Managed Shoreline Retreat
The Surfers Point Working Group has been assessing grant opportunities and a strategy for moving forward to complete the Managed Retreat project. The group met in June and again in September, 2017.
The working group provided an update to the Ventura County Fair Board at their meeting on February 27, 2018. After some discussion, the board voted unanimously to endorse their CEO to provide support to current and future grant applications.
On behalf of the Working Group, BEACON has applied for a grant from the Ocean Protection Council Proposition 1 Grant Program. BEACON (Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment), is a California Joint Powers Agency (JPA) established in 1986 to address coastal erosion, beach nourishment and clean oceans within the Central California Coast from Point Conception to Point Mugu. This request for Planning and Design funding is to “...address the outstanding issues and develop a final design and engineering plan that is ready for implementation.”The OPC guidelines identify climate change, ocean pollution prevention, and sea level rise as priorities. In addition to the Priority Areas for funding described in Section 1.5, the OPC has "a strong preference for projects that are: innovative; demonstrate new approaches or solutions to ocean and coastal problems; employ community-based approaches; and/or address important unmet needs or gaps".
If successful, this funding will inject $355,000 in consulting services for final design, planning and engineering to deliver a shovel ready project. Additional federal funding is earmarked for the project implementation, and project completion is attainable with matching state and local funds.
The City of Ventura and BEACON will be contributing both funding ($50,000 City of Ventura) and in-kind professional and consultant services (City of Ventura and BEACON staff and consultants) equal to at least 25% of the total project budget. The Surfrider Foundation continues to contribute funding and volunteer time in ongoing dune restoration program in partnership with the city's Volunteer Ventura program.
Dune Stewardship
The Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation continues to organize volunteer workdays to manage the dunes constructed during Phase 1 of the Managed Retreat project. Typically these events address non-native plants as they sprout in the springtime. This year's first event was held on Feb 17, with another scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday April 7th. Volunteers may sign up here.
Spreading the word
The Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project is one of the most-cited examples of coastal management in the State of California. But this January, the State of Hawaii Office of Planning hosted a managed retreat symposium exploring the feasibility of a managed retreat framework for the State of Hawaii. The symposium included a variety of speakers and participants including a presentation on Surfers' Point.
More on this blog: Surfers' Point
Links:
BEACON http://beacon.ca.gov
Ventura County Fair Board
California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), http://www.opc.ca.gov
State of Hawaii, Office of Planning, Managed Retreat Symposium January 11, 2018.
5th Global Wave Conference , Santa Cruz, CA, March 4-7, 2018.
Volunteer Ventura, Surfers Point Dune Maintenance, volunteer signup
Ventura Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
