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Laguna Salada: Sharp Park's Coastal Lagoon and Beach: early 20th Century
(photo: PWA-Wild Equity Conceptual Restoration Plan and Feasibility Assessment, Laguna Salada, Pacifica, Ca)
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Greetings Surfriders and Friends,
Look for a fresh update on the Implementation Phase of the Ocean Beach Master Plan at our next chapter meeting Tuesday October 1st. 7pm at the Tides Center in the Presidio 1014 Torney Ave. In the meantime, here is some more information about our campaign to restore Sharp Park:
The Sharp Park golf course, located in Pacifica, is owned by the city of San Francisco. It was built in the 1920's on land surrounding a coastal lagoon. Just like Lake Merced, Laguna Salada of Sharp Park is fed by creeks that drain runoff from nearby hills or mountains. During winters with heavy rainfall, these lagoons fill up to the point of spilling their excess water into the ocean. When the dry months of spring and summer set in, the water levels in the lagoon stabilize, the dunes regenerate, and the process begins anew. To learn more about these watersheds and how they work, download this scientific study of Laguna Salada.
At Sloat, we have a zoo, a large sewer tunnel, and a coastal road located right near the shoreline where Lake Merced used to spill into the ocean. Restoring Lake Merced back into a fully functioning lagoon is not on the table at this point in time. However, the restoration of Laguna Salada at Sharp Park is. A plan has been drafted to close the golf course, give the land to the National Park Service, and incorporate the watershed into the GGNRA. The Park Service has plans to vigorously restore the native flora, fauna and natural process of the lagoon system. Surfrider backs this proposal because restoring the watershed means removing the seawall. This would create long term beach preservation in an area that desperately needs it. We should seize the opportunity to restore Sharp Park.
You can learn more about the issue by visiting our partner's website Wildequity.org You can help today by writing a letter to our public officials (see column on the right). Also, don't forget to comment on any media story regarding Sharp Park, Sloat, or other issues related to beach erosion and managed retreat. Thanks for checking in!
