CITY OF GROVER BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 8
Placement: Business
Meeting Date: March 9, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Megan Martin, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a presentation from California Department of State Parks and the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District on the Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project.
BACKGROUND
On July 28, 2025, the City Council adopted a Resolution (Reso. No. 25-23) authorizing the Community Development Director to submit a request to the California Coastal Commission (Coastal Commission) for consolidation of a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for a portion of the Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project (Attachment 1). The consolidation request was necessary as a segment of the restoration area lies within both the City, California Department of State Parks (State Parks), and Coastal Commission jurisdiction.
The project fulfills a long-standing restoration requirement associated with the original Coastal Commission permit (State Parks Application No. 4-82-300) for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
The restoration effort, led by State Parks and the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (Coastal San Luis RCD), seeks to restore and enhance approximately 150 acres of foredune habitat within Pismo State Beach. Restoration efforts include reduction of invasive plant cover, reestablishing diverse native dune vegetation communities, restoring habitat functions and ecological resilience, and enhancing the natural protective function of the foredunes to better withstand sea-level rise, storm events, and wind erosion. The project will directly benefit several sensitive and listed species including the Western monarch butterfly, the Northern California legless lizard, and two state-threatened plants, the surf thistle and beach spectacle pod.
The Coastal Commission has requested that public outreach for this project be conducted with affected jurisdictions including Grover Beach. While State Parks is the lead agency for this restoration effort, both State Parks and Coastal San Luis RCD have offered to present the item to broaden public participation, promote transparency, and provide the community with an update on project progress and next steps.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no funding impacts to this staff report.
Staff Report: Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project Update Page 2 March 9, 2025
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Receive and file the presentation; or
2. Provide alternative direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project Overview
2. Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project Schedule Multi-Year Goals
☐ Public Safety and Community Services ☐ Economic Development and Housing ☐ Community Infrastructure ☐ Financial and Organization Sustainability Council Priorities
☐ Water & Wastewater Infrastructure ☒ Community Engagement Pismo State Beach Foredune
Restoration and Improvement Project
Project Overview
The Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project will restore and enhance 150 acres of foredune habitat within Pismo State Beach, a coastal park stretching over seven miles. The project area supports a unique and fragile ecosystem that has been significantly degraded by invasive plant species and disrupted dune processes. The restoration will directly benefit several sensitive and listed species, including the Western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus), which overwinters nearby at the Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove; the Northern California legless lizard (Anniella pulchra); and two state-threatened plants—the surf thistle (Cirsium rhothophilum) and the beach spectacle pod (Dithyrea maritima).
Invasive species such as golden wattle, iceplant, and European beach grass have spread throughout the foredune system, displacing native vegetation, reducing biodiversity, and interfering with the natural geomorphic processes that shape and sustain the dune landscape. This degradation not only threatens native species but also compromises the dunes’ capacity to act as a protective buffer against wind, erosion, and coastal storm surges, posing increased climate resilience risks to adjacent communities, including Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano, a disadvantaged and climate-vulnerable community.
Project Goals
1. Reduce invasive plant cover so that 90% of grid cells contain less than 1% of the current invasive extent.
2. Reestablish diverse native dune vegetation communities, such as dune mat and dune scrub, through targeted seed collection, propagation, and strategic outplanting.
3. Restore habitat functions and ecological resilience to support the recovery of listed plant and wildlife species dependent on dynamic dune ecosystems.
4. Enhance the natural protective function of the foredunes to better withstand sea-level rise, storm events, and wind erosion, protecting both wildlife habitat and nearby human communities.
Attachment 1
Restoration Methods
The restoration will begin with the removal of invasive plant species using a combination of mechanical methods (cutting and trimming) and chemical treatments (targeted herbicide application for herbaceous invasives), conducted by licensed pest control contractors following recommendations from certified Pest Control Advisors.
Species targeted for removal include European beach grass, iceplant, golden wattle, pine, and cypress.
Following removal, native dune vegetation will be restored through local seed collection, propagation at the California State Parks greenhouse, and phased outplanting. Species will be selected based on historic plant communities and the habitat needs of the target species. Planting will be carried out by trained restoration crews with oversight from experienced ecologists and land managers.
Monitoring & Success Metrics
Restoration success will be assessed through annual monitoring, including GPS mapping of invasive species reduction and percent survivorship of native outplantings. Monitoring will follow California Native Plant Society (CNPS) protocols and be conducted by trained staff from California State Parks and partner organizations. Metrics will track changes in vegetation cover, native species diversity, and habitat quality to ensure restoration goals are met and maintained over time.
Contact
Samantha Alvarez, Restoration Program Manager, [email protected] Pismo State Beach Foredune Restoration and Improvement Project Detailed Project Schedule
potential time extention
Task Year 1: 2025 Year 2: 2026 Year 3: 2027 Year 4: 2028 Year 5: 2029 Year 6: 2030 Activites Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 1 Project Administration
1.1 Quarterly invoicing + reporting
1.2 Subcontracting + Coordination
1.3 Outreach + Field Tours
2 Planning + Design
2.1a Draft Restoration Plan
2.1b Final Restoration Plan
3 Environmental Review
3.1 CEQA/NEPA certification process
3.2 Develop permit packages
4 Implementation of Restoration Plan
4.1 Native Revegetation
4.5 Invasive species treatment
5 Monitoring and Reporting
5.1 Development of monitoring + reporting plan
5.2 Annual Monitoring + Surveying
5.3 Reporting
Attachment 2