Plan Calls for Managed Retreat and Restoration of Ocean Beach

On Thursday, May 10 at a California Coastal Commission hearing, the City and County of San Francisco proposed to amend its Land Use Plan (LUP), also referred to as the Western Shoreline Area Plan, by adding new policies related to coastal hazards and sea level rise. The amendment requires the City to develop and implement proactive adaptation measures applicable to the most severe areas of erosion south of Sloat Boulevard, including managed retreat and beach nourishment, and outlines a framework for the development of future adaptation measures along the entire shoreline based upon best available science.

Ocean Beach, San Francisco has experienced chronic erosion issues for several decades. This plan is the first step in restoring Ocean Beach and removing existing hard armoring that only exacerbates the erosion issues at South Ocean Beach. Eventually, we can anticipate a wider beach with more access and recreation opportunities. 

The Surfrider Foundation San Francisco Chapter participated in a nearly three decades long process as part of the Ocean Beach Tast Force (OBTF), a government/community group charged with coming up with a long-term fix for erosion at South Ocean Beach near Sloat Boulevard.  In the late 1990’s through early 2000s, the OBTF met numerous times, and logged many hours of work toward this goal. By 2005, the group issued a report recommending a managed retreat plan for the Great Highway and several parking lots in order to accommodate restoration of the beach. Those planning efforts have come to fruition in this LCP amendment, a milestone that lays the groundwork for a more robust shoreline management plan in San Francisco.