Coastal Erosion at Ocean Beach

Sandbag Work Complete - Extended Comment Period for Draft OBMP

2012-02-02T09:07:00.001-08:00

Dear Surfrider Supporters,

The sandbag work at Sloat's north lot is now complete. Presently, there are no other plans to add sandbags unless we experience an extreme erosion event.

Some folks may wonder what exactly constitutes such an event and when do we get them...

Generally, we get heavy beach erosion when powerful winter storms make a direct hit to our coastline. A direct hit occurs when the core of a system makes landfall bringing with it high surf, strong winds and heavy rain. The worse erosion for us tends to occur when a direct hit coincides with a large high tide, such as those in the 6.0 ft. range or better. Storms barreling in from the ocean can create a powerful storm surge, allowing the surf to advance much further inland than under fair weather conditions. This allows the sea to chew up or erode whatever lies in its path. Most folks have heard of storm urge associated with hurricane landfall. The storm surge that comes from our winter storms is basically the same thing. Though less dramatic, storm surge from Pacific systems can cause plenty of damage, too, especially when structures have been located too close to the sea.

The good news is that this winter, we appear to be safe. The jet stream, which carries our storm activity, has been positioned well to the north. There has been a bonanza of great weather and surf, and a reprieve for the Sloat shoreline.

In other news, SPUR has secured a grant to do the feasibility analysis for the draft proposal at Sloat. This is great news. We hope to see a full analysis of the low profile tunnel reinforcement concept along with a tunnel relocation/re-alignment option. We are particularly interested in cost/benefit issues (factoring in the value of recreation and ecology). Perhaps some combination of approaches may finally emerge. We certainly believe that any long term plan should include a phase in which the tunnel is removed from the beach.

Finally, SPUR has also extended comment period on the draft Ocean Beach Master Plan. If you have not yet added your input, there is still time. Please visit http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach There are a lot of changes being proposed for the entire beach. It behooves all of us to weigh in. Comment period ends February 29th. Thank you!

2012 The Home Stretch of the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan

2012-01-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Surfriders and Friends,

In 2011, with your help, as well as help from our allies at Save the Waves, the CA Coastal Protection Network and others, we helped de-rail a major rock armoring project at Sloat. From here on out, geotextile sand bags will be used on an emergency basis to protect vulnerable sewer infrastructure. Also, throughout 2011, many took the time to participate in shaping a long term plan for Sloat. Though yours comments, written letters, and signed petitions, a firm support for the clean-up of Sloat's shoreline has been registered in the Master Plan process.

These are great accomplishments.

What's been happening since the holiday season? Primarily, we have the initial sand bag construction project at the south end of Sloat's 1st parking lot. This was deemed an emergency problem area due to the lack of bluff material between the transport box and the ocean. We would like to again remind all our supports that we back the use of sand bags only as an interim measure. We view it as a better alternative to quarry stone and as a bridge to a managed retreat strategy.

As we start 2012, we find ourselves in the final months of the SPUR OB Master Plan. This coming year, in addition to tracking the progress of the box feasibility study, we will work to ensure that managed retreat and restoration are part and parcel of the final SPUR recommendations. We look forward to lobbying our civic leaders to take steps to adopt this vision as official policy. Stay tuned!

Public Comments on the Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Released

2011-12-17T22:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Public comments from the Draft Master Plan are now available on SPUR's website http://spur.org/ocean-beach

Thanks to all who submitted comments. There were some excellent points made as well as some unique and creative ideas. As for the issue of Sloat, a common theme emerged: There is widespread support for a managed retreat approach to the erosion issue. While some folks expressed skepticism and doubt about the cobble berm idea proposed by SPUR, most supported a clean up of the rubble and restoration of the shoreline. Many cited the need to have robust sand dune construction by the Army Corps. These are all concepts supported by Surfrider.

On the critical front, there was significant concern about traffic impacts caused by the re-routing of the Great Highway around the back of the zoo, especially at the Sloat intersection. This is absolutely a legitmate concern. We will work to see that this issue is addressed by SPUR as the draft gets fine tuned.

Thanks again to everyone for staying engaged with the Sloat issue and participating in the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan. Have a happy holiday season!

Alert: Restore Sharp Park Effort Needs Help NOW!

2011-12-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

The Disappearing Beach At Sharp Park

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors narrowly passed legislation that would enable Sharp Park's golf course to be restored to the coastal wetland it once was. Our chapter strongly supports this legislation which will lead to the removal of a large rock revetment from the beach. Despite the vote by the board, newly elected Mayor Ed Lee is threatening to veto the legislation. Please call Mayor Lee's office Monday December 12 and December 13 9-5pm at Telephone: (415) 554-6141 Calls are most effective at this late stage. Thanks! For more info visit:http://wildequity.org/sections/5

Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Part III

2011-11-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The comment period for the Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan has been extended until Wednesday November 23rd 5pm. If you have not done so yet, please review the plan and provide input! http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach

We have some good news to report on the city's emergency response to coastal erosion at Sloat. We received word from SFPUC that the agency intends to deploy geotextile sandbags instead of quarry stone in case of any new major erosion events between now and when a long term plan is implemented. We support this move because sandbags are easily removed, effective and much safer to traverse than quarry stone revetments.

We also have some additional information on the cobblestone berm idea outlined in the draft. Apparently there is no set schedule at this time for doing a feasibility analysis of this proposal. This means the Master Plan may be issuing a recommendation for Sloat without knowing if it is even viable. We urge SPUR and SFPUC to clear up this matter asap. It would be a tragedy to have SPUR issue a long term recommendation for Sloat that turns out to be unworkable.

As we have mentioned in previous posts, we still believe the long term plan should call for the relocation of the Lake Merced Transport Box. Perhaps the cobblestone berm approach can fit into such a plan as an interim step between sandbags and relocation. However, a robust feasibility study of the berm (that illuminates all impacts) should be completed before we can embrace this solution.

Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Part II

2011-11-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

I trust by now most of you have reviewed the draft master plan and have provided comment. If not, please do so as the official comment period closes this Friday 11/18 at 5pm. See: http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach There is a survey monkey link on the page for your feedback.

In the last post, the issue of the feasibility study of the Lake Merced Transport Box was covered. One other issue surrounding the Box as well as the Master Plan has to do with timelines.

It will be several years between the time that a long term plan is adopted for Sloat and when construction is completed. Surfrider believes that the city should adopt an interim erosion response plan asap. Such a plan should exclude armoring projects such as large scale quarry stone revetments. A good plan would have minimal environmental impact and have a strict expiration date. We are working through SPUR to make this happen right now. It would be a tragedy to see the master plan's recommendations get circumvented by an untimely erosion event.

One other noteworthy issue in the draft has to do with access. The draft master plans suggests several changes to beach parking. At Sloat's first lot (north) the draft recommends that parking be transferred to Sloat Blvd. This makes sense if adequate parking spaces are made available for beach access on Sloat. They should be as close as possible to the Great Highway intersection. Unfortunately, the draft is not clear on this point. We urge you to ask SPUR to incorporate this idea. Many people that come to Ocean Beach have to drive to get there. Quality parking space needs to be preserved.

Parking at the north end lots (Kelly's and VFW's) are also slated for changes. In Key Move #5 of the draft Master Plan, a proposal for charging fees for parking on peak days is floated. Surfrider urges folks to oppose any fees for access to Ocean Beach.

The Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan

2011-11-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The draft Master Plan is now posted on the SPUR website Additional written comments are being accepted until Friday November 18.

There are many aspects of the draft to comment on. We will do so in future blog entries. First, we would like to comment on the most important aspects of Key Move 1 and 2.

Overall, we are very encouraged to see lots of managed retreat in the plan. Key Move 1 and 2 include the re-route of the Great Highway around the back of the zoo, rubble clean-up, pull back of the parking lots and sand dune restoration. These are all measures we support.

The biggest challenge is the fate of the Lake Merced Transport Box (LMTB). The draft suggests it may be possible to leave the box on the beach, mostly buried in place with a minimal protective structure covered by cobblestone and sand. Certainly, this is a welcome step away from massive quarry stone armoring. However, it is not known whether this solution is possible. In fact, Surfrider has been told repeatedly by the city that the box cannot be exposed; that it could rupture. Apparently a feasibility study of this issue is about to get underway. We welcome this study and hope to see this question answered asap. How the study turns out may determine whether Sloat is restored or not. Surely, if the box can be left in place, we have a decent solution that allows for major beach restoration. However, if the box cannot be protected this way, it will either need to be relocated or heavily armored. If the City were to choose to do the latter, we could wind up with a seawall on the beach at Sloat instead of sand dunes.

Ultimately our organization maintains that inland relocation is the clear sustainable long term approach for the LMTB. With the box moved away from the sea, we know the beach can be fully restored while infrastructure gains maximum protection. Please note this issue in any comments you may send in to SPUR regarding the draft.

One final note: Thanks to all who showed up at the Rip Curl / Surfrider contest kick-off party last Tuesday night. Green Day showed up as special guests. A great time was had by all. Kudos to the team at Rip Curl, Surfrider National, and our chapter volunteers. A $5,000 check was donated to the Sloat Erosion Campaign.

Ocean Beach Master Plan Workshop #3 Report

2011-11-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

Saturday's public workshop was well attended. Thanks to all who showed up to hear about / question the draft version of the Ocean Beach Master Plan. Surfrider will provide detailed public comment when the draft is officially posted on SPUR's website . At that point, all those who could not attend the workshop will likewise have a chance to review and comment directly to SPUR on the plan. Stay tuned... Thanks for your support and staying engaged!

The Next SPUR Public Workshop

2011-10-11T10:41:00.001-07:00

Coastal Access at Sloat

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The SPUR website has just posted public comments from SPUR's public workshop number two, the Alternatives Phase. See http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach If you read the comment summary sections, it should become crystal clear why it is so important that people from our community show up, fully informed and ready to participate at these meetings. Again, the next and final SPUR public workshop is Saturday October 29th at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center 6101 Fulton St @ 37th Ave 10am-12:30pm. Please mark the SPUR workshop date on your calendars!

In addition, SF Baykeeper is currently featuring an informative article about sea level rise and Managed Retreat on their website. The piece mentions our plight at Sloat with a quality link to a historical background of the issue. See: http://baykeeper.org/blog/bcdc-approves-amendment-bay-plan-addressing-sea-level-rise
Finally, the Rip Curl Pro WCT contest is coming right on the heels of the last SPUR workshop. Surfrider National and the local chapter will be co-sponsoring the opening party on Tuesday November 1 at the Mezzanine. The theme of the party will be raising awareness of the Sloat issue. See more info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=258782484157893

Next SPUR Public Workshop October 29th

2011-09-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The next SPUR public workshop has been announced for Saturday October 29th at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center 6101 Fulton St. @ 37th Ave 10am-12pm. This meeting will cover the initial Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan. Please mark your calendars and spread the word. It is absolutely critical that we get the Master Plan on track now to feature a robust restoration plan for the south Sloat area.

In other news, local surfer and coastal attorney Mark Massara has recently filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco for violating permits issued by the California Coastal Commission. The suit, filed with The California Coastal Protection Network, claims the City's rock revetments at Sloat are out of compliance on multiple items found in Commission permits. This is a significant development that will will be sure to cover as things unfold...
See: http://oceanbeachbulletin.com/2011/08/26/environmental-group-sues-san-francisco-over-ocean-beach-rock-piles/

Last, but not least, an economic study of the future effects of sea level rise for Ocean Beach has just been released by Phillip King of San Francisco State University. Mr. King is also a member of SPUR's Ocean Beach Master Plan Steering Committee, so this information will inform the Master Plan.
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/09/13/the-price-of-rising-seas/

In his report, King models the economic effects of a sea level rise of 1.4 meters by 2100 (the current projection). His findings show SF and its residents would sustain more than $500 million in damage to infrastructure and private property - if no proactive measures are taken. This is exactly why we have been calling for a Managed Retreat strategy for Ocean Beach. The only way to responsibly deal with an encroaching high tide line is to move back and to give the ocean its space. This is true even if economics are the chief driver. The alternative strategy of armoring is messy, expensive in its own right, and destructive to our precious coastline. See above for more photos of the unfortunate situation at Sharp Park.

