The Birth of the Restore Sloat Campaign: 1997-1998 El Niño and a Cycle of Wet WInters

Greetings Surfriders,

Sharp Park News: Briefly, we have news that the appeal hearing at the Board of Supervisors for the Sharp Park issue will take place on February 28th.  Look for a blog post with more details as we get closer to the hearing. 

Recently, it has been noted in news reports that this winter storm season has been the wettest since the 1997-1998 El Niño. We would like to point out that the 97-98 event was actually the culmination of a series of wet winters.  We may be in a similar cycle right now.

History does have a way of repeating itself.  This month we would like to reflect back to those wet years of the latter 1990's and how this whole campaign got started.

The erosion disaster at Sloat began during the winter of 1994-1995.  Before that year, Ca was locked in a series of drought years.  Surfers remember those years well as drought years deliver long stretches of world class surf to Ocean Beach. 

As the second half of the 1990's went on, wet weather began to dominate winter conditions again.  At Sloat, storms started striping sand away from the newly replenished beach and bluff.  In order to protect the road and the sewer infrastructure from the encroaching surf, SFDPW constructed the giant quarry stone revetment we now see between the north and south parking lots. Erosion and blight then began to spread to the adjacent areas, sparking the birth of this campaign.

BEFORE:

Circa 1993
This is Sloat's north parking lot after the sewer and road renovation project.  The parking lot was completely refurbished, with a landscaped bluff and a sandy beach.














AFTER:


1997-1998 El Niño

Five years later, this is what remained of the beach and the same landscaped bluff.  It has always been Surfrider's contention that infrastructure built during the 1980's was placed too close to the sea south of Sloat.  This is why we are calling for a managed retreat solution. Sand replenishment in front of the infrastructure has been ineffective  (The 2008 date is the year the photos were copyrighted). Photo Credit: Bob Battalio, PWA and Associates

Below is the chronology of the 1999's era erosion cycle.  Citation: Army Corps of Engineers Ocean Beach Storm Damage Protection Project page 55, Table 3-1of the 3.1 Sediment Transport Processes Update section.

1994/1995 Storm

Season

The bluff edge retreated 30 to 40 feet between the two parking lots, and somewhat less elsewhere in the reach south of Sloat Blvd.

1996/1997 Storm

Season

Precipitation runoff and wave action formed numerous erosion gullies in the bluff face. In March

1997, one storm formed a gully extending to the beach that eroded the bluff to within 15 feet of the highway in the area between the two parking lots

Fall 1997 Toe protection (A small Emergency Quarrystone Revetment) placed between the 2 parking lots as an interim measure to protect the bluff against storms.

1997/1998 Storm

Season

Loss of sand from the beach south of Sloat Blvd. resulted in extensive erosion of the bluffs. In some areas, beach elevations were lowered 10-15 feet compared to their summer/early fall elevations. The bluff edge retreated up to 30 feet in the unprotected areas at the south end of Sloat Lot. Another Emergency Quarrystone Revetment placed in February 1998 between the 2 parking lots in response to the large storms.

The bluff edge protected by the EQR retreated only 2-6 feet in localized areas between the two parking lots. Along the South Lot, bluff edges retreated 0-16 feet and there was an overall oversteepening of the bluff slope, making it likely that future wave undercutting would result in more extensive bluff erosion.

1998/1999 Storm

Season

The bluff edge retreated approximately 50 feet in places along the section of beach from the south end of South Lot to Funston Cliffs. Bluff slopes have been over-steepened along the entire reach and are more susceptible to slope failure and wave undercutting. Bluff slopes above the toe are 40 to 70 degrees or more. The slope of the face of the bluff south of South Lot was nearly vertical in places following the erosion in early 1999

October 1999 Approximately 20,000 cubic yards of sand placed along a 370-foot-long reach of the bluffs south of South Lot to form a temporary sand barrier

January 2001 12,000 CY of sand placed at the sand barrier again, in response to a loss of almost half of the sand between Oct ’99 and Apr ‘00

2000/2001 Storm

Season

All of the sand placed in Jan 2001, plus about 17 feet of the original sand barrier eroded away. The bluff south of the barrier eroded back by 7 to 13 feet.

A Setback at Sharp Park / Good News for Sloat

SF Rec and Park is seeking to add more boulders to the Sharp Park seawall.

Photo: Emily V.

