Santa Monica Beach Dune Restoration Phase 3
Nico Predock, Sustainability Analyst, OSE
Alexandra Tower, Coastal Adaptation Program Director, The Bay Foundation Background
• Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
(2019) goals:
• Enhance Natural Systems to prevent
damage from coastal flooding
• Increase resilience of public and
private assets in coastal flooding
zone
• Current focus is on low-cost natural
solutions:
• Beach Dune Restoration Pilot Project
• Phase 2 (SaMo2) Project
• Tonight’s Study session
• Phase 3 (SaMo3) Project
Background
• Pilot Project update
• Year 5 report, Frontiers in Marine Science paper
• Widely viewed as successful project from community & scientific perspective
• Balanced priorities of ecology and accessibility
• Dunes are growing much faster than the current rate of SLR • Proof of concept for scalability!
• Phase 2 Project update
• 5 acres installed March 2024
Protected
& seeded
in 2015
SaMo II Restoration Project
• $300k from Refugio Trustee Council
Goal: Create 5 acres of coastal habitat by transforming the beach into a sustainable coastal strand and foredune habitat, thereby improving coastal resilience to Sea Level Rise.
Additional Benefits:
• Improve local ecological diversity
• Provide educational and outreach opportunities
• Enhance Beach aesthetics
• Public Outreach
• Public + commission meetings
• Key Stakeholders
• Permitting – Coastal
Development permit
• CEQA – Exemption
• City Council Study Session
• Planning, Maintenance, Urban
Forests
• Project Construction in 3
phases
• Volunteer + additional
public engagement
• Adaptive Management
• Monitoring
• Maintenance
• Additional Beach Dune
Restoration Expansion
• Build on the vision!
• Summer 2024 • Winter 2024 • 2025-2028 • 2030
Phase 3 (SaMo3) Timeline
Phase 3 (SaMo3) Timeline
Month/Key Dates Action
September
• 10th
• Consent item to adopt CEQA statutory
exemption finding
• Authorize CM to amend agreement with TBF
• Submit Coastal Development Permit Application
October • Continue public outreach & education
November • Continue public outreach & education
December • California Coastal Commission December
meeting
• Install first stage of Phase 3 project
www.santamonicabay.org Santa Monica Dunes Project IG: @thebayfoundation Photo: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Benefits of Dune Vegetation: • Helps against sea level rise & coastal erosion • Beautifies the beach • Increases plant & animal biodiversity • Provides habitat for threatened & endangered species
• Community connection & education
Footprint Considerations
• Beach vulnerability (sea level rise)
• Tribal, residential, commercial & City
input
• Recreation / public access / existing site
use
• Safety / maintenance / lifeguard access
• Biological benefits
• Aesthetics
• Educational opportunities
• Cost-effectiveness
Photo: The Bay
F d ti
Community Volunteers make it happen!
• Implementation
• Regular
Maintenance
Sample Shoreline Plant Palette
Shoreline Dune species Family Common Name
Abronia maritima Nyctaginaceae red sand verbena
Abronia umbellata Nyctaginaceae pink sand verbena
Ambrosia chamissonis Asteraceae silver beach bur
Atriplex leucophylla Chenopodiaceae
Beach
Saltbush/Seascale
Calystegia soldanella Convolvulaceae beach morning glory Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia Onagraceae beach evening primrose Eschscholzia californica var. maritima Papavaraceae
maritime California
poppy
Photos: Calflora
These plants
grow low to the
ground
Special Thanks to All of our Partners
Black Surfer's Collective
California Audubon
California Botanic Garden
California Climate Corps
California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Dune Science Network
California Department of Fish & Wildlife
California Department of Parks &
Recreation
California Sea Grant
California State Coastal Conservancy
City of Los Angeles – Planning Dept
City of Malibu
City of Manhattan Beach
City of Santa Monica
Climate Action Network
Coastal Restoration Consultants
Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc.
El Segundo Blue Coalition
Gabrielino-Tongva Tribal Council
Girl Scouts Troop 71075
Growing Works - Turning Point Foundation
Heal The Bay
IO Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc.
LA County Lifeguards
LA Surfrider
Los Angeles Audubon
Los Angeles Conservation Corps
Los Angeles County, Department of Beaches
and Harbors
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
Loyola Marymount University Coastal
Research Institute
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association
Office of LA Councilwoman Traci Park
Office of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell
Office of LA County Supervisor Lindsey
Horvath
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
Patagonia
Refugio Oil Spill Trustees
Resource Conservation District of the Santa
Monica Mountains
Rios Clemente Hale Studios
Santa Monica Audubon
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission
U.S. EPA
University of California, Davis
University of California, Los Angeles
US Fish and Wildlife Services
USC Sea Grant
Venice Oceanarium
Thank you!
Questions?
Contact:
Nico Predock – [email protected]
Or
Alex Tower – [email protected]
Students & service learning
We grow & restore coastal dunes with
California native vegetation on the
beaches of the Santa Monica Bay
More soon!
Coming to
Venice
Proposed in Santa
Monica