Surfer's beach erosion, Princeton: bring in the sand

Half Moon Bay Review/Ester Hahn, 6/17/15. "Officials look to save Surfer's Beach. Harbor board tackles beach erosion."

Beachside view, 2009

Highway view, 2014

"The city of Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County have partnered to address the ongoing erosion concerns at Surfer’s Beach, and the San Mateo County Harbor District aims to lead the beach replenishment effort.  Harbor Commissioners Nicole David and Pietro Parravano are active on the Beach Replenishment Committee that has met twice so far. And at tonight’s Harbor District meeting (6/16/15), David plans to present a draft plan for sand replenishment.

“A pilot study design was developed, but we don't have funding for it yet,” David wrote, via email. “The Harbor District could be the local lead agency and collaborate with state, federal and other local agencies for the review, permitting and implementation process.”

In addition to what has been discussed at committee meetings, the Harbor Commission has also taken into consideration the work already accomplished by the Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup, memorialized in the Coastal Regional Sediment Management Plan for the Santa Cruz Littoral Cell. “The district has the sediment resources to supply such a pilot project and could also develop a long-term sediment management plan that includes dredging and the beneficial use of dredged material,” David added.  The beach work is part of a multipronged approach to the stretch of coastline that also requires repairs and reinforcements to the seawall and to the bluffs adjacent to Highway 1."

Related article - Half Moon Bay review/Mark Noack, 10/30/14, "County shares ideas to shield Surfer's Beach." .... "County Supervisor Don Horsley first highlighted the Surfer’s Beach erosion as a major emerging problem last year after discussions with local business owners and nonprofits. Since then, the county has taken the lead in spearheading a temporary solution in partnership with the city of Half Moon Bay and Caltrans. All three government agencies have a common interest in protecting the spot because they all own land near the beach strip."

Related article update - Daily Journal (San Mateo County), Samantha Weigel, 6/23/15, "Harbor District take lead on Surfer's Beach..." ... "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which constructed the jetty used to protect boats in the harbor but is contributing to the loss of sand and erosion at the beach, has been conducting a study to determine whether it has an interest in such a project. .... Tom Kendall, chief of planning branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District...  noted the riprap protects Highway 1 and the sand protects the riprap, which makes protecting the road a secondhand benefit. While the main advantage would be recreational, for which there is value associated, if the study proved the project would directly serve Highway 1, that would be considered a more pronounced benefit, Kendall said.

Note photographs:  2014 view, Midcoast Community Council/Highway 1, "Highway protection at Surfers' Beach". 2009 vuew, Coastsider, Surfrider Foundation announcement by Sabrina Brennan, 10/20/09.

Posted by Kathy Meeh