Storm damages another SLO County pier. Now three are closed here
The Cayucos Pier was closed to the public Tuesday, joining two others in San Luis Obispo County that have been partially or completely cordoned off to visitors.
In Cayucos, “Cal Fire crews noticed some damage to the pier from the storm system that moved through over the weekend,” county spokeswoman Jeanette Trompeter told The Tribune by email Wednesday.
“The pier was closed yesterday, Feb. 6, to ensure the safety of the public,” she said. “The pier will remain closed until engineers can examine the structure of the pier when weather and surf conditions improve.”
It isn’t known yet if those examinations will prove that the pier is still safe for the public and can be reopened, or if it will need repairs before that can happen.
The pier was completely renovated and rebuilt from 2013 to October 2015, with the community chipping in to help pay for the $3.5 million project.
Dan Borradori of Cayucos said Wednesday that he kept tabs on the reconstruction work as it was done.
“I was amazed when I watched how they redid the pier,” he said. “They just screwed the wood (piers) down into the dirt, then let the dirt and the sand fill in behind it. Amazing!”
Since then, however, “we’ve had some nasty waves and swells that just pounded on it,” he said of the pier. “I’ve seen videos of it just rocking all over the place.”
So, he’s not surprised that there may be some damage now.
Piers are frequently damaged in heavy storms
The San Simeon Pier has been closed, either partially or fully, since 2021, because some pilings are missing or dangling. A study has been done, although it may need to be updated after the most recent storms.
The State Park funding process for the project is underway, according to recent statements made to The Tribune by Dan Falat, superintendent of the state park district that includes the pier.
The end section of the 1,685-foot-long Avila Beach Pier is also closed, and the nonprofit Friends of the Avila Pier is overseeing the fundraising and repair.
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