Projected Sea Level Rise for Ocean Beach - Why Managed Retreat as a Long Term Strategy

2011-08-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Future of Ocean Beach? The beach at Sharp Park (Pacifica) is disappearing under a pile of armor. Click photo to see close-up.

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Many may be surprised to hear that there is a looming threat of beach loss at central Ocean Beach. Below are a few links to scientific reports that have informed this projection. They deal with sea level rise. According to the Pacific Institute report, sea levels off the CA coast have risen 8 inches over the last 100 years. By 2100, sea level rise is predicted to rise another 1.0-1.4 meters (4’-5’). Although sea level rise projections are estimates, the trend lines behind this projection are serious. We should prepare for significant impacts. Middle Ocean Beach has been eroding for some time. We should expect beach loss to continue. However, as compared to Sloat, there is a greater opportunity to slow it down with sand nourishment and strategic sand management practices. This should allow us to buy time for proper planning.

Surfrider believes the sooner we embrace a strategy of Managed Retreat, the better off we will all be – taxpayers, beach users, and ecology. An encroaching high tide line is part of a natural process. If our city chooses to hold fast to existing boundaries, we can expect to see results like we have in the photo above. This is a group of revetments recently placed on the beach at Sharp Park, in the neighboring town of Pacifica. It's not a pretty picture. They are wiping out their beach.

This ia a graphic derived from the statewide study showing the potential erosion by 2100 based on 4.6’ of sea level rise. http://www.pwa-ltd.com/about/about_news.html#OPC_Report

The report by PWA:
http://www.pwa-ltd.com/about/news-CoastalErosion/PWA_OPC_Methods_final.pdf

Here is a link to the Pacific Institute report that this work fed into:
http://www.pacinst.org/reports/sea_level_rise/

Here is the State Adaptation Strategy that was affected by this work:
http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation/

Our Plan for Erosion Response at Ocean Beach

2011-08-08T23:32:00.001-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan process is currently digesting comments from the Alternatives phase, and beginning to sketch out the Draft Master Plan. Surfrider San Francisco would like to take this time to release our preferred long term solution for Sloat, as well as our general erosion response strategy for Ocean Beach.

While we continue to call for a Managed Retreat solution, we feel it is important to recognize that any long term plan will take years to plan, permit and fund. DPW has asserted that during that time, the sewage transport box under the Great Highway could be exposed, which may cause it to rupture. A break in the box would trigger a sewage spill on Ocean Beach. None of us wants to see this happen. Therefore, our chapter has proposed a practical compromise for our long term plan: We are willing to condone a minimal impact, temporary structure to protect the transport box under specific conditions: It should come as a last resort only to avert a failure of the box, have a limited time span, and only in the context of a Managed Retreat strategy. See below.

We regret that this infrastructure was placed in such a precarious position. It is time to move forward and embrace a practical, commonsense long term plan. Managed Retreat is the best way to preserve our beach and solve the erosion conflict.

A Comprehensive Program of Managed Retreat for Ocean Beach
Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco Chapter’s Official Platform for Sloat Blvd / Ocean Beach Erosion

Summary Statement:

The Surfrider Foundation San Francisco Chapter favors infrastructure relocation and beach restoration as the primary methods to address Ocean Beach’s erosion problems. Sand nourishment is seen as a preferred interim strategy over armoring. Shoreline armoring will cause narrowing and ultimately the loss of the beach. The acceleration of sea level rise is expected to limit the effectiveness of sand nourishment in the latter part of the century, by year 2100. Therefore, retreat and realignment of development is expected to become increasingly important to provide space for the beach to survive. If critical infrastructure (e.g. the transport tunnel) is imminently threatened by erosion, armoring should be employed only as a last resort and a temporary measure in order to give The City time to plan and execute the reconfiguration or relocation of the infrastructure to a more sustainable condition.

We believe separate plans should be pursued for each of the two zones that have erosion issues: One plan for the Sloat Blvd. area / One for Central Ocean Beach. Due to the inherent uncertainty in sea level rise predictions and beach morphology, a fifty year plan, not a one hundred year plan, should first be executed for the two zones. At year thirty of the fifty year plan, an assessment and planning period should commence for both zones that will result in a new fifty year plan.

The Sloat Area: A 50 Year Plan of Managed Retreat
The City should commit to pursuing a Managed Retreat plan for Sloat. During the immediate planning/permitting/financing period of Managed Retreat, a small, temporary revetment (5ft high) could serve to protect the transport tunnel by stabilizing the toe of the bluff. Further temporary safeguarding of the tunnel may be achieved through interior reinforcement.

We are calling for a Managed Retreat plan that encompasses the following:

1. Re-route the Lake Merced Transport Tunnel and the connections from the Westside Transport Box and Pump Station so that they enter through the back side of the treatment plant. The southern section of the Westside Transport Box may also require modification to reduce the potential for exposure and loss of beach.

2. Re-route the Great Highway around the backside of the zoo.

3. Relocate Sloat’s North Parking Lot and bathroom facilities eastward from the current location to the area immediately in front of the Westside Pump Station.

4. Eliminate the Muni Bus turnaround.

5. At the south end of the affected area, relocate the south parking lot to the endpoint of the Great Highway (just before the intersection at Skyline Boulevard).

6. When opportunistic sand is available for beach nourishment, begin removal of all quarry stone revetments and rubble now littering the beach and construct a large sand berm to serve as a protective barrier for the entire area. Strengthen the dune with native plants, install sand ladder access trails, and construct a bike/walking path on the eastern side of the restored dune.

7. A plan for monitoring the new berm, as well as a plan for periodic sand nourishment should be in in place upon completion of the project.

With this strategy, the wastewater plant should have sufficient protection at its current location until its 100 year life cycle is completed. (Approximately 80 years remain).

Worst Case Scenario: If the new sand berm is severely eroded and the high tide line advances to a predefined point of emergency status at anywhere along the 3 reaches that include the pump station, zoo or the wastewater plant, then temporary armoring would be condoned only under the explicit condition to give the City time to plan and execute a relocation/reconfiguration of these structures. When complete, the temporary armor should then be removed and the beach returned to its natural state. There should be a formal mechanism to ensure future removal of any armoring.

Central Ocean Beach: A 50 Year Plan
For the next 50 years: A plan for monitoring erosion as well as aggressive sand dune nourishment/placement should be implemented along Central Ocean Beach. Nourishment areas would be identified as locations in which the high tide line has reached a certain distance from the seawall or road. As in the case of the Sloat area, a reassessment and planning period should occur at year 30. If at that time, if the beach is significantly narrower than when the first 50 year plan started, then planning should commence for the relocation of the Great Highway and the rest of the westside transport box.

Conclusion:
At Sloat, with infrastructure relocation and a renovated sand berm free of debris, the public and The City have a win-win solution. Infrastructure is protected and the public’s sandy shoreline/beach is preserved. At Central Ocean Beach, continual monitoring and timely sand nourishment should preclude the need for new armoring as well as give us the time we need to better evaluate sea level rise rates and beach morphology data. This plan does allow for flexibility if the high tide line moves inland to the point of threatening the remaining infrastructure. In such cases, temporary armoring is condoned as an emergency action under the express purpose to give The City time to relocate that infrastructure away from the ocean.

Victory! Dpw Permits Stopped

2011-07-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

Just in: The Ca Coastal Commission denied approval to expand coastal armor at Sloat tonight. It was a unanimous vote. Thanks to the 500+ people who sent in letters opposing the permits. Thanks also to Sarah Damron, Katie Westfall of Save The Waves, Lara Truppelli of SandOb, Mark Massara, Wade Orbelian and others for staying until late in the evening to speak! This was an important win in our battle to restore the beach at Sloat. Stay tuned for next steps...

Alert: Important Meeting of the Ca. Coastal Commission

2011-06-23T08:39:00.001-07:00

Inner Bar Surf at South Sloat - Threatened By Backwash

Heads up Surfriders and Friends,

The California Coastal Commission is set to have a vote on SFDPW's permit application to expand armoring at Sloat Boulevard. The meeting will be on Wednesday July 13, at Marin County Board of Supervisors 3501 Civic Center Drive Rm 330 San Rafael starting at 9am. This is the set of permits that goes way beyond the work needed to finish last year's emergency repairs. We have already sent in well over 100 letters from our supporters, as well as spoke directly with the Commission about this issue. Our main point remains that permitting the expansion of armoring is unnecessary, and will only serve to undermine a primary goal of the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan process. That objective is to create a long term plan for Ocean Beach erosion shaped by all stakeholders - public, government, and non-profits. Please come on down to comment in person if you can. If not, you are always welcome to send letters directly to the Commission. They don't allow email, so please print out your letters and send them via traditional mail: Here's the contact info.

North Central Coast District Office
Charles Lester, Senior Deputy Director
Ruby Pap, District Supervisor

45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105-2219
(415) 904-5260 or
(415) 904-5200
FAX (415) 904-5400

Thanks!

Great Highway Sand Management News

2011-06-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Good news to report. This morning, SFDPW is addressing the issue of blowing sand that has led to recent closures of the Great Highway's southbound lanes. An excavator and at least one pair of plows will be used to relocate a sandy berm that has been building up at Noriega over the last few years. Sand from the berm has been blowing right onto the highway and into the shrubbery across the street. We contacted Frank Filice of DPW to find out if the sand could be used to cover the exposed armor at Noriega St. Good news. Indeed, that is the plan. In fact, the Agency is also working with the National Park Service to cover the exposed armor at Ortega Street as well. We applaud this effort as a short term measure to preserve our beach while reducing the pressure to armor.

SPUR Public Workshop #2 Report

2011-06-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

A new erosion hotspot? Ortega Street, early June 2011.

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

The SPUR public workshop went really well. Attendance was great despite the pouring rain.

Here’s a basic report:

SPUR opened the meeting by giving attendees an overview of Ocean Beach’s sand transport system, wastewater infrastructure and the erosion challenge. Then, several test case scenarios were presented showing the results of different approaches to addressing erosion and beach management. The test cases served to demonstrate the different issues involved in long term planning at Ocean Beach. For example, one scenario demonstrated what the beach would look like over the next 100 years if we were to prioritize infrastructure protection above all other issues. Naturally, with this approach, most of the southern section of Ocean Beach was wiped out, with the shoreline and dunes getting replaced by a seawall and quarry stone revetments. Another test case showed what the future would look like if we were to use habitat conservation as the dominant priority. In such a scenario we would have to relocate not only the wastewater tunnel and the Great Highway, but also part of the neighborhood along the Lower Great Highway (at mid-beach) would have to be returned to the sand. Other models showed what would happen if we were to use green infrastructure or recreational opportunities as the prime drivers. The results of these approaches showed various degrees of Managed Retreat, but with their own pluses and minuses. SPUR wants to remind everyone that these test scenarios were not actual proposals, but tools for the public to glimpse the different issues, challenges, strengths and weaknesses inherent in any long term master plan.
During the last section of the workshop, the attendees split up into break-out session groups. Each group was charged with drafting their own ideal Master Plan for the next 100 years. The hypothetical results shown in the various test scenarios sparked a very lively planning session. At the end of the meeting, the beak-out groups’ draft plans were collected by SPUR and will serve to provide feedback and direction in formation of the final Ocean Beach Master Plan. A Draft Master Plan is the next step in this process. Check out SPURs website for all the details and/or to provide additional input.

www.spur.org/oceanbeach

Thanks to all who attended!

