A Wave of Media Attention on Sloat

Above: The inside sandbar at Sloat - under threat of backwash from an armored shoreline.

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

While we await the unveiling of the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan, there has been a groundswell of media attention on the Sloat issue. On Sunday March 23rd, the New York Times ran an article about Sloat on its front page. The next morning, the story was mentioned on NPR. On Tuesday March 25, KALW 91.7fm featured Sloat in the news program “Crosscurrents.” Today, the story made the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle. See links to these pieces on the right side of this page.

Overall, the coverage has been excellent. We are certainly happy to see the spotlight drawn to the issue. However, there is one important aspect to the Sloat story that seems to be consistently misrepresented. This has to do with the nature of the managed retreat approach and the fate of the Oceanside Treatment Plant. All too often the coverage paints a picture as if managed retreat implies the immediate and complete relocation of the entire sewer infrastructure - including the treatment plant. This is a most unfortunate characterization.

Our vision of managed retreat involves an immediate pull back of the southbound lane and Lake Merced Wastewater Tunnel only. By relocating these two items, clean up of the rock and rubble may commence. The treatment plant itself is apparently in no immediate danger. Presently it is protected by the 2010 revetment as well as a rather large coastal bluff. Ultimately, we advocate aggressive beach nourishment to address the issue of the plant. In fact, all the remaining infrastructure would be much better off if we were to enhance and restore the sand dune system in the area. With a sandy shoreline, normal beach regeneration processes can return, helping to slow down erosion.

Victory! Dpw Permits Stopped

Just in: The Ca Coastal Commission denied approval to expand coastal armor at Sloat tonight. It was a unanimous vote. Thanks to the 500+ people who sent in letters opposing the permits. Thanks also to Sarah Damron, Katie Westfall of Save The Waves, Lara Truppelli of SandOb, Mark Massara, Wade Orbelian and others for staying until late in the evening to speak! This was an important win in our battle to restore the beach at Sloat. Stay tuned for next steps...

Last Week's SF PUC CAC Meeting

Last week Bill and I attended a Citizenz Advisory Committee meeting for the SF PUC. The main topic on the agenda was our Sloat erosion, or from their point of view, the impact on the facilities for the Westside Treatment Plant. The main topics were presentations by Coastal Engineer Bob Battallio of PWC, Frank Filice of DPW, and a few comments on the PUC's handling of sea level rise by PUC engineer Jonathan Loiacono. I'll try to get a copy of those presentations and post the Power Points.

Bob presented first and went over some of this history of the area. One of his main points is that the area that eroded was largely unconsolidated fill placed after the construction of the Merced Tunnel, and that the natural shoreline fluctuated on multi-decade cycles. He showed some old photos of when that area was gently sloping grass-covered dunes, and contrasted them with photos of the area today, where steep bluffs are easily undermined. The contrast served to remind the audience that making even the nicest dunes in the area where the shoreline fluctuates will be washed away. He espoused relocating the waste water tunnels in the area.

Frank Filice updated the audience on the DPW's current construction and future plans. The rock revetment that is being constructed to stabalize the toe of the bluff is nearing completion. The cost is coming in at around $2.9M for about 425 ft of length. Much of those costs should be recoverable through California Emergency Management. Phase II of the project consists of stabilizing the top of the bluff, Phase III consists of reworking the Great Highway back a few dozen feet to about the current centerline of roadway. Phase IV consists of reconstructing the dune. He also spoke in detail about how the schedule is working around the Bank Swallows.

My impression is that DPW is glad to have made it through the winter storms and is now working on doing the real engineering work. Likewise, the PUC is becoming more active in the process as they realize the DPW's road may not be enough of a buffer to prevent the PUC from having to worry about erosion.

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.

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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.

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