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Santa Barbara committee reviews waterfront adaptation options to protect beaches, harbor from sea level rise
Summary
Adaptation and resilience staff presented a toolbox of short-, mid- and long-term measures — from beach nourishment and deployable floodproofing to revetments, groins and relocation — and said the plan will include technical analysis, funding proposals and public outreach with a draft plan due in 2027.
Melissa Hetrick, the city's adaptation and resilience manager, outlined options the city is evaluating to protect Santa Barbara's three-mile waterfront from increasing erosion and flooding, emphasizing a 30-year focus that balances beach access, recreation and habitat.
"The goal of this plan is to develop practical solutions to address coastal flooding and erosion for the next 30 years while enhancing beach access, recreation, boating, and habitat," Hetrick said during the Creeks Citizens Advisory Committee meeting.
Why it matters: The waterfront supports beaches, parks and the working harbor and contributes to regional tourism and the blue economy; Hetrick noted recent storms and erosion have already produced expensive cleanup and infrastructure damage and that planning now reduces long-term costs. She cited a January 2023 storm that required roughly $3,000,000 in cleanup.
What the city presented: Hetrick described a…
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