Big Chunk of Beach Washed Away : Erosion: A half-mile section near Ventura Harbor is missing. The loss of sand is reported to be the worst in nearly a decade. One beach-goer calls it a ‘definite bummer.’

It’s the case of the missing beach.

Over the past 10 days, a giant chunk of the South Beach, south of the entrance to Ventura Harbor, has vanished, forcing befuddled beach-goers to brave a 20-foot sand cliff to reach the water.

Experts say a portion of the beach normally washes out to sea during the winter, but this year’s erosion is the worst in nearly a decade.

At least 200 feet of prime beach stretching half a mile along the coast has been swept away by unusually large waves and high seas.

And while beach officials say most of the sand should be back by summer, some might be lost forever--a “definite bummer,” according to one beach-goer.

“Two weeks ago it was here, and now it’s gone,” said Jim Galloway while standing on the edge of the cliff. “It’s amazing what the ocean has done. It just sliced right through the beach.”

Officials at the Ventura Port District say they are alarmed by the phenomenon.

“It’s shocking,” said Richard Parsons, general manager of the district, which operates the adjacent Ventura Harbor. “We expect it every year, but this year it’s just more dramatic. It’s impressive.”

Parsons attributed the increased erosion to the El Nino weather condition, which he said is causing bad weather offshore.

Two weeks ago, seven-foot waves stirred by distant storms pounded the shore, he said.

Although the seas were calmer Monday, the waves were still strong.

Unfortunately, Parsons said, there is not much officials can do now to make it easier for people to reach the beach.

He said if they plow the wall, only more sand will wash into the ocean.

“We have to wait until it stabilizes,” he said. “The winter is not over. It might retreat even further.”

In 1983, another El Nino year, a similar erosion occurred on the beach, Parsons said.

It took some time before the dunes were replenished, he said.

On Monday, some beach-goers carefully climbed down the wall to reach the ocean.

Several said they almost tumbled over the cliff, not realizing that the steep wall was there.

Bruce Bergdahl said the beach only dropped off about four feet when he was there about three weeks ago.

“I’ve never seen a beach wash away this quickly,” he said. “It’s weird. I almost walked over the edge.”

Although the drastic drop-off could pose a danger, officials for the Ventura Fire Department and the state Department of Parks and Recreation said no injuries have been reported on the beach.

“Unless people are down there at night,” said Ranger Kathy Bolinar, they can see the cliff before it’s too late.