Carbajal secures push for Army Corps to repair Morro Bay Harbor revetment

By Neil Farrell · Fri Aug 28 2026

Proposed federal legislation could shift responsibility for aging harbor infrastructure after study estimates repairs could cost up to $55 million

Needed repairs to Morro Bay Harbor's rock revetment got a big boost after the local Congressman was able to get key language included in a major bill making its way through Congress.

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced July 23 that he had secured "key legislative language" into a funding bill for to make sure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) "will carry out repair and maintenance activities on infrastructure protecting the harbor and nearby property."

The ACOE built the harbor as it exists today, blasting some 1 million tons of rock from Morro Rock in a quarrying operation that began in the early 1900s and carried on until the early 1960s, when the agency ceased operations. 

That rock was used to build the south breakwater and north jetty, creating the modern harbor entrance, as well as the causeway out to Morro Rock that now has an access road on it. 

Morro Rock was originally about 35% larger than it is today, and was originally an island.

The rock was used to create the breakwater at Port San Luis and was also used to construct other jetties and breakwaters up and down the state.

The revetment, which lines the Embarcadero, is nearly 10,000 feet long and was laid down in the 1940s, when the ACOE built a World War II Naval training base on property that is now the old power plant.

Before the revetment went in, the Embarcadero area was mostly a tidal mudflat. The portion that stayed high and dry started around Beach Street and stretched north to Coleman Park, where Morro Creek originally emptied into the bay. The inner bay had entrances on either side of Morro Rock until the causeway was put in, closing off the north entrance. The extensive sand dunes that exist today filled in quickly.

The revetment was back-filled with dredge spoils from Beach Street south, using spoils from the dredging of the harbor's entrance and navigation channels, and the modern waterfront sits on that fill.

The revetment protects the Embarcadero, the Morro Rock parking areas, and runs south past the public launch ramp.

The revetment is part of the business lease sites owned by the State Lands Commission and leased out by the city. It's maintenance in the lease-site areas is supposed to be the responsibility of the leaseholders, but much of the wall — in the street-end areas between the lease sites, north along Coleman Drive to the Rock, and south past the launch ramp — falls to the city to maintain.

A recent study of the condition of the revetment and seawalls in the harbor (the Brady Report) found some troubling and very expensive issues with that vital rock pile along its entire length.

"In 2024, the city conducted a conditional assessment of portions of the revetment and found many sections in critical or poor condition," reads an announcement from the Harbor Department. "The initial estimates to make the recommended repairs were between $26 [million to] $55 million."

Carbajal got the responsibility language into the "Water Resources Development Act of 2026," the release explained. That bill was unanimously approved on July 14 by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, with a bipartisan, 66-0 vote.

One particular section of that bill is key.

"The bill includes Section 313, which directs the Corps to fix and maintain breakwaters, revetments, and seawalls originally constructed by the Corps that are either damaged or are in disrepair," the announcement states. "Without this legislation it is questionable whether the Corps would undertake necessary work."

The bill still has to be approved by the full House of Representatives and then the Senate, and also be signed by President Donald Trump to carry the force of law.

It also doesn't include any actual funding for this new responsibility.

This isn’t the first time Carbajal has come through for the Morro Bay Harbor. Several years ago, he secured $1.5 million to repair the North T-pier, though the stated reason was to make it ready for use by the offshore floating wind energy companies that had plans to build a wind energy farm off the Coast of San Simeon.

Those plans have hit a figurative brick wall with Trump, who is adamantly against offshore wind farms (wind energy in general). The Trump Administration's Interior Department recently signed agreements with two of those wind energy companies to refund their lease payments, and have them give up any offshore floating wind projects in favor of building power plants with traditional forms of electric generation, mainly coal, and natural gas.

The third wind company has not yet signed a like settlement, but critics of the floating wind farm idea believe it will eventually give up its lease as well.

Another study, commissioned by San Luis Obispo County, looked at what it would take to make Morro Bay Harbor suitable for offshore wind energy needs. That sobering study essentially put the costs into the hundreds of millions just to accommodate the smallest of the ships needed for the project's construction and continuing maintenance. It was another in a string of blows to befall the project, though the state has vowed to sue the Trump Administration over the project, seeking to recoup whatever monies it has put into the project (mostly studies commissioned by the California Energy Commission and CEC staff time). 

But whether or not the wind energy companies ever wish to use the North T-pier, it is in rough shape and in need of major repairs, which the city is moving forward with regardless of who ends up using the pier.

Morro Bay Mayor Carla Wixom was happy with Carbajal's efforts.

“Congressman Carbajal is a strong champion for our city and our harbor," she said. "Rep. Carbajal has worked for months to secure this legislation that will ensure our harbor remains open and safe for our commercial fishing industry, our recreational boaters, our residents, and our visitors."

The revetment protects the Embarcadero but the harbor is important for other reasons as well.

"In addition to civilian navigation, Morro Bay Harbor hosts the U.S. Coast Guard, which carries out vitally important shipping safety and security missions from the harbor," the Harbor Department release says.

During the recent California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference (C-MANC), held in Washington D.C., Morro Bay officials, including Wixom and Harbor Vitality Director Chris Munson, met with Sen. Adam Shiff, as well as lobbying the ACOE and other agencies about the needs of the Morro Bay Harbor, which is the only safe harbor of refuge from Monterey to Santa Barbara. 

C-MANC is where city officials meet with the ACOE to dig up money for maintenance dredging of the harbor entrance, as well as other issues of importance for the city. They are hopeful the legislation Carbajal announced will get the support in the Senate too.

"City officials and staff also advocated for similar legislation in the U.S. Senate, and it is likely the legislation will pass with strong congressional support before being sent to the President for consideration."

Feature Image: The falling revetment along the Harborwalk is shown as it heads towards Tidelands Park and is now undermining a tree. Photo courtesy of City of Morro Bay