Alert! Next SPUR Public Workshop Confirmed

2011-05-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

News Flash...The next phase of the Ocean Beach Master Plan is officially confirmed: Saturday June 4th at the Golden Gate Park Senior Center 10am-1pm. The Center is located at 6101 Fulton St. @ 37th Ave. Please make every effort to attend and provide input. This is the critical workshop in which a solution for Sloat will begin to take shape. For more info on the workshop or The Ocean Beach Master Plan visit

http://www.spur.org/oceanbeach

Please spread the word throughout the community...

Thanks!

Alternatives Phase of SPUR OB Master Plan Set to Begin

2011-04-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

The original Managed Retreat vision from the Ocean Beach Task Force 2002: Courtesy of Brad Evans and Bob Battalio of Phillips Williams and Associates.

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

Engineers under the SPUR Master Plan and key city officials are beginning to form alternative long term plans for Sloat Erosion. The next public workshop which will offer citizen's an opportunity to weigh in on this issue is set for June 4. Location TBA. In the meantime Surfrider San Francisco would like to begin a deeper discussion of our preferred plan: Managed Retreat. Below is a series of links in which Managed Retreat was used to respond to coastal erosion events in California. These three examples involve public infrastructure that was being threatened by an encroaching high tide line. Like Sloat, there was a need to remove fill/rubble and add sand in its place. Note the 2 local projects. We already have examples of Managed Rereat succeeding in our own backyard...

SURFER's POINT - Ventura, Ca
http://www.pwa-ltd.com/projects/pr_cstl_SurfersPnt.html
http://www.venturariver.org/2010/11/managed-retreat-process-at-surfers.html
http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/initiatives/shoreline_ppr_retreat.html
http://www.surferspoint.org/

PACIFICA STATE BEACH (Lindamar) - Pacifica, Ca
http://www.pwa-ltd.com/projects/pr_cstl_Pacifica.html

CRISSY FIELD - San Francisco, Ca
http://www.pwa-ltd.com/projects/pr_cstl_crissy_field.html

Ocean Beach Erosion Article on SFGate / SF Chronicle

2011-03-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

The new revetment looking south. Photo taken 3/21/11 4:35pm Tide apprx. 3.2ft

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

Last Friday March 4th, there was a front page article about erosion at Ocean Beach that featured the problem at Sloat. It also appeared Sunday March 6 in SFgate. Here's a link to the online version...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/04/MNGM1I1O92.DTL

The article was well written, providing a great synopsis of the issues involved as well as where we right now in the process of finding a long term solution.

One important comment: The article seems to suggest that Coastal Armoring, Managed Retreat and Sand Nourishment are separate, mutually exclusive erosion control solutions for Sloat. They are not. We beleve in a sensible combination of strategies that emphasizes more of the last 2 methods: Managed Retreat and Sand Nourishment. Our vision consists of moving the parking lots, the road, and the wastewater tunnel out of harm's way. Then, a large sand dune (via sand nourishment) should be constructed in its place. With a sand barrier, we have an erosion control system that allows for the restoration of the public's beach and safer access to the shoreline. Look for more details to emerge on Managed Retreat as we head into the next phase of the Ocean Beach Master Plan - Alternative Solutions.

Ocean Beach Master Plan Open House at the Park Chalet

2011-02-24T10:25:00.000-08:00

Just in case you missed the SPUR workshop at the zoo January 15, there will be another chance for the public to review and comment on the Ocean Beach Master Plan. On Saturday March 5, from 10am - 12noon, the Park Chalet will host the workshop material. All folks that want to see our beach restored at Sloat are urged to weigh in at all SPUR workshops. In addition to the Sloat issue, there are other important issues getting addressed in the Master Plan: restrooms, bike paths, garbage collection, native plant restoration efforts, etc. Feel free to bring the family has there will be free root beer and facepainting for the kids. Thanks to Lara Truppelli of the Park Chalet and SandOB for sponsoring this event.

SPUR Workshop Report

2011-01-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

The first SPUR Workshop at the SF Zoo last Saturday went really well. Thanks to everyone who took time on a beautiful sunny morning (when the surf was firing) to attend the event and provide feedback on Ocean Beach. As promised, various representatives from key government agencies were on hand to meet the public, answer questions and take in feedback. Some great conversations were held about what should happen at Sloat as well as other issues concerning Ocean Beach. At this point, it seems a major concern The City has in embracing a Managed Retreat strategy seems to be the notion that moving the road/infrastructure may not stop the ocean from continuing to encroach. Undoubtedly such a scenario is possible, however, the other alternative- massive armoring with sand nourishment - virtually guarantees the loss of the beach and the waste of public funds when the sand is washed away. Ultimately, we believe the City has the responsibility to pick the best case scenario for both protecting its infrastructure and the beach at Sloat. We stand firm that Managed Retreat is the smartest path. Needless to say, we look forward to continuing these discussions in the months ahead and we thank the City for keeping an open mind and conducting an honest dialogue with the public on the issue.

What you can do… Please feel free to continue to write letters to the various public agencies with jurisdiction over the Sloat issue:

The wastewater infrastructure: Public Utilities Commission http://sfwater.org/ContactUs.cfm/MC_ID/18/MSC_ID/114/MTO_ID/342

The agency charged with protecting the infrastructure: SF DPW http://www.sfdpw.org/index.aspx?page=34

The road: SF Park and Rec: http://sfrecpark.org/CommentsAndFeedback.aspx
And SF County Transportation Authority:
http://www.sfcta.org/mos/Contact_Us/

The beach itself:
GGNRA: http://www.nps.gov/goga/contacts.htm

Special Thanks to Ben Grant for steering the SPUR process. For more information, please contact project manager Benjamin Grant
(bgrant@spur.org)
www.spur.org/ocean-beach
facebook: Ocean Beach Master Plan (San Francisco)
twitter: @planoceanbeach

Coastal Commission Wrap-Up / SPUR Meeting Set

2010-12-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Season’s Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

Our appearance at the California Coastal Commission Meetings last week was a smashing success. We would like to thank everyone who took time to comment, whether by coming down to speak or by sending in a letter. By the way, we received well over 140 letters in support of our message to restrict rock armoring at Sloat, and to require clean-up of the rubble littering the beach. The Commission got a clear picture of what is happening down at Sloat, the basic issues involved, and our platform. It could not have gone any better.

We have more news: VERY IMPORTANT!

SPUR has just scheduled the first public workshop for determining a long term plan at Sloat this January 15th, 2011 9am-2pm at the SF Zoo Great Hall. Finally, everyone concerned about the armoring has a chance to be part of drafting a long term solution for the area. Officials from SFDPW, SFPUC, Park and Rec and others will be on hand to hear and discuss this issue as well as other matters involving Ocean Beach. We encourage everyone to attend and provide input. More details to follow.

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays!

SPUR Workshop Postponed / Coastal Commission Meeting In SF

2010-11-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

Greetings fellow Surfriders and Friends,

News Update: The SPUR workshops originally scheduled for November have been postponed until sometime early next year. These are the government/public stakeholder workshops charged with drafting a recommendation to address erosion at Sloat. We will be sure to announce when we have the dates.

In the mean time, there is a huge opportunity for us to impact the state of the beach at Sloat: The California Coastal Commission, which oversees the permitting for any coastal development on the state's coastline, is having a meeting December 15, 16,, and 17th in San Francisco. There is an open public comment period every morning of these meetings. This is our chance to tell the commission what is happening at Sloat, how our beach is wiped away by erosion, and being replaced by rock and concrete rubble. Please be sure to check our action alert in the coming days. The Commission has the ability to force The City to take action and address many of the issues that concern us at Sloat: the loss of public recreation, degradation of safe access and the environmental impacts of armoring. We urge everyone to either show up at the Commission meetings to comment (public comment period opens 9-10am depending on the day), or, if unable to attend, to please write a fresh letter to the commission. Here is a link to write a letter: http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2842 And here is more info on the meetings. http://www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html

Thanks!

Southbound Lane Open

2010-10-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Also, Now Open: 2nd Parking Lot

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact: (415) 554-6931
October 15, 2010

PUBLIC WORKS REOPENS GREAT HIGHWAY
SOUTH OF SLOAT BOULEVARD
Department completes Phase II of Emergency Repairs

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Department of Public Works (DPW) announced today the completion of Phase II of its emergency repair work along the Great Highway and the reopening of the roadway to southbound traffic south of Sloat in time for this evening’s commute. This stretch of the Great Highway was closed in December 2009 due to severe erosion.
DPW completed Phase I of the Great Highway Stabilization Project in April 2010, which included the construction of a 425-foot rock revetment on the beach to prevent further erosion of the bluffs. The department also removed 1,000 tons of debris from the beach during Phase I.
DPW has now realigned the roadway south of Sloat Boulevard and reduced it from two southbound lanes to one. The department also worked with the National Park Service (NPS) to reopen two parking lots at Sloat Boulevard.
Phase III of the emergency work includes addressing additional storm damage that threatens the public infrastructure along the entire 3,500-foot stretch of coastal bluff between the north parking lot and Fort Funston. Repair options are currently being reviewed by the National Park Service and the California Coastal Commission. .
In a separate process, the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) is convening a multi-agency process to develop an Ocean Beach Master Plan. SPUR will work with community and agency stakeholders to create a vision of Ocean Beach as San Francisco’s next great public landscape, while recommending sustainable approaches to erosion and infrastructure in the context of sea-level rise and climate change. This 16-month effort is funded by grants from the California State Coastal Conservancy, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and the National Parks Service.

For more information about the Great Highway Stabilization Project , visit www.sfdpw.org.
DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.

--end--

Gearing up for SPUR Stakeholder Meetings

2010-10-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) is busy putting the final pieces together for the stakeholder process that will help bring a long term solution at Sloat. Dates are still TBA. In the meantime, DPW has provided technical reports on 2010 storm damage, and the options they are considering to complete the armoring project. http://www.sfdpw.org/index.aspx?page=724

The agency, while still acting under emergency powers, will have to get approval from the California Coastal Commission for whatever plans they select. What we can do: Please continue to send letters to the California Coastal Commission asking the agency to minimize any additional armoring at Sloat, as well as for rubble removal and clean-up as mitigation. http://www.coastal.ca.gov

In the meantime, below is a very informative article published back in June by George Wooding for the newsletter of San Francisco Tomorrow.

Winter storms and neglect devour The Great Highway at Ocean Beach

In January, Mayor Gavin Newsom declared a state of local emergency due to severe erosion which was causing parts of the Great Highway to slip into the ocean.
Yes, recent wind and rain storms eroded Ocean Beach, but this “emergency” was actually caused by years of City-deferred maintenance, inaction, and neglect. San
Francisco has long known that parts of the Great Highway — especially the 3,000-foot section between Sloat Boulevard and Fort Funston — face being permanently washed away. It’s embarrassing that City officials have once again been caught off guard by a known and often recurring problem. Isn’t this “déjà vu”?

San Francisco’s problems with Ocean Beach are manmade problems. San Francisco caused Ocean Beach’s beach-erosion problem by repeatedly increasing its size using landfill, and then building on the landfill. The current shoreline is a man-made extension. Between 1895 and the 1930’s the Ocean Beach shoreline was pushed at least two hundred feet seaward to promote urban development. Between the 1940’s and 1960’s, concrete debris, bricks, soil, and sand were used to increase the width of the beach and to form artificial bluffs. The City continued to increase the size of the beach through the 1980’s. The Pacific Ocean is now simply reclaiming the man-made beach and in-fill that has been extended into the Ocean.

