SEACLIFF RESILIENCE
The coastline is always changing – now possibly faster than ever. Seacliff State Beach, and areas all along our coastline, are increasingly impacted by climate-driven hazards such as large surf, flooding during storms, sea level rise and erosion of beaches and cliffs. The historic storms in early 2023 caused catastrophic damage to our coastal parks, with devastating impacts to core elements of Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches and the visitor experience.
credit: Bob Stinnett
Though the storms of 2023 and their immediate aftermath were painful, the recovery process provides an opportunity to be visionary and strategic about how to plan for environmental sustainability in the era of climate change and ensure public access.
As sea levels continue to rise and storm intensity increases throughout the coming years, the effects of these hazards are predicted to grow significantly. Improving the resilience of our coastline starts with studying coastal processes, planning for change, and adapting to the new conditions to develop a desired vision of the future that meets the needs of Californians. This is a process that can only be successful with robust community input and science-based decision-making.
