Summary
The California Coastal Commission approved a five-year Beach Management Plan (BMP) for Cowell and Main Beaches in Santa Cruz. The BMP governs beach grooming, event permitting, sand recontouring, and recreational programming, and introduces explicit equity measures including ADA beach mats, multilingual outreach, and protection of nonprofit beach access. A major highlight was the codification of free access for nonprofit surf equity groups, modeled after Pacifica’s recent surf access program. The plan also allows continued beach grooming and a nighttime curfew on dry sand, raising concerns about ecological degradation and impacts on unhoused beach users.
Why You Should Care
This BMP reflects growing momentum to embed environmental justice into coastal planning. By using the Pacifica model to affirm nonprofit surf and EJ organizations’ right to operate without permits, Santa Cruz is reducing real barriers for communities of color and working-class youth to safely and consistently access the beach. The Surf Justice Collective’s letter of support underscores how meaningful this shift is for groups like Black Surf Santa Cruz, Queer Surf, and Outdoor Outreach.
However, approval of continued beach grooming and nighttime curfews — policies that have raised environmental and equity concerns in the past — shows that the city is still relying on some outdated, exclusionary tools.
Outcome
Pro-Coast Vote
Anti-Coast Vote
While not perfect, the BMP represents significant advancement for equity-centered beach access, formalizing inclusive practices already in place and sending a signal to other jurisdictions. This vote shows the Commission taking environmental justice seriously and prioritizing access for all, even as some coastal management practices (like sand manipulation and curfews) still reflect older paradigms.
Organizations Opposed
Decision Type
Coastal Development Permit
Staff Recommendation
Approve with conditions