The San Diego City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to adopt a coastal resilience master plan focused on flooding and erosion risks.
According to the city, the plan “was developed to help the city brace for the impacts of a warming climate.”
Of particular note is the proposed impact to Sunset Cliffs. The plans would transform Sunset Cliffs Blvd. into a one way street, with a dedicated pedestrian walkway. It would also remove the parking directly along the cliffs, and possibly begin charging for parking around the bluffs, which are a popular destination for sunset seekers and surfers.
“If you don’t see the natural beauty that we have here and you think you need to fix it up, you need to really take another look,” said Richard Aguirre, a Sunset Cliffs resident who founded the community group ‘Save Sunset Cliffs.’
Julia Chase, the city’s Chief Resilience Officer, said the plans center public safety, and make the cliffs less susceptible to erosion from both rising sea level and heavy rain.
“We know that sea level rise is going to continue to pose a threat to that portion of our coastline,” said Chase. “We are seeing really heavy precipitation events where we’re getting more rain in a shorter period of time. That can lead to a lot of runoff, which can contribute to erosion.”
Other sites will also be advanced into the city’s capital improvement program for initial engineering over the next year, including:
- Tourmaline Surf Park, which will involve converting the existing shoreline protection feature into a “hybrid nature-based solution”
- Ocean Beach: restoration of dune habitat near Smiley Lagoon, and a new multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting the pier to the San Diego River bike path near Dog Beach; and
- Sunset Cliffs, where existing resources will be enhanced to protect public safety without affecting the cliffs’ structural integrity or other infrastructure, along with a separated pedestrian path and one lane for southbound vehicular travel
The plan “includes concept-level designs of nature-based solutions, such as elevated sand dunes, restored coastal habitats and realigned parks and infrastructure,” according to city officials.
According to the city, sea levels in San Diego “are expected to rise five to 14 times faster this century than the last, significantly increasing the risk of flooding and erosion.”
A city-conducted assessment in 2019 found that “by 2050, sea level rise, accompanied by storm surge, could place $208 million to $370 million worth of public assets at risk along San Diego’s shoreline.”
Examples of assets include bridges, roads, parks, recreation centers and water pipes, according to the city.
“Open space and conservation areas are also highly vulnerable to both sea level rise and coastal storm events,” officials said.
According to the city, nature-based solutions “provide additional environmental and socio-economic benefits such as enhanced and protected habitat, green jobs and environmental education opportunities.
The projects consider ways to enhance access to the coast for all community members, such as expanded public transportation to the beach, improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and efficiency enhancements for parking.”
The next steps in the plan’s development will be feasibility and technical studies, more environmental studies and workshops in the project communities. Find more information on the coastal plan here.
Councilwoman Marni Von Wilpert was absent on Tuesday.
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