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...

Site Check 2/11/09 Construction Has Begun

Photo Credit: Les Martin

Fellow Surfriders and Friends,

I went down and did a site check last night. It's not good. DPW has created a dirt access ramp for their trucks, cranes, etc. and have begun placing huge boulders on the bluff. The idea of using sand bags has been dismissed. Re-using existing rubble seems also to have been ruled out. A completely new rock revetment is going up.

It’s a tragic scene – and it’s not just the new project going in. Due to the recent erosion, there is more construction debris unearthed down there than ever before. With this additional section of boulders, we have essentially a complete armoring of the entire area - a wall of concrete, rubble and stone stretching all the way from 1st lot to the bluff.

What you can do...

Please continue to write letters to all parties involved. There are many agencies with jurisdiction over this issue from the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to the DPW, PUC and GGNRA. Tell them that the beach in the south of Sloat area is on the verge of extinction. The City needs to acknowledge this, and change course. At the very least, in the near term, we should specifically call for the removal of old concrete debris as mitigation, a pull back of the road and parking lots, and restoration of natural dunes in the area.

Bill McLaughlin