Summary
The Commission approved a controversial $175-million seawall project at the south end of Ocean Beach, San Francisco, despite strong opposition. The project includes a 3,200-foot-long, 55-foot-deep buried seawall to protect critical wastewater infrastructure. While the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) project includes managed retreat of the Great Highway, it negates the benefits by holding the line with the seawall. The large-scale sewall jeoparizes public beaches, disrupts natural sediment flows, and could degrade Ocean Beach’s iconic surf.
Surfrider pushed for a nature-based managed retreat strategy, including relocating vulnerable infrastructure and restoring dune systems. However, the Commission opted to approve the hard armoring, citing the high costs of relocating infrastructure. The permit includes conditions for sand replenishment, annual reporting, and five-year reviews.
Why You Should Care
This decision is yet another example of the Commission failing to make difficult decisions that prioritize effective sea-level rise planning. It reflects the ongoing tension between hard infrastructure projects, like seawalls, and the need for more sustainable, nature-based solutions to combat the impacts of sea-level rise.
The approval of the 3,200-foot-long seawall, which will inevitably worsen coastal erosion and impact public access to the beach over time, is maladaptive to rising seas and highlights a failure of the state to prioritize more sustainable, nature-based solutions like managed retreat and dune restoration.
Outcome
Pro-Coast Vote
Anti-Coast Vote
Several commissioners expressed strong reservations about the project, particularly regarding the seawall’s impact on the beach and surf; they ultimately approved it due to pressure surrounding the costs and complexities of relocating critical infrastructure like the sewage tunnel.
The Commission’s unwillingness to take bold action in favor of a long-term, resilient approach has set a troubling precedent for future projects, particularly in the face of climate change impacts. Relocating critical sewage infrastructure out of harm's way is the prudent choice, and would make San Francisco’s coast more resilient over time.
Organizations Opposed
Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Beach Institute
Decision Type
Coastal Development Permit
Staff Recommendation
Approval with conditions