Bigger Beaches, Better Waves... Lower Costs, a Proposal for Pacifica

Surfers Propose a New Wave for Pacifica Four civic-minded surfers and one open water swimmer invite Pacificans, and other interested people, to attend a presentation about coping with sea-level rise by building a reef offshore of Sharp Park in Pacifica and growing the beach. They will host a presentation on Thursday, March 20 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the newly renovated Pedro Point Firehouse at 1227 Danman Avenue, Pacifica, California. The surfers are challenging the local, state and federal government to do what they already know and say needs to be done. The California State Ocean Protection Council in 2024 concluded, “California must take bold and swift action to protect nature and coastal communities from the impacts of sea-level rise.” That is exactly what the surfers will propose. Ever since 1,400 dams were built in California, the beaches have been malnourished. Placing rocks at the base of bluffs to protect housing on the cliffside has proven not to work in many locations. Seawalls that stop bluffs from falling on the beach are the second reason the beaches are starving for sand. The surfers are advocating the construction of a multipurpose barrier reef that, when combined with initial sand nourishment, will help retain that sand, achieve the above-mentioned benefits, and locally delay the need to consider more disruptive strategies such as managed retreat. Their not-so-hidden agenda is to design a reef that will produce a new surfable big wave. This group of surfers (see list below) also has impressive academic and professional credentials in geomorphology* and ocean engineering. The lead author of the 45-page proposal is Bob Battalio. In addition to being a well-respected big waverider at Mavericks, he also is a recent winner of the prestigious Joe Johnson Award for outstanding service by the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association. He is a former (retired) chief engineer, vice president and leader of Environmental Science Associate’s (ESA) Coastal Zone Engineering & Management Team; prior president of the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association; member of the Surfrider Foundation; former president of the California Marine Parks and Harbors Association; and resident of Pacifica for 35 years. Here's a link to the proposal if you'd like to read it prior to the presentation. Other group members: Rob “Birdlegs” Caughlan, Consultant Former White House Advisor for President Jimmy Carter; Special Assistant to the Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency; president of the Surfrider Foundation for the first six years; field representative for California State Assemblyman Leo Ryan; Dianne Feinstein's first campaign writer. George Domurat, Consultant Board commissioner of the San Mateo County Harbor District; former planning commissioner, City of Pacifica; former president of the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association; former vice president of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association; retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers after 42 years in oceanography, coastal engineering, coastal planning, port and harbor engineering and dredge material management; Pacifica resident for 43 years. Brian Gerrity, Consultant Project manager overseeing coastal and maritime development projects. Brian has a master’s degree from University of Akureryi (Iceland) and is a doctoral candidate by dissertation at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David while living and working in California. Tom Kendall, Consultant Former director California Shore and Beach Preservation Association; former treasurer American Shore and Beach Preservation Association; American Society of Civil Engineers Government Engineer of the Year (2009); US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Working Group "Long Wave" award recipient (2023), 35-year Pacifica resident. *Wikipedia defines Geomorphology (from Ancient Greek γῆ (gê) 'earth' μορφή (morphḗ) 'form' and λόγος (lógos) 'study') is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features generated by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near Earth's surface. RSVPs Welcome though Not Required

Event Links

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2947645-0

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