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.

Friday, September 15, 2017

SF Planning Set to Vote on New Erosion Policy for Ocean Beach


This summer, a beach has re-emerged at the erosion hotspot.
Unfortunately, it will almost certainly erode this coming winter.
Photo: Ocean Beach Surfer Paul Lewis 

Greetings Surfriders,

In order to build a project that addresses beach erosion at Sloat, zoning laws for the Ocean Beach shoreline need to be updated.  This is what the Local Coastal Plan (LCP) amendment process is about.  The LCP is now up for final approval.

As you may be aware of, Surfrider has been heavily engaged in the drafting of the LCP.  The zoning rules for erosion management will have a major impact on the preservation of the beach south of Sloat as well as greater Ocean Beach.

The Local Coastal Plan (LCP) hearing and vote is set for October 5th at SF Planning Department.  Please attend if you can; or send in a comment letter now.  Here is a basic message:

Climate change and sea level rise will only exacerbate erosion rates at Ocean Beach.  In order to preserve the shoreline south of Sloat and greater Ocean Beach, long-term planning based on managed retreat should be the preferred strategy.  Sand replenishment is a temporary solution to coastal erosion, not a permanent fix. 

For more information on the LCP amendment,  please visit:  http://sf-planning.org/local-coastal-program-amendment.

To comment on the LCP,  please send an email letter to:



Maggie Wenger
LCP Amendment Project Manager
SF Planning Department
maggie.wenger@sfgov.org
(415) 575-9126


PS: Pease sign and share our petition if you haven't yet!