SF Zoo's Science / Interpretive Center

SF Zoo's Science Interpretive Center "pop-up"

Greetings Surfriders,

If you haven't signed our new petition yet, please do. Also, you can help the campaign by sharing this with your network.

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By now you may have noticed a new structure built on top of the berm across from the north parking lot.  We placed some calls and found out the buildings are a temporary science/learning center for children's programs at the San Francisco Zoo.  

During the Ocean Beach Master Plan process, both the San Francisco Zoo and San Francisco Recreation and Park had representation on the Steering Committee (Executive Level).  These two agencies also were represented on the Planning Advisory Committee level (which comprised of community / non-profit representatives).  At no time did we hear of the Zoo's intention to run their own science interpretive center on that area of the berm.

The Ocean Beach Master Plan instead recommended the conversion of the Fleishhaker pool house into a free public warming hut / interpretive science center.  We fully supported this concept. However, the pool house burned down not long after the release of the OMBP. 

Surfrider still fully supports the Master Plan idea of a public warming hut / interpretive center in the area occupied by the pool house. The Zoo's private new structures conflict with this goal.

The good news is that there is time to fix this issue. The buildings appear to be pre-fab. and easily removed. 

We urge SF Zoo, Rec. and Park, SPUR and all other entities involved in the Ocean Beach Master Plan to come together, have an open discussion and let the public weigh in on this issue.  

North Parking Lot Replacement Needed

This location could make a fine location to place a new main parking lot for south Sloat.

Greetings Surfriders,

While we await a new date for the Local Coastal Program hearing at SF Planning, we would like to dedicate this month's post to the fate of the north parking lot at Sloat. 

As you may know, the 2012 Ocean Beach Master Plan proposed the idea of relocating the north parking lot spaces onto the southbound Great Highway near Wawona.  Surfrider opposed this idea since the point of the managed retreat plan was to relocate infrastructure away from the water. To their credit, the SPUR-led team cancelled this parking plan. 

The challenge is we still need a good parking alternative to replace the north lot. 

To address this, Surfrider has recently signaled interest in the area of land to the south of the zoo's paid parking lot. This is an area of land accessible by Herbst/Armory Road, and sits on the landward side of the Great Highway south of Sloat.  See picture above.

We believe this site could be ideal as a replacement for the north lot. Since the south of Sloat Great Highway will eventually be closed, vehicular access for the new parking lot can be done via Herbst - Armory Road. The new parking access could contain all the original parking spaces from the eroded north lot along with a bathroom, shower, water fountain, trash receptacle, and bicycle parking station.  It would serve as the main beach access lot and connect beautifully to the Master Plan's coastal hiking/biking trail idea.  Look for the chapter to advocate for this solution going forward.

Thanks for checking in!

PS: If you haven't signed our new petition yet, please do!  Also, you can help the campaign by sharing this with your network.

SF Examiner Covers Sloat / LCP Vote Postponed / SLR Workshop In Pacifica

Summertime means fishing in the fog at Sloat.

Greetings Surfriders,

The SF Planning Commission hearing was postponed.  Please stay tuned for the new date. 

On June 9^th the San Francisco Examiner ran a nice story on the LCP and where we are in the effort to implement managed retreat at Sloat.   If you are looking to get a full picture of where the campaign is right now, this article provides an excellent snapshot.

Please sign and share our petition if you haven't yet!

Also, this coming Friday June 16^th there is a sea level rise workshop being held in Pacifica.  USGS scientist Samuel Johnson and others will be on hand to go over the geology of our coastline, its history and what we can expect with a future of rising seas.  A discussion about our options for how we respond will also be open for discussion. 

Sea Level Rise: Understanding our Coast

Friday June 16 6:45pm at the Pacifica Coastside Museum – 1850 Francisco Blvd. Pacifica

Sponsored by Pacifica’s Environmental Family and the Pacifica Climate Committee

As always, thanks for checking in.

Petition Still Live - Final LCP Hearing at SF Planning June 8

Sloat Erosion Site: June 1987
Before the Oceanside Treatment Plant and Lake Merced Tunnel infrastructure.

Greetings Surfriders,

If you haven't done so already, please sign our new petition to restore Sloat.

SF Planning Commission is due to vote on the LCP amendment for Sloat on June 8^th.  Please attend the hearing and comment if you can!  The address is 1650 Mission St. Ste 400

While the current version of the LCP amendment is not fatally flawed, it does have major room for improvement.