The Real Problem

The City built the massive 16-year-old Lake Merced Sewage Pipe directly underneath (40 feet below) the Great Highway; it was completed in 1994 as part of the
San Francisco PUC’s $200 million Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant. The Highway and parking lots were built on landfill the Ocean is now reclaiming. While
the 14-foot-diameter pipe was tunneled in harder native materials at elevations below the adjacent beach, it was located very close to the Ocean, below the southbound lanes of the highway. After ocean waves tore into the bluff that supports the Great Highway, the sewage pipe was just 10 yards — barely 30 feet! — from the ocean’s edge. Over 10 million gallons of Westside raw sewage and wastewater flow through this pipe following rainy conditions. The pipe takes sewage to the Oceanside
Treatment Plant where it is partially treated and then pumped through an underwater pipe for release four miles out into the sea. As the shoreline recedes, there is
a very good chance that the Lake Merced Sewage Pipe will either end up buried under the ocean floor, or exposed to the ocean. Now the southbound lanes are closed, but Department of Public Works (DPW) hopes to re-open them sometime this summer.
Any rupture of the sewage pipe could cause a huge ecological disaster, involving millions of gallons of treated and effluent (partially-treated sewage) and liquid
waste pouring into the ocean and onto the fragile coastline. Earthquake-induced liquefaction to the area would pose another distinct threat.
According to DPW, some sections of ocean bluffs south of Sloat Boulevard have eroded by up to 70 feet just within the last year. The rock crown of the Southwest Ocean Outfall Pipe — part of the plant that discharges partially-treated wastewater four miles off shore into the Pacific Ocean — is also threatened by erosion. A 2009
report filed by the Pacific Institute shows San Francisco’s sea level rose eight inches during the last 100 years, but is expected to rise an additional four-and a-
half feet — yes, feet — by 2100 due to increases in ocean temperatures and melting ice sheets. Report calculations project that Northern California’s sandy dunes could retreat an average of 558 feet (186 yards) and cliffs could recede an average of 217 feet by 2100.

Higher sea levels, coupled with high tides and fierce storms, will cause storm waves to make increasingly deeper inroads into the receding shoreline. The City has responded to the latest Ocean Beach emergency by placing a 425-foot-long rock wall —
approximately 12,000 tons of rock — south of Sloat Boulevard below the San Francisco Zoo. This rock wall or revetment starts at the base of the eroded beach area and extends up the cliff’s face. Ideally, sand will be added on top of the rock to increase the width of the Bluff. The Army Corps of Engineers — the same folks involved with the New Orleans levees — is continuing to dump sand near the revetment changing the ocean’s littoral (sand transport) current, hoping to create a beach, but the “beach nourishment” approach is limited at this location because the Ocean’s littoral current is taking sand away from this section of shore. As the surrounding edge recedes, this divergent zone is aimed directly at the Great Highway and the Lake Merced Sewage Pipe. The effect is the same as aiming water from a hose directly onto pavement, 24/7.

This emergency Ocean Beach coastal armoring is a short-term, Band-Aid approach that will gradually fail. Coastal armoring can only be engineered to accommodate a certain storm size or rise in sea level, and at Ocean Beach would require regular monitoring and constant, expensive maintenance. Besides, armoring the edge is not as effective as a natural shoreline at dissipating the energy from waves and tides. As a result, armored shorelines are more vulnerable and cause increased erosion of adjacent beaches. In July 1999, the unanimous Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 698-99, prohibiting the expenditure of funds on the use of hard rock structures (such as rock revetment or seawalls) to stabilize conditions at Ocean Beach. The City’s emergency action this winter circumvented this Resolution and began expending funds on coastal armoring of Ocean Beach. The 1999 Board Resolution also called for a long-term plan to address erosion at Ocean Beach.

In 2002, Mayor Willie Brown’s Ocean Beach Task Force issued a Resolution supporting long-term solutions “through the planning partnership process.” The Mayor
took three years before establishing, in 2005, the Ocean Beach Vision Council charged with developing a 30- to 50-year plan for Ocean Beach. The Vision Council must be wearing very dark sunglasses, since it hasn’t even issued a draft report in the five years since being created. DPW and the Recreation and Park Department
(RPD) are currently working on a plan with the Army Corps of Engineers. No one knows how much of the RPD budget is funding the coastal armoring to protect City recreation and park land.

On April 19, 2010, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, with the support of Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, drafted a new Board Resolution requesting a “comprehensive planning
process be re-established to develop long-term solutions to the erosion problems at Ocean Beach.” All these attempts at long-term plans are either not drafted, completed, followed or implemented. Nothing changes except the eroding shoreline’s increased risk to the 14- foot-diameter Lake Merced Sewage Pipe and the Great
Highway above it, and risks to the Southwest Ocean Outfall Pipe.

Coastal experts are recommending a gradual surrender of the coastline to the Ocean. They believe that: 1)Infrastructure such as the Great Highway and the Lake Merced Sewage Pipe may have to be moved away from coastal erosion hazard zones; 2) Coastal armoring and structural measures should be minimized, with all armoring and rubble to be removed as soon as practical; 3) A sand management plan needs to be developed
where sand is placed to maintain the beach and dunes; 4) The natural ecology of Ocean Beach’s flora and fauna needs to be re-established; and 5) There should be
extensive Ocean Beach monitoring and adaptive management. This should become the template for the City’s long overdue Ocean Beach management plan.

As the sea rises, San Franciscans will be forced to decide: Should we adapt to the changing environment, or should we try to make it adapt to us? No matter what
we do, there will be consequences down the line. It’s time to decide the fate of Ocean Beach and San Francisco’s endangered infrastructure. San Francisco needs to immediately develop a realistic, long-term Ocean Beach management plan, before the 14-foot diameter sewage pipe and the Great Highway only 40 feet above it collapse under the weight of inaction. But by the time the City actually develops a long-term plan for Ocean Beach, we may all be up to our knees in sea water filled with effluvium (odorous waste matter).

Thanks to George Wooding, President of the West of Twin Peaks Central Council

Our Letter to SFPUC

2010-08-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Below is our official comment submitted to SFPUC last week regarding the wastewater infraestructure at Sloat.

July 27, 2010

SF Public Utilities Commission
1155 Market St., 11th floor
San Francisco CA, 94103
ph: (415) 554-3155

RE: Item to be added to the 5 year CIP

Dear Commissioners,

Surfrider San Francisco, Save the Waves Coalition, and our engineering consultants at Phillip Williams and Associates would like to share with SFPUC our view of the Lake Merced Transport Tunnel in the south of Sloat area.

Since the mid 1990s, 3 significant and costly rock armoring projects have been installed in an effort to protect Sloat's wastewater infrastructure from coastal erosion. These projects may have worked temporarily to safeguard City assets, but ultimately the threat of erosion has continued - and is projected to continue.

The erosion problems in the South Sloat area have been going on for nearly 20 years, when the area was filled to create parking and the Great Highway Extension. Photographs and maps document that the Funston Bluffs, to the south, have been eroding since before the 1850’s, when the first scaled coast survey was accomplished. Combined with predicted rise in sea levels, we believe The City will add more rock or other armoring in the future. We believe this not within our collective interest. Expensive coastal armoring cannot permanently halt the advance of the Pacific Ocean. Eventually, infrastructure will have to be moved. We hope that SFPUC agrees with this view, and will thereby plan for a sustainable future – one that is consistent with State guidance on adaptation to sea level rise.

Presently, the beach in the South of Sloat area is an unmitigated disaster. Unearthed construction rubble covers the shoreline interspersed with the aforementioned rock armoring. Just over a decade ago, there was enough sandy beach in this area for people to enjoy putting out a towel, fishing, or flying a kite. Now, there is only a small sliver of sand left - one that is not safe to access, inappropriate for public recreation and ecologically degraded.

For these reasons, Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco Chapter and Save the Waves Coalition would like to recommend that PUC begin planning for a reconfiguration and/or re-routing of the Lake Merced Transport Tunnel at South Sloat: Our organizations suggest that such an initiative be included in the current Sewer System Master Plan's 5 Year CIP.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Bill McLaughlin
Erosion Committee
Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco Chapter

Josh Berry
Environmental Director, Save the Waves Coalition

Bob Battalio, PE
Principal
Phillip Williams and Associates

Important Workshop Coming this Tuesday

2010-07-22T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Surfriders and Friends,

A very key PUC workshop is happening this Tuesday at SF City Hall: http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/15/MSC_ID/150/C_ID/4813

The PUC is taking comment on what items should be in their 5 year Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) list for wastewater. Right now, there is nothing in their plans regarding the wastewater transport tunnel at Sloat. This is the tunnel that is driving the armoring in the area. Our chapter and friends at Save the Waves believe the transport tunnel needs to be relocated at some point in the near future to ensure restoration of the beach. We're hoping to rally as many of our supporters as possible to be there to tell the PUC that there needs to be planning for this project in their 5 Year CIP. We're asking SFPUC to recognize that the transport tunnel at Sloat is in an unsustainable location - and to make plans to remove/relocate it. The workshop is happening this coming Tuesday, July 27th City Hall Room 400 from 1-3:30pm. Anyone from the general public is welcome to attend and to provide comment.

Thanks!

SF Chapter Erosion Committee

Bank Swallows Now Nesting in the South Sloat Bluffs

2010-06-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

DPW wanted us to help spread the word that the Bank Swallow (a Ca State threatened bird species) is now nesting in the South Sloat bluff area – above the new revetment - and that beach users should take care to avoid disturbing their habitat. DPW has cordoned off the area with orange construction fencing. Please access the beach further north of the new revetment

It is also important to note that the presence of the Bank Swallow is preventing DPW from working on Phase II of the emergency project - the stabilization of the bluffs and the re-opening of the southbound lanes. The Swallows should be finished nesting by sometime late this summer. Look for construction activity to commence sometime in September. Meanwhile, in other news, SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research) has one a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy and is now planning the government/public stakeholder meetings on crafting a long term solution for Sloat. Dates TBA. One more note; Please continue to inform the community about what's going on at Sloat. There are still many in our community that do not know what is going on down there, the issues at stake, the history, and the solutions on the table. Going forward, it is in everyone’s interest to have informed public participation at these meetings… Thanks!

Bill McLaughlin
San Francisco Chapter Erosion Committee

Ocean Beach Vision Council Meeting of May 6th Recap

2010-05-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Ocean Beach Vision Council (OBVC) had a public meeting last week at the Janet Pomery Center behind the West Side wastewater plant. The approximately 30 attendees were about half public stakeholders, about half private citizens.

The Ocean Beach Vision Council was formed by Mayor Gavin Newsom consisting of many of the members of the previous Ocean Beach Task Force. Up to this point, the 10-member council has lacked funding, but a recent $300,000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy combined with potential grants of $100,000 from the SF PUC and $10,000 from the National Park Service should help provide some much needed funding to kick start the efforts. The goal of the Vision Council is to develop long term plans for the Ocean Beach area, whether it be analogous to Crissy Field, or something new entirely.

Lara Truppelli of the Beach Chalet (and member of Ocean Beach Task Force, and now Ocean Beach Vision Council) moderated. Astrid Haryati, the Greening Director for the City of San Francisco, as well as District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi provided some opening comments and well wishes for the Vision Council.

Gabe Metcalf, Ocean Beach Vision Council member and director of SPUR, gave some of the history of the Ocean Beach Task Force and the Ocean Beach Vision Council. He spoke that the new funding should provide for some pilot projects. He noted that sea level rise is one of the factors in the future of Ocean Beach. The OBVC does not yet have the Photoshopped rendering of their ideal vision; their plans are still very much in development.

Ed Reiskin, Director of the San Francisco Department of Public works (DPW), presented on the ongoing work south of Sloat. Phase I, toe stabilization, is largely completed. Phase II consists of stabilizing upper face of the bluff. DPW is analyzing alternatives to accomplish bluff stabilization, although a decsion is to be made within the next week. The front runner is the construction of a "sand nail" wall. This would consist of a row of steel pilings (scope to be determined) driven down into the bluff so as to sit in front of the burried Wastewater Tunnel for protection. The other determination still undecided was the road configuration. Previously, there were two lanes of traffic in each direction with a wide median that could be made into an emergency lane. The plan on page 6 of Ed's PowerPoint seems to show 2 southbound lanes, though during Q&A he indicated that pending approval from SFMTA, the DPW was leaning toward restoring one lane in each direction with the addition of a bicycle path. Ed also noted the scope of Phase II may be extended beyond the current revetment: south of the revetment and at the exit of the northern lot. Funding is coming from both State and Federal sources. Few details were presented on Phases III and IV; these are outside the Emergency Permit and fall more into the long term plan.

