New: Computer Graphic Showing Long Term Plan / Sand Management Details

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

An excellent new video has been released from SPUR illustrating the long term project as outlined in the Ocean Beach Master Plan.  The simple graphic sequence shows the typical or present day condition at Sloat.Then, it follows the different steps of implementation (including the sand management work). Please note the protection device for the Lake Merced Tunnel (LMT).  It is designed to allow natural processes - such as erosion and accretion - to take place. If built, it would function similar to the one at Taraval Street, which remains buried most of the time.

There is no doubt that this plan is more environmentally sound than a conventional seawall and rock revetment. However, Surfrider urges the Master Plan team to consider relocating the LMT altogether. With the threat of sea level rise and climate change driven storms, it may be more cost effective and beneficial to the public to move this piece of infrastructure inland. The option should at least be formally studied.

Finally, if you are curious about the details of the current sand management project, here is the technical data sheet.

Happy Holidays!

Sand Project Has Begun for South Parking Lot

The sand management project has begun. Photo: B. McLaughlin 12/1/14

GREAT HIGHWAY SOUTHBOUND LANES WILL BE CLOSED FOR SAND MANAGEMENT PROJECT

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BEACH ACCESS TO BE RESTORED SOUTH OF SLOAT

The San Francisco Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is pleased to announce that the long awaited project to bring sand to Sloat’s southern parking lot has begun.

The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), is presently conducting a sand management project at Ocean Beach. Like the 2012 effort, excess sand in front of the O'Shaughnessy Seawall at North Ocean Beach is being excavated and then transported to the beach at the erosion hotspot south of Sloat Boulevard.  In contrast to 2012, the sand this time will be brought to the southern parking lot. 

The Surfrider Foundation would like to emphasize that the current project is not the long term, sustainable fix for Sloat area erosion.  That plan is currently under design by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research  (SPUR)’s Ocean Beach Master Plan. However, the action will bring important benefits.  Chiefly, the sand will create safe access to the beach for the southern parking lot.  Presently, the only way to get to the beach at the south lot is to scale down an eroding mixture of rock and concrete debris.

In 2012, according to the National Park Service website, approximately 73 thousand cubic yards of sand was relocated. The current project is slated to transfer approximately 30 thousand cubic yards of sand. The south bound lanes are to be closed Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The project is scheduled to be completed within five weeks. The cost of the project is $500,000 according to SFPUC.