A beach staircase located at the end of Camino Pescadero partially collapsed into the ocean on Nov. 5. The Daily Nexus was unable to confirm when the stairs are expected to be repaired.

The beach staircase on 65 Del Playa collapsed on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Levi Kauffman / Daily Nexus

Evidence of the collapse was first reported on the social media platform Yik Yak on Thursday morning, which included a picture of the collapsed segment of the stairs in the ocean.

According to a statement from District Representative and Communications Director for Santa Barbara County (SBC) Eleanor Gartner, the SBC Parks Division has been working to repair the stairs following recent storms. However, due to “high surf and wave action,” the construction work was damaged. The County Parks Department is currently monitoring surf conditions until it can continue repairs.

Because of effects from climate change, bluff safety and coastal erosion have become a major issue for Isla Vista. SBC inspects the houses along ocean side Del Playa Drive for safety; however, erosion has continued. In April 2024, the backyard fence of a property on 66 Del Playa collapsed into the ocean and in February, the deck of a different property on the 67 block also collapsed.

The Nexus will continue to report on this topic as more information becomes available.

A version of this article appeared on p. 1 of the Nov. 13 print edition of the Daily Nexus.