marine life. Concentrated brine produced during desalination would be blended with treated wastewater and discharged through an existing outfall approximately two miles offshore.
The project’s latest guaranteed maximum price is approximately $296 million for final design and construction, according to district officials. South Coast Water District has already secured about $40 million in state and federal grants and is awaiting a decision on an additional $63 million grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, expected in early 2027.
Additional regulatory reviews are also required. The California State Lands Commission is expected to consider the changes Oct. 21, with Regional Water Quality Control Board review anticipated in early 2027. If funding, partnerships and remaining approvals move forward, the desalination facility could begin operating around 2030.
Construction is expected to temporarily affect access at Doheny State Beach, including approximately 225 parking spaces in the north day-use area and portions of the picnic and campground areas. Officials said no permanent loss of parking is proposed, and plans include restroom improvements and restoration of the picnic area.
Campground improvements associated with the project are expected to continue despite relocation of the wells, with construction not expected to require closure of Doheny State Campground before fall 2027.