Since it is under an Emergency Declaration, the DPW could theoretically proceed without the mitigation on Phase I or the blessing of the SF MTA on Phase III. To the DPW's credit, it appears they are trying to work with the stake holders. Amongst the most inflexible stake holders are the Bank Swallow birds, whose seasonal colony in the Fort Funston area dictates aspects of the construction schedule (they are a CA state listed threatened species). Ed mentioned that while the DPW had initially intended to remove 2,000 tons of rubble during Phase I as remdiation, but DPW stopped at half that number in part to limit the schedule to avoid conflict with the Swallows.

In our opinion, rethinking the number of lanes of traffic is a big step forward. The amount of bluff required to support four lanes of traffic is quite larger than what is required to support two lanes. Two lanes could be placed over the stiffer, consolidated, semi-lithofied soils without nearly as much structure necessary to support fill.

Look for an update soon when construction details are finalized and/or stakeholder meeting dates are announced. Also, please continue to spread the news about this evolving issue. Thanks!

Meeting Anouncement: DPW Update on Erosion/OB Vision Council

2010-04-27T23:37:00.001-07:00

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Hold the date: DPW will be giving the public an update on the construction project at Sloat on Thursday May 6th from 6:30-8:00pm at the Janet Pomeroy Center 207 Skyline Drive (enter at Herbst Road). All issues involving erosion are on the table, although the focus will be on the bluff stabilization phase of the project - which will include the new road configuration. Lara Truppelli of the Beach/Park Chalet will host the meeting as well as provide an update on the Ocean Beach Vision Council. Please spread the word!

Thanks.

Bill McLaughlin

Last Week's SF PUC CAC Meeting

2010-04-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Last week Bill and I attended a Citizenz Advisory Committee meeting for the SF PUC. The main topic on the agenda was our Sloat erosion, or from their point of view, the impact on the facilities for the Westside Treatment Plant. The main topics were presentations by Coastal Engineer Bob Battallio of PWC, Frank Filice of DPW, and a few comments on the PUC's handling of sea level rise by PUC engineer Jonathan Loiacono. I'll try to get a copy of those presentations and post the Power Points.

Bob presented first and went over some of this history of the area. One of his main points is that the area that eroded was largely unconsolidated fill placed after the construction of the Merced Tunnel, and that the natural shoreline fluctuated on multi-decade cycles. He showed some old photos of when that area was gently sloping grass-covered dunes, and contrasted them with photos of the area today, where steep bluffs are easily undermined. The contrast served to remind the audience that making even the nicest dunes in the area where the shoreline fluctuates will be washed away. He espoused relocating the waste water tunnels in the area.

Frank Filice updated the audience on the DPW's current construction and future plans. The rock revetment that is being constructed to stabalize the toe of the bluff is nearing completion. The cost is coming in at around $2.9M for about 425 ft of length. Much of those costs should be recoverable through California Emergency Management. Phase II of the project consists of stabilizing the top of the bluff, Phase III consists of reworking the Great Highway back a few dozen feet to about the current centerline of roadway. Phase IV consists of reconstructing the dune. He also spoke in detail about how the schedule is working around the Bank Swallows.

My impression is that DPW is glad to have made it through the winter storms and is now working on doing the real engineering work. Likewise, the PUC is becoming more active in the process as they realize the DPW's road may not be enough of a buffer to prevent the PUC from having to worry about erosion.

Construction Update

2010-03-24T21:47:00.001-07:00

Photo by Les Martin

Construction of the new rock revetment is virtually complete. Bob Battalio has been in contact with DPW reviewing their plans, providing consulting and oversight of the construction project. Dpw is working through the National Park Service to get a permit to plug some of the smaller erosion hotspots with old concrete rubble already on the beach. We are also still awaiting verification that 2000 tons of the old construction rubble has been removed from the beach. Again, we are happy to see that at least some of the old construction debris is removed. However, it must be noted that we do feel that this amount is rather small - 2000 tons compared to an estimated 12,000 tons of rock contained in the new revetment. A more fair and just mitigation should involve at least a 1:1 ratio - an equal amount of rock removed for that which is added. We have asked DPW to look into doing a 1:1 removal, but they have declined, citing concerns from other stakeholders. In response, the Chapter and Save the Waves have drafted a letter to the Coastal Commission asking the agency to require a 1:1 rate. We are awaiting news on this petition.

This is where we are right now. The Save Sloat community would like to ask everyone to keep spreading the word around about the issue. It's clear that the City has built this infrastructure way too close to the ocean. Right now, we are on a path of total and complete armoring, a disaster for this stretch of beach. Please keep writing letters to key government officials. Ask for 1:1 rock removal, and a long term solution that avoids more armoring. Thanks for your support!

Bill McLaughlin
San Francisco Chapter Erosion Committee

Some Good News as the Construction Continues

2010-02-22T12:16:00.001-08:00

Photo by Les Martin

Greetings fellow Surfriders and Friends,

First off, the Surfrider Foundation San Francisco Chapter would like to thank all who came out and attended the Sloat fundraiser last Thursday at the Park Chalet. We raised well over a $1000 at the event which will help our efforts towards minimizing the scope and impact of the rock revetment as well as the development of a long term solution that protects the beach.

There is some good news to report on the construction project. The latest DPW planning document has the rock wall at about 400ft in length. This is less than half the size of the original proposal (900ft). Also, there is now a commitment from DPW to re-use a small amount of pre-existing debris to shore up certain sections that would otherwise have seen new boulders. Lastly, it looks like we have an agreement for DPW to remove at least 2000 tons of pre-existing construction debris. This is a positive development. We would like to thank and credit DPW for taking these measures to reduce the impact of project. We look forward to working together with this agency as well as other stakeholders at coming up with a long term plan. It won't be easy, but we do believe in a future at Sloat in which no additional rock is placed and a healthy, native beach profile is restored.

Bill McLaughlin, Erosion Committee

long-term solutions.

2010-02-12T14:10:00.001-08:00

Bob Battalio is a big wave surfer and expert on the coastal processes at Ocean Beach. Bob has been working with SF Surfrider and Save the Waves to help educate the public and DPW on the best solution for the erosion at Sloat.

The following presentation was given by Bob at the Community Meeting at the Park Chalet a few weeks ago - it describes some of the history at Sloat and proposes a long-term design for the future (Slide 19). Slide 19 shows a drawing of what South of Sloat would look like with dune restoration and coastal retreat. Restoring the coastal dunes and condensing the Great Highway (two-lanes to one-lane) would allow for the beach to naturally retreat (but maybe not enough) along that section of the coastline - hopefully this would relieve some the coastal erosion problems.

We need a LONG-TERM erosion plan for OB and these are the type of design ideas that we would like to see proposed at OB - not rock walls and seawalls.

Site Check 2/11/09 Construction Has Begun

2010-02-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit: Les Martin

Fellow Surfriders and Friends,

I went down and did a site check last night. It's not good. DPW has created a dirt access ramp for their trucks, cranes, etc. and have begun placing huge boulders on the bluff. The idea of using sand bags has been dismissed. Re-using existing rubble seems also to have been ruled out. A completely new rock revetment is going up.

It’s a tragic scene – and it’s not just the new project going in. Due to the recent erosion, there is more construction debris unearthed down there than ever before. With this additional section of boulders, we have essentially a complete armoring of the entire area - a wall of concrete, rubble and stone stretching all the way from 1st lot to the bluff.

What you can do...

Please continue to write letters to all parties involved. There are many agencies with jurisdiction over this issue from the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to the DPW, PUC and GGNRA. Tell them that the beach in the south of Sloat area is on the verge of extinction. The City needs to acknowledge this, and change course. At the very least, in the near term, we should specifically call for the removal of old concrete debris as mitigation, a pull back of the road and parking lots, and restoration of natural dunes in the area.

Bill McLaughlin

sandbags on the beach.

2010-02-04T23:08:00.003-08:00

As you know, SF Surfrider and Save the Waves were pushing for the use of sandbags (technically called sand-filled geotextile tubes/bags) along Ocean Beach at Sloat Blvd. over a rock revetment. Though the use of geotextile bags may be common on some sections of America's coastline (ex. Texas and North Carolina) they are not that common in California.

On Surfrider Foundation's website page Coastal A-Z geotextile tubes are defined as "elongated cloth bags or tubes made out of plastic material that can be stacked or arranged as a form of semi-hard coastal engineering." These sandbags are HUGE HUGE bags that are filled with sand and placed along a eroding coastline or in the wave zone to build up an offshore berm (reduces wave action).

"Hard" structures are riprap revetments (rock on beach) and seallwalls. "Soft" sturctures includes beach nourishment and coastal retreat. The geotextile tubes are known in the coastal management world to be in between "hard" and "soft" structures - which leaves the use of geotextile tubes in a grey area.

Bottom line is: (1) in some cases, Surfrider Foundation Chapters around the nation are against the use of geotextile bags because sometimes the bags are SO big and the casing is SO thick that the very very durable sand-filled sacks will never leave the beach system - and often the bags are placed in the water as a groin (see Florida Suncoast Chapter's website) or as an artificial reef; (2) there is not that much information out there about using the geotextile bags for shoreline erosion control (send us info if you have it); (3) i have always been told that the "sandbags" can have the same effects as seawalls etc (but this is probably because sometimes cement is added to the sand inside the sandbags and create "concrete bags"); and (4) however, one obvious positive side to the use of sandbags is if they are designed right, they can be easier to remove from the beach than rocks.

PICTURES:

North Carolina Beach.
http://beachcare.org/_img/issues/beach-armoring/massive-sand-bags.jpg

Southern California Beach.
http://malibusurfsidenews.com/blog/uploaded_images/DSC3681sandbags-766329.jpg

REFERENCES:
(1) One of the ONLY articles on Geotextile Bags: Coastal erosion prevention by geotextile tube technology by E.Shin and Y.Oh
(2) Info on Coastal Armoring (not including geotextile bags): http://www.kqed.org/w/coastalclash/armoring.html
(3) website for a geotextile company with good photos:
(4) Info on shoreline armorning (looks like North Carolina allows sandbags as a tempory fix): http://www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach/08-fc/body.asp?sub=ShorelineStructures
(5) Info on alternatives to shoreline armoring: http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/shoreline.html
(6) Info on the use of geotextile tubes in Texas (Texas considers geotextile tubes to be "hard" sturcturs): http://www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach/05-sr/state.asp?zone=GS&state=tx&cat=ss

Please let me know if you have any other good information on the use of sandbags on the beach for coastal protection.

If the bags were to be used along Ocean Beach, SF Surfrider would only support them for temporary fixes. A long-term solution to the erosion problems at Ocean Beach is what is essential.

Board of Supervisor's Meeting 2/2 and Next Steps

2010-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Surfrider would like to thank all those who have written letters and attended recent public meetings to comment on the Sloat erosion issue. Well over 700 letters were sent and dozens of people showed up to comment. At yesterday's Board of Supervisors meeting, the emergency declaration was given final approval. Unfortunately, the rock revetment will be built. However, Surfrider and Save the Waves were able to forge a compromise plan with the DPW to limit the scope of their work, as well as to analyze the possibility of removing existing rock as mitigation (see Next Steps below for more detail). The great thing is that it was made very clear to our Supervisors that the addition of rocks is not seen as a positive solution to the problem. Nearly everyone mentioned the need to find a long term solution that does a better job at protecting the beach, not just the infrastructure. Thanks again to everyone who weighed in. We have gained excellent momentum going forward as we tackle this problem.