Greetings Surfriders,

We have a Sharp Park update:

Unfortunately SF Planning along with SF Rec. and Park voted 5-1 to certify the EIR that included the Sharp Park golf course redevelopment plan.  Although this was a major setback, we will have more opportunities to voice our concerns about the golf course renovation and what it implies for the beach. Sometime in January the SF Board of Supervisors are expected to meet to affirm this decision. We will notify all our activists when we have the dates.  In the meantime, you can write to your local SF Supervisor tp weigh in. To send an email, just type Supervisor's Firstname.Lastname@sfgov.org For example: Jane.Kim@sfgov.org. Please lend your voice in opposition to the golf course redevelopment project and its inclusion in the EIR.  We need folks to underscore the fact that the golf course EIR omitted the evaluation of the environmental impact of the seawall.  This is most troubling because there is an effort underway by SF Rec and Park to reinforce that structure.  Rec. and Park has an application currently in process with the Coastal Commission which will add more boulders to the seawall. See pic. above.

Sloat:

While we await the next stage of the LCP amendment process, we have received notice by SFPUC that the "Alternatives Analysis" phase for Sloat continues. This is the process of evaluating alternative ways to protect the Lake Merced Tunnel. The good news is that we have been assured that a Lake Merced Tunnel relocation and/or realignment strategy is one of the options being studied and weighed. We appreciate SFPUC's work on this behalf.  By keeping an open mind regarding our options for the LMT, we may ensure the best long term project gets built for Sloat.

Surfrider stands by its position that the uncertainties surrounding climate change should lead us to strive for maximum re-alignment of threatened structures.  If done correctly, the Ocean Beach Master Plan, SPUR, and the City of SF would have a showcase of innovation for climate change adaptation.  Currently, most coastal municipalities facing an erosion threat to development either harm their beaches through seawall construction and/or waste public funds trying to fill in the ocean with sand.  SF has the opportunity to show that there is a smarter alternative: managed retreat.  With managed retreat, we gain real long-term security for coastal development, preserve the public's beach and save taxpayer's millions of dollars by reducing our reliance on sand replenishment.

Thanks for checking in.  Happy New Year!

JOIN the Surfrider Foundation Today.

Sharp Park Action Alert / Sloat LCP Re-Cap

The beach in front of Sharp Park Golf Course: under threat from coastal armor.

Seasons Greetings Surfriders,

Thanks to all who attended the LCP public workshop last month and/or have submitted comment letters. In the LCP process, Surfrider continues to advocate for 3 basic items:

1. Managed retreat of threatened infrastructure south of Sloat
2. The removal of rock and rubble from the shoreline
3. Sand dune replenishment to preserve the beach.

***Breaking News for the Restore Sharp Park Campaign***

Wild Equity, lead organization in the effort to restore the Sharp Park wetland, has just announced a pair of events this month.  

On December 15th at the San Francisco City Hall re: Planning/Rec and Park Commission Approval of the Sharp Park Golf Course Redevelopment Project's EIR. For more details on the hearing, see http://wildequity.org/events/3538.

We need people to show up to urge rejection of the golf course redevelopment plan.  By re-investing in the greens at Sharp Park, it will not be long before a seawall expansion project is proposed to protect the links from the surf.  

The other event is an education tour of the Sharp Park site on December 11. Come learn about the endemic flora and fauna of the Sharp Park wetland and hear about the campaign to restore the area.   See http://wildequity.org/events/3537 

At Sloat and Sharp Park, seawalls have wreaked enough havoc along our beaches.  Please attend the December 15th hearing and/or send in comment email letters to SF Planning at commissions.secretary@sfgov.org

Thanks for checking in!

LCP Meeting Thursday 11-17-16

The south parking lot continues to erode.
Pic: Marc Swanson

We just received very late notice that there will be a public workshop tomorrow 11/17/16 for the LCP amendment for Sloat:

Meeting Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Place: SF Planning

1650 Mission Street, 4th Floor

This is a review of the draft version from SF Planning, which is now available for public review and comment.

See this link for meeting details, a copy of the draft LCP and more: http://sf-planning.org/local-coastal-program-amendment

If anyone is planning on attending, please RSVP SF Planning. 

Although this is not the decisive meeting, it is important that we deliver our message every step of the way.

Thanks for checking in!

Campaign Platform Update

Greetings Surfriders,

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

Significant Changes: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emergency Erosion Response Due to Winter Storms

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

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

Campaign Review: From the 1996 El Niño to the Current LCP Amendment

Surfrider continues to work to restore the shoreline at south Ocean Beach.

Greetings Surfriders,

It has now been 20 years since the 1996-1997 El Niño winter, an event which brought the first rock revetment onto the beach at Sloat.  Ever since that event, the Surfrider Foundation San Francisco Chapter has been working to remove the rocks and to restore the beach.

