Sloat Restoration through Managed Retreat

Sloat Restoration through Managed Retreat
This is our original vision for Sloat Restoration - graphic courtesy of PSA and Associates and the Ocean Beach Task Force

Our Vision of Beach Restoration and Preservation

The shorelines of Ocean Beach south of Sloat Blvd and Sharp Park in Pacifica are threatened by rip-rap seawallls and long-term erosion. This blog chronicles our campaign efforts to restore these beaches. Check out the web view of this site to see our proposed solutions and how to help- in the right hand column below. For all the latest about our efforts, see our monthly posts.

We advocate a managed retreat strategy to restore both Ocean Beach south of Sloat and Sharp Park.

At Sloat, our vision involves:

A long-term plan to relocate threatened infrastructure
(including the south of Sloat Great Highway, the two oceanside parking lots and the sewer lines underneath them).

The cleanup of all the rock and rubble littering the beach.

The use of sand dunes as the primary tool to slow erosion.

For Sharp Park, we advocate the decommissioning of the golf course, the removal of the rip-rap berm, and a full restoration of the wetland.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Campaign Platform Update



Greetings Surfriders,

In order to support some of the outcomes we have gained from the Ocean Beach Master Plan, we have updated our campaign platform for Sloat and central Ocean Beach.  

Significant Changes: 

We want to clarify our position on managed retreat.  It should be done in 2 phases.

Phase 1: As soon as possible, consolidate the road south of Sloat down to two lanes.  Align the road in a straight north-south trajectory.  Locate both lanes on the landward portion of the bluff.

Build temporary parking should in the newly available space gained from road consolidation and realignment.

Phase 2:  Before committing to build the Ocean Beach Master Plan vision for the Lake Merced Tunnel; formally weigh the option of relocating or re-aligning the Lake Merced Tunnel and other vulnerable infrastructure (such as the pump station in-take pipes).

Once an infrastructure protection strategy is in place, re-route the road around the back of the zoo.  Remove all rock armor.  Build sand dunes to serve as the new erosion control device. 

Create new beach access parking nearby, but at a safe distance away from the erosion hazard area.

Emergency Erosion Response Due to Winter Storms


In the event of a major erosion event which threatens infrastructure,  any emergency armor placed on the beach should be removed before the following winter. Sand bags are preferred over quarry stone boulders for emergencies.

Please remember to be careful when accessing the water at Sloat!