The Next Steps:

As the construction is about to begin, the chapter is actively working to ensure that the DPW limits the scope of the new rock revetment to only the most critical areas needed to protect the Lake Merced Wastewater Tunnel. Also, we aim to ensure that DPW does a serious analysis of possible re-purposing old rubble to add to the project (with a goal of a decrease in net new rock) and/or remove existing concrete rubble and quarry stone from other nearby areas as mitigation (a possible scenario of zero net new rock).

Meanwhile, work has begun toward developing a stakeholder’s group (gov. non-profits, general public) that will craft a long term solution to this vexing problem. Stay tuned for more details on this and other issues by checking in with this blog!

Bill McLaughlin
SF Surfrider Erosion Committee

Board of Sups Meeting - Today - NOW.

2010-02-02T16:12:00.001-08:00

watch SF SUP live here:
http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=6

BOS meeting on Tuesday Feb 2, Item NO. 35

2010-02-01T10:08:00.001-08:00

Last week the SF Board of Supervisors (BOS) declared an emergency at Sloat for one week and required the SF Department of Public Works (DPW) to come back on the Feb 2nd BOS meeting.

During the last week, SF Surfrider, Save the Waves, Lara Trupelli from the Ocean Beach Vision Council, DPW, Army Corps of Engineers, several scientific experts, Supervisor Mirkarimi and others discussed alternatives to the proposed short-term solution of placing rock along 900-feet of shoreline at Sloat.

The environmental and scientific community that have been involved for over 10 years with the coastal erosion issues at OB were encouraging the use of "soft" solutions such as beach nourishment, retreat and sandbags (though sand bags fall somewhere in between soft and hard structures).

The severity of the emergency and the fact that the structure involved is a sewer pipeline, the City's DPW does not seem to have many other options, both politically and financially, than to place rock for this emergency. This is the result of unsatisfactory long-term planning. Now Ocean Beach will pay the consequences.

SF Surfrider still prefers, supports and recommends the use of sandbags, beach nourishment and retreat -- but if ROCK has to be used to address this emergency, than the following should be applied:

(1) absolute minimum amount of rock is placed - and only in the areas of critical need.

(2) SF Surfrider advocates that the scope of work be defined - limited to only protecting the Lake Merced Transport Tunnel, NOT the Great Highway or the parking lots.

(3) if rock has to be placed on the beach, than we call for MITIGATION work by removing an equivalent amount of old construction debris from OB at Sloat (the old concrete, brick and road chunks)

(4) finally, we call for re-establishment of a government/community

stakeholder group with the goal of developing a sensible long-term plan for the coastal erosion problems at OB. The plan should recognize sea level rise, include the goal of preserving the BEACH as a top priority, and avoid further waste of public funds.

(5) encourage the discussion of "coastal retreat," relocating structures out of the way of coastal erosion. For example, it may be possible to move the Lake Merced Sewer Transport Box from its current area by constructing a new facility farther inland

(6) the City of SF should work with the California Coastal Commission to assure that they are in compliance with prior emergency permits and to update the local coastal program (LCP) for City of SF

(7) Ocean Beach is our national park beach and all activities should be consistent with the National Park Sevice/GGNRA.

COME TELL THE SUPERVISORS WHAT YOU THINK
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Tues. Feb 2nd, 2PM
Item #35
Civic Center
San Francisco
http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=2314

Safety Reminder - Please stay off the bluffs

2010-02-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

DPW has asked me to pass along a safety reminder. Please give the bluffs, even the areas that have not yet fallen into the ocean, a healthy safety distance. I just read the book Death in Yosemite which dedicates a chapter to people falling off cliffs; let's keep in mind our human ability to eyeball safety is fairly flawed.

Independent of your own personal safety is the stability of the bluff itself. Walking on, around, and underneath the bluff disturbs the soil directly, and potentially of greater importance, the paths in which runoff flows. The rain and waves are already challenging enough for the delicate bluffs without the additional disturbances.

Please stay off the bluffs.

last week's newspaper articles.

2010-01-31T19:50:00.000-08:00

SF Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=55854

SF Examiner:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Erosion-plan-meets-resistance-82766387.html

OB since 1972.

2010-01-29T18:50:00.001-08:00

check out the California Coastline Website to see photos of the coast from 1972 to 2009. You can see the coastal armoring that has been added to the coast over time.

Here is a link to the coastline south of Sloat at OB:

http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/timecompare.cgi?image=200505900&flags=0&year=2005&latdeg=37.734667&longdeg=122.512000

Click on the dates to see old photos of OB --

OB at Sloat in 1972.

OB at Sloat in 1987.

OB at Sloat in 2009.

ALSO, checkout ROCK armoring in Santa Cruz and in Pacifica.

this website is amazing.

Between a rock and a hard place

2010-01-29T11:47:00.001-08:00

Our fine feathered (Federally protected) friend, the snowy plover, perched atop some old rip rap below the north lot at Sloat during the morning high tide (and 20s period swell) on Jan 29. The lower photo comes from a historical plaque. In the sandy San Francisco of the 19th century, there was little distinction between the "beach" and "inland."

Publish Post

OB Taskforce Status Report 2005

2010-01-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

The OB Taskforce met from 2000-2005. The meeting notes and summaries of the Taskforce recommendations are included in the OCEAN BEACH TASKFORCE STATUS REPORT.

The OB Taskforce analyzed the alternatives for controlling coastal erosion along Ocean Beach and determined that a long-term plan was essential -and- beach nourishment and coastal retreat should be the favored methods for controlling erosion at Sloat and other sections of OB....

click below to download doc:
OCEAN BEACH TASKFORCE STATUS REPORT

why putting rock on the beach is a bad idea.

2010-01-28T21:43:00.000-08:00

"coastal armoring" [also called shoreline/coastal protection structures and hard structures]

coastal armoring protects infrastructure (roads, houses, water treatment plants, parking lots...) NOT the beach from coastal erosion.

riprap revetments (engineered rock that is placed on the shoreline to protect property from coastal erosion) - example: rock proposed at Sloat Blvd.

Photo by Surfrider Foundation. Riprap revetment in southern California

and seawalls (vertical walls that are built in front of structures or along cliffs to stop coastal erosion) - example: O'Shaughnessy Seawall on northern OB

Photo. O'Shaughnessy Seawall in SF.

Photo by Surfrider Foundation. Seawall in Monterey.

__________________________________________________________________
coastal armoring can cause the following NEGATIVE impacts to the beach:
1. passive erosion - the rock or seawall cause additional coastal erosion to occur down-drift and on the edges of the structure.
2. placement loss - rocks placed on the beach cover the beach and at high tide can block lateral access on the beach.
3. active erosion- beaches can narrow due to changes in beach dynamics and wave reflection.
4. public access issues - rock can block beach access and cause dangerous conditions for beach users and surfers.
__________________________________________________________________

MORE INFO AT:

Surfrider Website -
http://www.surfrider.org/seawall/

Scientific NOAA document titled: The Impacts of Coastal Protection Structures in California's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

UCSC Professor Gary Griggs article on California's Eroding Shorelines

where exactly will DPW add rock at Sloat?

2010-01-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

an approximate figure of proposed rock at Sloat.
produced by a local engineer (Louis)-thanks!
click here for a better copy of the file:
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1715491&da=y

Please tell SF Supervisors to SAVE SLOAT.

2010-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

Take Action to Protect Ocean Beach

URGENT: WRITE TO THE SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISORS TODAY TO OPPOSE PLACING BOULDERS ON OCEAN BEACH IN RESPONSE TO DECLARED EMERGENCY

LINK TO THE LETTER HERE:

http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=627

Old ordinances and resolution.

2010-01-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

Past SF Board of Supervisor ordinances and COE Resolution:

1999 BOS Ordinance – Required long-term plan to control erosion at OB
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1715488&da=y

1999 BOS Ordinance – Declared Emergency at Sloat (no rock allowed)
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1715489&da=y

2002 SF Commission of the Environment Resolution – Recommendations of the OB Taskforce
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1715490&da=y

SF Surfrider Press Release.

2010-01-28T20:03:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Darin Rosas

SF Surfrider Chair

darin@sfsurfrider.org

http://sloaterosionob.blogspot.com/

THE SAN FRANCISCO SURFRIDER FOUNDATION ADDRESSES COASTAL EROSION EMERGENCY AT OCEAN BEACH IN SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco, CA (January 22, 2010) – The San Francisco Surfrider Chapter (SF Surfrider) is calling for a long-term solution to the coastal erosion problems at Ocean Beach, SF, south of Sloat Blvd. This comes in response to a declaration of a coastal erosion emergency, by the SF Department of Public Works (DPW), along the shoreline south of Sloat Boulevard

On January 7^th the southbound lane of the Great Highway, south of Sloat Boulevard was closed and, on January 21^st, both southbound lanes were closed. On January 15^th, the DPW announced a declaration of emergency along the Great Highway due to severely eroded bluffs on the west side of the road. Currently, most of the Great Highway from Lake Merced to Golden Gate Park is closed due to a storm. Only the bus turn-around at Sloat Boulevard is open.

In recent years, the DPW has used beach nourishment to control the coastal erosion issues at Sloat Boulevard. SF Surfrider understands the need for taking emergency action to protect the current infrastructure along the Great Highway, south of Sloat Boulevard. However, SF Surfrider feels that a long-term solution is overdue.

In 2001, the Ocean Beach Taskforce, created by Mayor Willie Brown, analyzed alternate solutions for coastal erosion issues at Ocean Beach. The Taskforce concluded that the best long-term solution was a combination of beach restoration, managed retreat, and infrastructure relocation. No official long-term policy was ever adopted or executed.

Surfrider Foundation advocates long-term solutions where coastal development is threatened and suggests the goal of maximizing beach access while minimizing impacts to the beach and its ecological integrity. Under no circumstances does SF Surfrider support the permanent installation of hard retention structures along the coastline. Such structures can temporarily protect existing coastline development but have no place in beach preservation or a healthy beach ecosystem.

A community meeting is being held on Monday, January 25th at 7pm at the Park Chalet (located behind the Beach Chalet at 1000 Great Highway in San Francisco) to discuss the proposed actions at Sloat Boulevard. The DPW Project Manager, Frank Filice will be there to discuss the emergency declaration, the short-term strategy, and a process for a long-term solution.

Everyone who has an interest in the preservation and the future of Ocean Beach is encouraged to attend. The emergency declaration will go before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for ratification the following day, Tuesday, January 26th. For questions or more information, please email the meeting organizer and Chair of the San Francisco Ocean Beach Vision Council: Lara Truppelli at Lara@beachchalet.com.

______________________________

The Surfrider Foundation, San Francisco Chapter
is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Now in its 26th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at www.sfsurfrider.org.

###

Save the Waves Press Release.

2010-01-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dean LaTourrette
Tel: 831-426-6169
Email: dean@savethewaves.org

"Save Sloat!" Campaign Wins Crucial Delay on Plan to Dump Rocks on Beach in San Francisco -
http://www.savethewaves.org/news/view/109

January 27, 2010, San Francisco, CA - Last night at the weekly board of supervisors meeting at San Francisco’s city hall, coastal advocates from Save The Waves and SF Surfrider joined local residents in a passionate debate with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and city supervisors over the use of giant rocks to “armor” the beach south of Sloat Boulevard at Ocean Beach.

Led by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who also serves on the California Coastal Commission, coastal advocates won a one-week delay of the dumping of rocks on the beach to shore up eroding bluffs and protect threatened city infrastructure, including the Great Highway and an underground sewer tunnel. Recent weather and heavy surf has eaten away at the bluffs to create the present emergency, yet the issue has been a sore point for city officials, residents and environmentalists for almost two decades. In 1999 the Ocean Beach Task Force, made up of local residents, community leaders, city agencies, and coastal engineering experts, was created to research and recommend long-term solutions to the erosion problem of the beach south of Sloat, but their task force findings and recommendations have been largely ignored by the City for over seven years. This inaction is partly responsible for the severe erosion problems and infrastructure risks that the City now faces.

