We’ve got some pressing news that affects not just our coastline but our mission to protect it. The California Coastal Commission is currently exploring a new policy directive called “neighborhood-scale adaptation” as a way to address the impacts of rising seas. This would encourage local governments to plan for large-scale adaptation projects to protect communities from rising seas. While the goal is to find a balanced approach, there are some serious concerns about how this could play out—especially when it comes to coastal armoring like seawalls.
Here’s the deal: The idea of “neighborhood-scale adaptation” could be positive, but it’s currently shrouded in ambiguity and risk. This approach might sound reasonable on the surface, but it raises a lot of questions about its real impact on our beaches and public resources. Unfortunately, seawalls make erosion worse, steal our sandy beaches and drown our waves. Imagine neighborhoods putting up large-scale seawalls, leading to increased erosion that could doom California’s beaches and limit public access.
Why This Matters
The Coastal Commission’s new draft discussion paper has sparked a lot of concern. Some local governments are already eyeing neighborhood-scale seawalls, which could block public access and harm our coastal ecosystems. We need to make sure that any new policies don’t just serve a few private homeowners, but protect the coast for everyone. The Coastal Act mandates that we must prioritize public access and environmental preservation over private property interests.
Get Involved
We need your voice. Join us for the Neighborhood-Scale Adaptation Workshop on Wednesday, September 11 at the Coastal Commission in-person in Monterey or over Zoom. The workshop starts at 1pm and there will be a one-hour public comment period from 2:30-3:30pm. We are looking for folks to speak out with concerns on the over-reliance of seawalls and neighborhood-scale seawalls. This is a chance to ensure that any new sea level rise planning policies align with our values and the principles of the Coastal Act.
Workshop Details:
- Date: Wednesday, September 11
- Time: 1-4:30pm (public comment at 2:30-3:30pm)
- Location: Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey or Zoom
- RSVP: Submit speaker slip for Item 8 here.
Let’s stand together and make sure that the new policies we support prioritize sustainable, nature-based solutions over destructive armoring. Your participation can make a real difference in how we shape the future of our coast.
Suggested talking points for the Workshop:
- Our beaches and coastal areas are essential for recreation, wildlife, and community enjoyment. [Include personal anecdote]. We must ensure that any new policies prioritize their preservation and do not lead to increased coastal armoring like seawalls.
- Neighborhood-scale adaptation might seem like a logical solution, but it could result in excessive large-scale seawalls that would block public access, worsen erosion, and damage coastal ecosystems. We need clear guidelines on how hard armoring would will be limited and mitigated.
- This policy should favor strategies that work with nature, such as dune restoration and living shorelines. These approaches offer long-term benefits and are more sustainable than hard armoring.
- Any new policy should be fair and accessible to all communities, especially those that may not have the resources for expensive adaptation measures. We must avoid solutions that do not promote equitable coastal access.
- Before adopting any new policies, I request that this Commission require more information and specificity on how various adaptation projects under this approach would remain consistent with the Coastal Act and especially specific examples on legal constraints for large-scale seawalls and what mitigation would be necessary.
- [Include a story about how this could affect your community]
For more information, check out our blog explaining our concerns with this approach in more detail.
Please reach out to me, I am happy to help tailor talking points to your location and interests: Mandy at msackett@surfrider.org.