Surfrider is particularly concerned that the document does not recognize and build off of erosion management rules that are already on the books at the Coastal Commission.  We specifically cite the 1986 SF Ocean Beach Beach Nourishment Plan document.

The LCP amendment could also be improved by:

·      Clarifying what constitutes an erosion emergency that allows hard armoring such as rock.

·      Stating a clear preference of using soft solutions such as sand over rock armor in the case of emergencies.

·      When hard armoring is used in an emergency, require a deadline for its removal and replacement by sand dunes.

·      Prohibiting the rejection of sand dune nourishment and/or managed retreat solutions for erosion based on cost alone.

If you cannot make the June 8^th hearing, please send your comment letters to:

Maggie Wenger
LCP Amendment Project Manager
SF Planning Department
maggie.wenger@sfgov.org

New Sloat Petition / Public LCP Meeting May 2

The Sloat erosion area was battered by winter storms this year. Thankfully, no rock armor was added onto the beach. The pre-winter sand replenishment project may have helped in this regard.

Greetings Surfriders,

Happy Earth Day! 

As the Restore Sloat campaign hits the final stretch, we have a new petition for all to sign.

The purpose is to underscore our goals for Sloat restoration as the City finalizes the details of its erosion control project for the area. The design will be based upon the recommendations found in the Ocean Beach Master Plan.  We will continue to call for maximizing relocation of all threatened structures, even the Lake Merced Tunnel. The more beach area that we can secure for restoration, the greater the chance we have to maintain a sandy shoreline for the future.

More News: SF Planning has just added a public workshop for the LCP amendment May 2 6-8pm at the Ortega Library (3223 Ortega Street at 39th Ave). Please attend if you can.  There may be a discussion regarding south of Sloat road consolidation and realignment as well as options for temporary parking. 

Thanks for checking in!

Managed Retreat Phase 1 Announced!

Managed retreat for Sloat is officially on the way.

Greetings Surfriders,

We are pleased to announce that Phase 1 of the Ocean Beach Master Plan's managed retreat strategy has been announced. It appears on San Francisco Recreation and Park's website. This is a significant milestone for the Restore Sloat Campaign as it is the first public recognition that the City is indeed looking to embrace the Master Plan recommendations. As you may recall, the first move of the Ocean Beach Master Plan includes the consolidation and realignment of the road away from the water (on the landward side of the berm), and the construction of temporary parking. A walking trail is also slated to be installed. Details TBA. We'll let you know when the public can weigh in on the specific elements in this project.

Meanwhile, the LCP amendment hearing at SF Planning has been postponed until June 8th.  Please stay tuned!

Sharp Park / LCP Action Report

A glimpse of Sloat restoration appears at the north parking lot.

Greetings Surfriders,

We have success to report for Sharp Park!  SF Rec. and Park agreed to drop some of the golf course flood control measures from the Significant Natural Resources Area Management Plan's Final Environmental Impact Report (SNRAMP FEIR).  In kind, Surfrider along with the coalition lead by Wild Equity withdrew our appeal of the document. Thank you once again to all who sent in comment letters or attended the hearing at the SF Board of Supervisors.

Look for continued efforts to restore the Sharp Park wetland in the future.  By removing the need for a seawall, we can protect the last wide stretch of beach in north Pacifica.   

Update re: SF Rec. and Park's seawall issue.  The Coastal Commission has set June 18, 2017, as a deadline to rule on the fate of the city's response to justifying the 2013 revetment "maintenance" work (see March 2013 blog post for story).  We'll report on the verdict when we get the news. 

Restore Sloat Update: LCP Amendment Introduced at SF Planning Commission

On March 2nd, SF Planning initiated their draft amendment for updating zoning plans for erosion management south of Sloat and greater Ocean Beach.  We will continue to ask for a clear language for removing rubble and using long term managed retreat planning for Ocean Beach. Without additional space for the beach to migrate landward, sand dune nourishment cannot be effective. Sea level rise and climate change will bring accelerated erosion. Thanks to all who have sent in comments on this very important document.  Look for another round of public commentary on the LCP Adoption Hearing April 13th.  For more details, see SF Planning's LCP Amendment website. We'll have more to say on this in next month's post.

Thanks for checking in...