Dear Surfriders and Friends,

The final Ocean Beach Master Plan was originally scheduled to be released March 15, but will be delayed until sometime in April. SPUR is busy re-writing the final document to have them better prepared to move through the city bureaucracy. Also, due to the preparations of the final Master Plan, there has not been any significant movement yet on the feasibility study of the Sloat recommendation. Do stay tuned...

In other news...

Right when we thought we were safe from any more erosion events this year, a chain of storms comes barreling though the Bay Area. Today, Saturday, March 17, we performed a site inspection at Sloat. Luckily, the shoreline did not experience any significant erosion. The new sandbags also held up fine. We did, however, see some loss of sand material underneath the edges of the pavement. During big rain events, erosion also occurs from the bluff top downward due to runoff spilling over from the road. In any event, please be extra careful when checking/entering/exiting the surf!

Sandbag Work Complete - Extended Comment Period for Draft OBMP

Dear Surfrider Supporters,

The sandbag work at Sloat's north lot is now complete. Presently, there are no other plans to add sandbags unless we experience an extreme erosion event.

Some folks may wonder what exactly constitutes such an event and when do we get them...

Generally, we get heavy beach erosion when powerful winter storms make a direct hit to our coastline. A direct hit occurs when the core of a system makes landfall bringing with it high surf, strong winds and heavy rain. Here's a little video clip of an erosion producing storm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38R0NvNJG9A&context=C35c902eADOEgsToPDskIEwyjinXyPmvzKBzl2KoP4 The worse erosion for us tends to occur when a direct hit coincides with a large high tide, such as those in the 6.0 ft. range or better. Storms barreling in from the ocean can create a powerful storm surge, allowing the surf to advance much further inland than under fair weather conditions. This allows the sea to chew up or erode whatever lies in its path. Most folks have heard of storm urge associated with hurricane landfall. The storm surge that comes from our winter storms is basically the same thing. Though less dramatic, storm surge from Pacific systems can cause plenty of damage, too, especially when structures have been located too close to the sea.

The good news is that this winter, we appear to be safe. The jet stream, which carries our storm activity, has been positioned well to the north. There has been a bonanza of great weather and surf, and a reprieve for the Sloat shoreline.

In other news, SPUR has secured a grant to do the feasibility analysis for the draft proposal at Sloat. This is great news. We hope to see a full analysis of the low profile tunnel reinforcement concept along with a tunnel relocation/re-alignment option. We are particularly interested in cost/benefit issues (factoring in the value of recreation and ecology). Perhaps some combination of approaches may finally emerge. We certainly believe that any long term plan should include a phase in which the tunnel is removed from the beach.

Finally, SPUR has also extended comment period on the draft Ocean Beach Master Plan. If you have not yet added your input, there is still time. Please visit http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach There are a lot of changes being proposed for the entire beach. It behooves all of us to weigh in. Comment period ends February 29th. Thank you!

2012 The Home Stretch of the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan

Happy New Year Surfriders and Friends,

In 2011, with your help, as well as help from our allies at Save the Waves, the CA Coastal Protection Network and others, we helped de-rail a major rock armoring project at Sloat. From here on out, geotextile sand bags will be used on an emergency basis to protect vulnerable sewer infrastructure. Also, throughout 2011, many took the time to participate in shaping a long term plan for Sloat. Though yours comments, written letters, and signed petitions, a firm support for the clean-up of Sloat's shoreline has been registered in the Master Plan process.

These are great accomplishments.

What's been happening since the holiday season? Primarily, we have the initial sand bag construction project at the south end of Sloat's 1st parking lot. This was deemed an emergency problem area due to the lack of bluff material between the transport box and the ocean. We would like to again remind all our supports that we back the use of sand bags only as an interim measure. We view it as a better alternative to quarry stone and as a bridge to a managed retreat strategy.

As we start 2012, we find ourselves in the final months of the SPUR OB Master Plan. This coming year, in addition to tracking the progress of the box feasibility study, we will work to ensure that managed retreat and restoration are part and parcel of the final SPUR recommendations. We look forward to lobbying our civic leaders to take steps to adopt this vision as official policy. Stay tuned!