San Francisco’s DPW is proposing a $2.6 million-dollar short-term solution to dump tons of large boulders on the beach that would be trucked in and dumped over the edge of the Great Highway south of Sloat Boulevard to protect the base of the bluffs from further erosion and wave action.

“We recognize that something needs to be done in the short-term, specifically to help protect the sewer tunnel,” says Dean LaTourrette, executive director of Save The Waves. “But continuing to throw rocks at the ocean in the hopes of changing Mother Nature simply doesn’t work – it’s a waste of time and money. Local recommendations have been repeatedly ignored and now the City wants taxpayers to pay the high financial and environmental price caused by their inaction. Long-term solutions based on a managed retreat strategy, including the relocation of at-risk infrastructure, as well as natural sand bluff restoration, must be initiated immediately.”

This week is crucial in the fight to save Sloat from rock armoring, and Save The Waves and SF Surfrider are now teaming up with the Ocean Beach Vision Council and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to find a less harmful and more visionary solution to these coastal erosion problems. Stay tuned at www.savethewaves.org and follow @SaveTheWaves on Twitter to see how you can help.

Save The Waves encourages members of the public to attend the board of supervisors meeting at 2pm next Tuesday, February 2 at San Francisco’s city hall to voice their support for the long-term vision and solutions to the erosion problem at Ocean Beach.
______________________________

______________________________

About Save The Waves Coalition: Save The Waves Coalition is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the coastal environment, with an emphasis on the surf zone, and educating the public about its value. Save The Waves is a 501(c)3 non-profit. http://www.savethewaves.org

REPORT BACK: BOS meeting on 1.25.10

2010-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors (BOS) reviewed Item #53 Proclamation of Local Emergency at Ocean Beach (South of Sloat) at approximately 7:15PM last night. Yes, it was late and the BOS was tired but proved themselves to be professional and gave Item #53 its required attention.

A crew from the San Francisco Surfrider Foundation Chapter and Save the Waves Coalition, and Lara Trupelli, the Chair of the 2000-2005 OB Taskforce and the Ocean Beach Vision Council, spoke to the BOS regarding concerns with the short-term solutions that the SF Department of Public Works (DPW) has proposed. The DPW proposes the placement of riprap (rock) along 900-feet of Ocean Beach's shoreline (three football fields in length). The rock is proposed to protect the Great Highway from erosion and prevent additional coastal erosion around a sewage pipeline that is 40-feet under the Great Highway ---

BUT this rock WILL NOT protect Ocean Beach - it will degrade the beach and likely cause more erosion issues in the area.

Surfrider, Save the Waves and Ms. Trupelli spoke quickly (each person had two-minutes only) to express the issues with the current proposal and made suggestions for what the BOS could do. Ideas had been being thrown out all day: can the current emergency proclamation be amended to include clauses limiting the type of solution? Can the decision be postponed so that there is more time to evaluate other options?

The crew got up and professionally and heartfully explained that the coastal erosion issues had not been appropriately addressed over the last 10-years by the DPW and the OB Taskforce recommendations had not been fully incorporated into planning, and ROCKS ON THE BEACH would only cause additional problems. So it was suggested to the BOS to re-evaluate the option of using sandbags (this was one of the options that DPW evaluated) and not use hard structures. The crew encouraged the BOS to delay the decision so that more thought could go into the options.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarini led the discussion with the BOS and expressed concerns with the proposed short-term solution (thank you!!!). For clarity, the importance of the declaration of emergency by Mayor Newsom is that there is potential state funding available for reimbursement for "emergencies." So, obviously, the BOS did not want to mess with the City of SF getting additional funding - SF is BROKE.

So, in the end, it comes down to $. The City of SF has about 2M $ available to control the erosion at Sloat - just enough to fund the rock placement (the other options are more expensive). The BOS declared the situation an emergency and the DPW has to return next Tuesday for a follow-up hearing with the BOS. DPW has agreed not to start work until after they return to the BOS next week. This gives us ONE WEEK to do the following:

(1) Determine if the cost estimates are accurate for the proposed rock placement
(2) Determine cost estimates for sandbag placement (does the whole 900-feet of the shoreline really need to protected - or can we use sandbags in the most critical areas)
(3) Understand the existing permitting requirements at Sloat (what do past Coastal Commission permits require or prevent?)
(4) Get the BOS to give additional guidance to the DPW (based on the fact that past ordinances did not allow rock, a long-term strategy should be developed, and the recommendations of the OB Taskforce should be looked at!)

Last night the BOS realized that SLOAT erosion is a problem. This was an accomplishment!

More information to come...

AND IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT
or have expertise in the area
please email:

oceanbeach@beachchalet.com
-and-
erosionOB@gmail.com

2005 Storm Damage Protection Project Report

2010-01-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

So I went through the 2005 Storm Damage Protection Project Report for the USACE and SF DPW (thanks to DPW for the posting it) and it gives a better overview of the shore protection problem up to 2005. I summarized a few of my favorite points: points that may shed light on 2010’s problem, but I encourage you to download the report and skim it yourself.

My Favorites Points:

The description of the different interests involved: pulling apart the road, from the lots, from the outfall pipe, from the Merced Transport pipe, from the bluffs. An outline of the interests on page 2-26 was originally by the SF Parks and Recreation Dept in 2002. The public discussion in 2010 often lumps all the interests together so it becomes difficult to weigh the cost/benefit and scope of different solutions.

Figure 3-3 on page 53 of the *.pdf shows a diagram of the most recent rip rap placement (referred to as Emergency Quarrystone Revetment) between first and second lots.

Moffatt and Nichol’s 1995 description of the coastal morphology starting on page 3-13. It indicates the the south lot area’s sand source is derived largely from the bluffs, and goes over seasonal reversals based on the wave climate.

Just like today: USACE (and other by CH2M Hill) 1996 study included the scenario where the lots were eroded and the Merced Transport box was threatened. The summary of this report is brief, but the area of the 1996 study appears to be further north in way of the lots, rather than just south of the outfall pipe where is 2010’s problem is. It gives a 22% chance of damage to the Merced Transport box, but it’s unclear if that is on a “per year” or “per storm” or what the relevant time scale is once the roadside has been reached. See page 3-16.

CH2M Hill reports that the southern reaches show large fluctuations in the area of the shoreline on page 3-25, and subsequent plots by Moffatt and Nichol show very large fluctuations of the shoreline of up to 100 to 150 feet.

Comic relief: When discussing constraints of different alternatives on 4-15, it notes that gorillas displays aggressive behavior during noisy earthwork. It’s tough to imagine a project with more exotic constraints.

Preferred alternatives are identified by each stakeholder on page 5-6. In 2005, as in 2010, the DPW prefers a hard structure over other alternatives for its lower maintenance cost.

Quoting from the discussion of acceptable alternatives on page 5-8, “SFPUC could not support any of the options that would result in the loss of the traffic lanes and possible exposure or loss of cover to the Lake Merced Transport facilities. The north bound traffic lane is important to the SFPUC as a means of access to the Oceanside WPCP. The northbound lane is also important in case of emergency in order to have two means of egress out of the WPCP facility. There is also concern that if the cover on the Lake Merced Transport is reduced there could be issues with structural stability or buoyancy effects.” The 2010 discussion has focused on the DPW’s interests; I’m curious as to why the PUC did not bring their interests to the public debate when the northbound lanes first closed. (Perhaps PUC is satified with the alternate routes onto Harding Rd and Armory Way and no longer considers Great Highway critical.) In 2005, DPW needed anything besides “no action.”

A stakeholder agency workshop held in 2005 gave all the agencies a chance to look at various alternatives. The DPW’s acceptable solutions listed on 5-12 include nearshore sand placement (which was the strategy adopted) and hard structures on the existing (then existing?) shoreline, presumablely for their lower maintenance cost. The SFPUC was willing to try anything that did not involve facilitated retreat or doing nothing. Each agency’s conclusions are summarized in a chart on 5-15.

New DPW Website

2010-01-26T14:38:00.000-08:00

Our first post on this blog highlighted the many stake holders with overlapping jurisdiction at Ocean Beach. The San Francisco Department of Public Works is responsible for the roadway at Great Highway, and to some degree, the Lake Merced waste water pipe carrying untreated water into the treatment plant and the outflow pipe that carries the treated water 4.5 miles out to sea. (I’m looking into the split of authority between the SF PUC and the SF DPW on the pipes.) Consequently, DPW is most worried about its infrastructure, and is keeping the public informed with its new website here.

San Francisco Wastewater System Map, Source: SFwater.org

At the public meeting last night, most of the diagrams showed the amount of erosion relative to the previous state of the beach. Visibly, anyone could see how the road was threatened as the guard rail hangs from the bluff. What was not visible, however, is how the critical infrastructure of the Lake Merced Transport pipe and the Southwest Ocean Outflow pipe are threatened. All structures structures rely on the support of the surrounding soils, not just the road. I think in a public forum, unseen subterranean pipes never get as much attention as the roads under our feet.

The new DPW website notes that 70 feet of soil have eroded from the beach. This is a troubling number from the perspective of the beach, but is less indicative of the effect on the structures. I’d rather hear that the pipe requires X feet of soil on either side, and this margin has been compromised (or is threatened) for Y length of the pipe. Many of the members of the public at the meeting seemed to be surprised to hear about the Lake Merced Transport Pipe, and there were more than a few questions about it. I’ll stay in contact with the DPW communications department to see what additional information they can provide.

UPDATE: DPW has updated their presentation from Tuesday night and posted it here to give a bit more infomation on the pipe. The new page contains another report by the US Army Corps of Engineers that contains a good overview of the state of the beach in 2005. I'll read through the new USACE report and point out some of the interesinting parts.

Tell the BOS what you think!!! some of our thoughts....

2010-01-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

Surfrider SF supports the following:

As declared in 1999 resolutions, the use of hard structures as a short and/or long term solution to erosion should not be supported by the BOS. One possible option is to use sand-filled sacks or additional beach nourishment etc.

We need a detailed risk assessment and cost analysis on moving the sewer pipeline, which was placed very close to the cliff edge in the first place.

The DPW and SFPUC should evaluate long-term solutions like managed retreat and infrastructure relocation.

A long-term plan for dealing with OB erosion needs to be in place (for Sloat and the ENTIRE OB).

A new OB Taskforce or the OBVC needs to follow through and make sure the recommendations of the 1999-2005 OB Taskforce are met.

BOS today at 2PM.

2010-01-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

Supervisor Chu adn Mirkarimi were both at last nights meeting and spoke out in support of finding a long-term solution for the coastal erosion problems and were in support of NOT using hard structures (like riprap rock or seawalls). As you can read below, these same issues came up ten years ago and the BOS passed resolutions that required the City of SF to address the coastal erosion and not use hard structures.

The BOS are meeting TODAY at the Civic Center in SF (as we speak) and will be reviewing the Sloat Resolution at 2PM (Item #53). It would be great to have people down there to support a resolution that restricts the use of hard structures (which is currently what the DPW is leaning towards) and encourages coming up with long-term solutions at Sloat.

You can watch the BOS meeting LIVE at:
http://www.sfgovtv.org/index.aspx?page=69

Sloat is Item # 53 and should be on around 2PM TODAY.

Also, you can email comments to:
oceanbeach@beachchalet.com

Community Meeting 1.25.09

2010-01-26T09:20:00.000-08:00

Last night over 100 community members showed up to the Park Chalet to hear from the Department of Public Works and other experts about the coastal erosion issues and potential short-term and long-term solutions for the erosion at Sloat Blvd.

