last week's newspaper articles.

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.

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

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

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.

"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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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....

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.

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

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.

photo by sf surfrider

1.24.10

photo by sf surfrider

photo by sf surfrider

photo by sf surfrider

photo by k. riccitiello

photo by k. riccitiello

photo by k. riccitiello

photo by k. riccitiello

erosion at sloat. 1.23.10

SF SURFRIDER press release.

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.

###

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

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.

check out the rest of the photos at surfpulse.

OB webcam.

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.

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

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?

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.

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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.

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

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

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