Public Comments on the Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Released

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

Public comments from the Draft Master Plan are now available on SPUR's website http://spur.org/ocean-beach

Thanks to all who submitted comments. There were some excellent points made as well as some unique and creative ideas. As for the issue of Sloat, a common theme emerged: There is widespread support for a managed retreat approach to the erosion issue. While some folks expressed skepticism and doubt about the cobble berm idea proposed by SPUR, most supported a clean up of the rubble and restoration of the shoreline. Many cited the need to have robust sand dune construction by the Army Corps. These are all concepts supported by Surfrider.

On the critical front, there was significant concern about traffic impacts caused by the re-routing of the Great Highway around the back of the zoo, especially at the Sloat intersection. This is absolutely a legitmate concern. We will work to see that this issue is addressed by SPUR as the draft gets fine tuned.

Thanks again to everyone for staying engaged with the Sloat issue and participating in the SPUR Ocean Beach Master Plan. Have a happy holiday season!

Alert: Restore Sharp Park Effort Needs Help NOW!

The Disappearing Beach At Sharp Park


Dear Surfriders and Friends,

This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors narrowly passed legislation that would enable Sharp Park's golf course to be restored to the coastal wetland it once was. Our chapter strongly supports this legislation which will lead to the removal of a large rock revetment from the beach. Despite the vote by the board, newly elected Mayor Ed Lee is threatening to veto the legislation. Please call Mayor Lee's office Monday December 12 and December 13 9-5pm at Telephone: (415) 554-6141 Calls are most effective at this late stage. Thanks! For more info visit:http://wildequity.org/sections/5

Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Part III

Greetings Surfriders and Friends,

The comment period for the Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan has been extended until Wednesday November 23rd 5pm. If you have not done so yet, please review the plan and provide input! http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach

We have some good news to report on the city's emergency response to coastal erosion at Sloat. We received word from SFPUC that the agency intends to deploy geotextile sandbags instead of quarry stone in case of any new major erosion events between now and when a long term plan is implemented. We support this move because sandbags are easily removed, effective and much safer to traverse than quarry stone revetments.

We also have some additional information on the cobblestone berm idea outlined in the draft. Apparently there is no set schedule at this time for doing a feasibility analysis of this proposal. This means the Master Plan may be issuing a recommendation for Sloat without knowing if it is even viable. We urge SPUR and SFPUC to clear up this matter asap. It would be a tragedy to have SPUR issue a long term recommendation for Sloat that turns out to be unworkable.

As we have mentioned in previous posts, we still believe the long term plan should call for the relocation of the Lake Merced Transport Box. Perhaps the cobblestone berm approach can fit into such a plan as an interim step between sandbags and relocation. However, a robust feasibility study of the berm (that illuminates all impacts) should be completed before we can embrace this solution.

Draft Ocean Beach Master Plan Part II

Dear Surfriders and Friends,

I trust by now most of you have reviewed the draft master plan and have provided comment. If not, please do so as the official comment period closes this Friday 11/18 at 5pm. See: http://www.spur.org/ocean-beach There is a survey monkey link on the page for your feedback.

In the last post, the issue of the feasibility study of the Lake Merced Transport Box was covered. One other issue surrounding the Box as well as the Master Plan has to do with timelines.

It will be several years between the time that a long term plan is adopted for Sloat and when construction is completed. Surfrider believes that the city should adopt an interim erosion response plan asap. Such a plan should exclude armoring projects such as large scale quarry stone revetments. A good plan would have minimal environmental impact and have a strict expiration date. We are working through SPUR to make this happen right now. It would be a tragedy to see the master plan's recommendations get circumvented by an untimely erosion event.

One other noteworthy issue in the draft has to do with access. The draft master plans suggests several changes to beach parking. At Sloat's first lot (north) the draft recommends that parking be transferred to Sloat Blvd. This makes sense if adequate parking spaces are made available for beach access on Sloat. They should be as close as possible to the Great Highway intersection. Unfortunately, the draft is not clear on this point. We urge you to ask SPUR to incorporate this idea. Many people that come to Ocean Beach have to drive to get there. Quality parking space needs to be preserved.

Parking at the north end lots (Kelly's and VFW's) are also slated for changes. In Key Move #5 of the draft Master Plan, a proposal for charging fees for parking on peak days is floated. Surfrider urges folks to oppose any fees for access to Ocean Beach.