Under Siege: California’s Coastal Commission and the Fight for Public Beach Access

Do you like to go to the beach? Do you appreciate having a beach to go to? Are you happier when that beach has clean ocean water, thriving ocean life and isn’t covered by rocks, seawalls or houses intruding on the public sand? 

If the answer to any/all of those questions is, “Yes!,” that means you’re a fan of the California Coastal Act, a law passed in 1976 following a 1972 public uprising to defend the coast from development threats. The Coastal Act, as it’s commonly known, protects two key rights: public beach access and coastal preservation. To make sure our rights under the Coastal Act could be enforced, the legislature created the California Coastal Commission. 

But now those rights are under attack as the Trump administration seeks to weaken or eliminate the Coastal Commission. President Trump, Elon Musk, special envoy Richard Grenell, and Congressman Kevin Kiley have all called for the defunding, disbanding, or disempowering of the Commission. Unfortunately, California’s own Governor Gavin Newsom has aligned himself with the anti-Coastal Act forces. 

Without the Coastal Commission's enforcement of the Coastal Act, many of California's 1,110 miles of public beaches could become effectively privatized, blocking access for families, surfers, and anyone seeking relief from inland heat. Countless examples of these types of efforts exist up and down the state's shores. Surfrider has fought and won dozens of access battles over the years, including in San Diego, Dana Point, Malibu and, in a case that went up to the Supreme Court, at Martin's Beach just south of Half Moon Bay.

And Surfrider isn’t giving up now. We're here to stand up to those who would sell out our state and sell off our coast. In fact, we’re taking this show on the road with our “Love Your Beach!” tour kicking off at Imperial Beach and traveling all the way up the coast as far as Humboldt County before finishing in Sacramento at the annual California Ocean Day advocacy event. Each stop will be supported by Surfrider’s club and chapter activist network and feature interactive activities designed to inform and inspire people to action! (Full tour dates and details coming soon!)

Please join us in the fight to save our coast and keep California's beaches open for all!

➡️ Support our efforts now by donating here! Your efforts will provide direct funding for us to take this fight to the people. Student clubs and chapter activists are hosting a series of action-oriented events all along California's coast from Imperial Beach to Humboldt County. Additional funds will allow us to document our efforts, reach more people, and result in more pressure on our elected officials to stand firm in defense of our right to beach access and a protected coastal environment!

➡️ Join your local California chapter. With 16 chapters along the coast, you likely have one near you! But also, you can join from anywhere! Being a Surfrider member means you're helping to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches – and that's always a great choice.

➡️ Tell your Congressional representative and Governor Gavin Newsom to protect your rights to healthy beaches and public access by rejecting federal attacks on the California Coastal Act!

➡️ Participate in action-oriented events with your local chapter!