In 1992, the City of Ventura, California, saw the return of a familiar problem: the recently re-constructed bike path along the beach at Surfers' Point was eroding away again. Coastal erosion eventually swallowed large portions of the bike path, as well as the parking lot at the adjacent fairgrounds. Hasty efforts to preserve the area ultimately led to further damage. By 1997, crumbling asphalt, concrete barricades, and rusty chain-link fences erected to keep people from danger made the area a hazardous eyesore.
Surfer's Point restored (2013). The restored area features a new bike path; portions of parking lot and road have been replaced with expanded beach & dunes.
Working together at times, and at odds at other times, it took the groups more than a decade of discussion to come to consensus. They eventually agreed on a strategy that would restore the beach's recreational opportunities and uncluttered view. Focusing on goals they had in common and identifying a bounded problem helped the groups converge on a single solution strategy. The decision to retreat from the ocean—pulling existing structures inland to make room for natural beach processes—allayed concerns that a hardened solution such as a seawall would degrade conditions for surfing, opened opportunities to rehabilitate the beach ecosystem, and enhanced the natural protection of assets on land.
To stabilize the area, the project constructed a "cobble mattress" on the back beach, replacing artificial fill that had been imported for the parking lot. Sand from inland sources was placed in the retreat zone to complement the cobbles and help re-create dunes. Later, the project constructed dunes using sand from downcoast beaches where onshore winds were creating a problem of excess sand.
Volunteers vegetated the dunes and installed signs and fencing to keep foot traffic out of the restoration area. The project also installed a stormwater filtration system to capture water from the new parking lot. The water is filtered and then discharged into the Ventura River estuary, improving water quality in both the estuary and along the adjacent shoreline.
As of 2014, the beach at Surfers' Point has a 70-foot wide buffer zone and a significant sediment reservoir. As a result of increased dune elevations, erosion is no longer a threat to infrastructure inland from the beach. The project was designed with sea level rise in mind, and project leaders feel confident the restored area will prove to be more resilient than adjacent beaches as water levels increase. Though the situation has improved, rising sea levels will continue to threaten the beach. The local Surfrider group will likely remain active, working to protect the beach by ensuring its resilience.
This article originally appeared in the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit's "Taking Action" series of articles. As part of the toolkit, users can explore the coastal flood risks and vulnerabilities in the Ventura area under various sea level rise scenarios.