We have participated in two government/public planning processes specially formed to solve the erosion problem: the Ocean Beach Task Force (1999-2005), and the Ocean Beach Master Plan (2011-2012).  We have attended countless meetings, submitted numerous official written comment letters, ran multiple petition campaigns, reached out to the media and the local community, and more. At all times, we have brought not just our complaints, but also a viable solution to our public officials. Our plan calls for the protection of infrastructure through relocation (known as managed retreat).  We seek to restore the back beach area to allow sand dunes -  not rock and debris - to serve as the primary tool to check erosion.

Today, we can finally say a solution is in sight.  Since the release of the 2012 Ocean Beach Master Plan, the city of San Francisco has officially begun to embrace a long term plan that may restore Sloat. The project is now being prepared for permitting, with a 2017 year end deadline for submission. To ensure the work is ultimately approved with a strong restoration component, we continue our advocacy campaign.  Currently, we are helping shape new zoning laws to allow a managed retreat based solution for the infrastructure at risk.

One word about the Ocean Beach Master Plan: Although we may differ over the fate of the Lake Merced Tunnel (see especially the prior 3 posts), the vast majority of the SPUR plan is excellent. The road and the two parking lots are to to be realigned from the erosion hazard area. A new biking and hiking trail connecting to Fort Funston is scheduled to be installed. Rock and rubble is to be eventually be removed from the shoreline, with sand dunes taking its place.  According to Ben Grant at San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR), some of these improvements could be implemented as soon as this year.

Please stay tuned and continue to spread the word!  Yes, Sloat is still a mess. However, after 20 years of decay, real plans to fix the area are on the table and moving through the bureaucracy.  Enjoy the fall surf season!  Please continue to be cautious when accessing the area.  As always, we will inform the community as soon as we get official word of any new developments.

Thanks!

The Argument for Relocating The Lake Merced Tunnel: Part III

Relocating the Lake Merced Tunnel could be well worth the trouble. The high tide line shown here will continue its march inland as the years go by. 

Photo: B. McLaughlin

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

In our last two posts, we laid out the two core arguments in support of a study to relocate the Lake Merced Tunnel (LMT).  This month, we would like to address the Ocean Beach Master Plan's support of keeping the LMT on the beach. 

In section III-24 of the Ocean Beach Master Plan "Why Not Relocate the Lake Merced Tunnel Today," a series of arguments are made against a managed retreat plan for the Lake Merced Tunnel. They are summarized below, followed by our response:

Opportunity to Protect in Place

SPUR claims that the Lake Merced Tunnel can be protected in place (with the beach condition dramatically improved) for the next several decades.  This is characterized as a "win-win" approach for both infrastructure and environment/recreation.  Surfrider believes a strategic relocation of the tunnel would secure this asset for much longer.  If built with the future in mind, a LMT relocation could protect it for the rest of its lifespan.  Certainly, opening up more shoreline for restoration is better for recreation and the ecosystem.  It also could be a much more cost effective way to preserve the beach as more beach area would reduce the need for sand replenishment.

Environmental And Regulatory Challenges

Spur argues that relocating the Tunnel would bring significant regulatory complexities.  The suggestion seems to be that such changes would be burdensome. Given everything that is at stake, we believe such an effort would be worthwhile.

Cost

SPUR cites the high cost of re-configuring the structure.  Please see our June post.  The cost of relocating the Tunnel does not appear to be drastically higher than building a protective seawall. 

Limited Benefit

The OBMP states: "Relocating the Lake Merced Tunnel would allow the coastline to recede naturally through erosion, but only a short distance, as other structures, including the existing force mains and pump station, the Fleishhaker Pool building and the Oceanside Treatment Plant, lie immediately behind the tunnel, limiting the benefits of relocation or necessitating the relocation of additional elements relatively soon."  While it is true that the beach area left in front of the Oceanside Treatment Plant and Pumpstation/Force mains is short, the amount of shoreline that may need hard "back-up" protection is quite small compared to the entire shoreline area that would be needed to protect the Lake Merced Tunnel.  With sea level rise estimates and erosion projections continuing to rise, the LMT relocation issue could be a brilliant opportunity for SFPUC to begin mapping the future of other pieces of threatened infrastructure, not just the Lake Merced Tunnel. 

Pressing Needs

SPUR argues that SFPUC has many responsibilities around town that may take precedence over relocating the Lake Merced Tunnel.  We believe that an erosion threat to a wastewater plant's key infrastructure is quite serious.  As surfers, we understand the power of the ocean, It is unpredictable and destructive force should never be underestimated. The Sloat erosion challenge should command top level priority and resources. 

Thanks for staying engaged with us!