The meeting was introduced and run by Lara Trupelli, the owner of Park Chalet who also led the efforts of the 2000-2005 OB Taskforce and was appointed in 2007 by Mayor Gavin Newsom to be on the Ocean Beach Vision Council.

Frank Filice, the project manager from the Department of Public Works gave a short presentation on the proposed short-term solutions, which included three alternatives:

Beach Nourishment - placing sand directly on the beach to restore the dunes (this alternatives was the most expensive but had the least environmental damage)
Riprap Revetment - placing riprap (rocks) directly along the eroding shoreline to protect the road and sewer pipeline from the erosion (least expensive alternative with the most environmental damange). It was a little unclear how large of a structure they are proposing and how "temporary" the structure actually is.
Sandbag Placement-placing large sand bags along the shoreline. This alternative was not described in details.

The DPW favored the placement of riprap because it was the most feasible based on cost and time. The DPW is proposing the short-term solution and will follow up with long-term solutions.

Bob Battalio, a big-wave surfer, an engineer and OB expert from Phil William and Associates (PWA) gave a presentation that described the efforts and recommendations of the 2000-2005 OB Taskforce. The OB Taskforce met from 2000-2005 as a result of a Board of Supervisor Resolution that was passed in 1999 in response to major erosion at Sloat (ummm....sound familiar?). The OB Taskforce determined that the best way to deal with the erosion was to set up a long-term plan with a focus on coastal retreat (moving the Great Highway more landward) and beach nourishment.

Dean LaTourette, the Executive Director of Save the Waves and Bill McLaughlin, an active member of the SF Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation spoke in support of the importance of a long-term plan that includes coastal retreat and beach nourishment. In addition, both environmental groups oppose the use of riprap (rock!!) to protect the road (not the beach) from erosion.

Peter Mull, the project manager for OB from the Army Corps of Engineers described the current efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers. Basically, sand that is dredged from the main ship channel annually has been placed in the waves at Sloat Blvd. The problem is that MORE sand needs to be placed and the sand should be placed directly on the beach. However, the dredging ship called the Essayons is not equipped to pump sand from the ship to the beach. At the moment, the Essayons can only dump sand in the waves.

Ross Mirkarimi and Carmen Chu, San Francisco Supervisors both spoke in support of a long-term solution and were generally against using hard structures.

The community was very engaged and, at times, confused and passionate about the issues and how to solve this coastal erosion problem. Questions generally focused on the long-term solutions - how can we get sand on the beach? Can we move the sewer pipeline? what will happen to traffic if the road is rerouted?

BUT as the meeting was coming to an end, the discussion was brought back to the short-term solutions. There was discussion on if the sand bag option could work - but it was clear this option has not been evaluated enough. Also, several folks were pushing to hold off the Board of Supervisor vote until next week so that more information on the alternatives could be explored.

At the moment, the Board of Supervisors are voting TODAY on a resolution that will officially declare the coastal erosion issues at Sloat an EMERGENCY - this will give the DPW the go-ahead to do what it takes to control the problem. It is important that the Board of Supervisors understands the importance of beach preservation in the decisions and remember that these SAME issues were brought up ten years ago. Past resolutions from 1999 did not allow hard structures (riprap/rock) to control erosion (even in an emergency) so why shouldn't we listen to what we said in the past!?

The Board of Supervisor meeting is at the Civic Center TODAY - be there at 2PM to comment on Item #53.

MORE INFORMATION:
BOS Meeting - http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=2314

Related Articles:
http://www.surfpulse.com/2010/01/summary-of-emergency-town-hall-on-sloat-erosion/

save sloat.

2010-01-24T22:56:00.001-08:00

photo by sf surfrider

1.24.10

2010-01-24T22:39:00.001-08:00

photo by sf surfrider

photo by k. riccitiello

erosion at sloat. 1.23.10

2010-01-23T23:14:00.001-08:00

SF SURFRIDER press release.

2010-01-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Darin Rosas

SF Surfrider Chair

darin@sfsurfrider.org

http://sloaterosionob.blogspot.com/

THE SAN FRANCISCO SURFRIDER FOUNDATION ADDRESSES COASTAL EROSION EMERGENCY AT OCEAN BEACH IN SAN FRANCISCO

______________________________

###

COMMUNITY meeting to discuss SLOAT EROSION next monday, jan 25th

2010-01-22T12:18:00.000-08:00

A community meeting is being held next Monday, January 25th at 7pm at the Park Chalet (located behind the Beach Chalet at 1000 Great Highway). The DPW Project Manager, Frank Filice will be there to discuss the emergency declaration, short term strategy, and the process for long-term solutions for the erosion at Sloat.

Everyone who has an interest in the preservation and future of Ocean Beach is encouraged to attend. The emergency declaration will go before the SF Board of Supervisors for ratification the following day, Tuesday the 26th.

For questions or more information, please email the organizer: Lara Truppelli at Lara@beachchalet.com (Lara was part of the OB Taskforce and is Chair of the Ocean Beach Vision Council - so she is well informed on the issues)

surfpulse pix of the erosion at SLOAT.

2010-01-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

check out the rest of the photos at surfpulse.

OB webcam.

2010-01-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here is this AM's photo from the OB webcam that is located on the Cliff House on the Northern side of OB. The camera is maintained by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) and updated every ten minutes. Check it out:

http://www.evsboca.com/usgs/default.htm

both southbound lanes closed on the great highway.

2010-01-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

San Francisco DPW closed both southbound lanes of the Great Highway south of Sloat Blvd.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/20/BANC1BL3DQ.DTL

This article references a 1996 Army Corps of Engineer Report that suggested coastal armoring at Sloat -- this was PRE-Ocean Beach Taskforce, which eventually lead to an Army Corps of Engineer Project that helped renourish Ocean Beach at Sloat Blvd.

The Army Corps of Engineer Project places sand annually that is dredged from the main ship channel into San Francisco Bay in the coastal zone offshore at Sloat Blvd. The goal is to deposit sand in the near-shore location that will work its way onto the shoreline and build up the width of Ocean Beach at Sloat Blvd.

More info on the Army Corps of Enginner Project at Sloat:
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/newsrelease/newsrelease_5_21_09_SF_Ocean_Beach.html

Erosion at OB Wed AM

2010-01-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Surfrider member Bill McLaughlin and Crescent Calimpong

went out Wednesday morning to take a look at what was happening.

Here Bill is staring down at the fresh erosion

below the road at the northern parking lot at Sloat.

You should have seen his face when he realized what he was standing on!

Just beyond the southern parking lot at Sloat

the guardrail along the highway has started to fall towards the beach.

Pictures taken by Crescent Calimpong

What was the Ocean Beach Taskforce?

2010-01-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

The Ocean Beach Taskforce, a committee under the Department of the Environment, was established by Mayor Willie Brown in 2001 to establish guidelines for the restoration and protection of Ocean Beach. The Ocean Beach Taskforce met from 2001 to 2005 and has not met since.

Passed in 2002, a result of the Ocean Beach Taskforce's efforts was the San Francisco Resolution 001-02-COE, which encouraged the City of San Francisco to use coastal management alternatives other than coastal armoring and to come up with long-term solutions to address the coastal issues at Ocean Beach. You can find the resolution by searching 001-02-COE on the following webpage:

http://www.sfenvironment.org/our_policies/overview.html?ssi=13

Some of the activities that were encouraged and promoted by the Ocean Beach Taskforce included the placement of sediment material in the wave zone along the beach at Sloat that has turned into an ongoing pilot project by the Army Corp of Engineers. The task force also encouraged beach nourishment by placing sand directly on the beach.

..............................

Last year, Mayor Gavin Newsom created the Ocean Beach Vision Council (OBVC). We thought OBVC would pick up where the Ocean Beach Taskforce left off.

http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_page.asp?id=77529

Gavin Newsom declares EMERGENCY at Sloat.

2010-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

SF Gate Article:

http://www.sfchron.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/19/MNJ11BK8I6.DTL&type=printable

Emergency Declared at SLOAT

2010-01-18T18:23:00.000-08:00

SF Department of Public Works declares an EMERGENCY along Ocean Beach at SLOAT Blvd. The City will move forward with some sort of coastal protection in the next few weeks. We should hear more details in the next few days...

http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfdpw_page.asp?id=115815

Great Highway Lane Closure

2010-01-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

As of January 7th, DPW has shut down one of the southbound lanes on Great Highway past Sloat.

I ran down to take a look on the morning of the 9th. The spot that threatens the roadway the worst is just north of the rip-rap over the PUC's outflow pipe. A few smaller rocks at the bottom which neither provide support for the slope nor dissipate much wave energy. Visually, it was not apparent the frequency with which waves could be expected to reach the crumbling cliff. I suspect the agencies involved would want to take some measurements to determine where the cliff is in relation to MLLW and what type of wave run-up would be expected.

There is rip-rap and the remnants a few piles from the construction pier when the outflow pipe was first installed just south of the erosion spot. All in all, the outflow pipe looks well protected, and not immediately threatened. The pavement though, has just a few feet of sandy soil near the edge. It's clear why DPW stepped in and closed down the road.

If any dogwalkers, surfers, or frequent beach users with a digital camera want to take photos, feel free to send them to the email associated with this blog.

SF Chronicle Story Link
DPW Press Release Link

Interested in the backstory? (I'm unsure of the date on this one)
SF Gov Background PPT

OB Jurisdiction

2009-12-21T23:24:00.000-08:00

Who owns Ocean Beach?

The City of San Francisco gave Ocean Beach to the National Park Service in 1972 to be part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). GGNRA owns the property from the Great Highway to the mean high tide line. The State Lands Commission (the public!) owns the submerged lands below the mean high tide line. The City of San Francisco owns the Great Highway and the O'Shaughnessy seawall.

Who manages OB?

San Francisco's Department of Public Works (DPW) manages all of the OB infrastructure, and provides refuse collection, street maintenance and assures public access to OB. San Francisco's Department of Recreation and Parks maintains the bike/walking pathway that is east of Great Highway. San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) operates and maintains the City's water treatment plants (Water treatment plant at Sloat Ave., the sewer boxes located under the Great Highway, and the Southwest Ocean Outfall pipe that extends offshore at Sloat Ave.)

The California Coastal Commission is the state regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over most activities, like maintaining the seawalls/riprap, moving sand, any development, any restoration projects, etc. at OB. The California Coastal Act is a California law that was passed in 1976 and includes specific policies that limit development activities along the coastline. All activities at OB require authorization (permits) by the California Coastal Commission.

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has jurisdiction over activities at Baker Beach and within San Francisco Bay. Similar to the Coastal Commission, all activties at Baker Beach and within the San Francisco Bay require authorization (permits) by BCDC.

The Army Corps of Engineers works with the San Francisco Public Works Department to help manage the coastal erosion at Ocean Beach. The Army Corps moves sand around at Ocean Beach and places sand that is dredged from the main ship channel back in the coastal system.

Who studies OB?

United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the leading scientific entity and is looking at the sediment dynamics and beach dynamics to understand how the sand moves through the coastal system. There are several on-going studies at OB to observe and monitor how the sand moves out of the San Francisco Bay and along the OB shoreline.

Who cleans/loves/uses OB?

The San Francisco Surfrider Foundation Chapter has over 1200 members who care about keeping OB clean and open to the public.

the coastal erosion problem at Sloat?

2009-07-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Ocean Beach (OB) south of Sloat Avenue in San Francisco is experiencing significant coastal erosion to the coastal bluffs. The parking lot is crumbling into the Pacific before our eyes and over the years the shoreline has been armored leaving the shoreline in a state of disarray. There are efforts underway to control the erosion and there are several agencies involved (Coastal Commission, SF Public Works, Army Corps of Engineers, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, United States Geological Survey, ...). The coming blogs will describe the complicated jurisdiction, current research and ongoing activities to control erosion at OB.

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