Surfers' Point project moves forward

On January 22, 2019, the Ventura County Fair Board unanimously voted in support of the conceptual plan for Phase 2 of the Managed Shoreline Retreat Project.  Many thanks to the board members and all those who took time out of their morning to learn more about the project and show their support!

Concept Plan for Phase 2 of the Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project, Feb 2019

Last year the Fair board voted in support of a successful grant request to the California Ocean Protection Council which will provide the funding to complete final engineering and design in 2019.   Assuming grant funding is secured, this opens the potential for project construction by 2021.

In the meantime, this year's high tides and winter swells continue to damage the bike path, making  progress more critical than ever.

More info:  

Surfers' Point Phase 2 concepts

Grant approved for Surfers' Point

Surfers' Point update Spring 2018

LightHawk KingTide flight

On January 21-22, Surfrider Foundation partnered with LightHawk to fly over coastal areas around the country and document the King Tide.  Twice a year, King tides occur when the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun are in alignment, causing higher than normal ocean tides. King Tides provide an opportunity to see what normal high tides are going to look like in the near future due to sea level rise.

On the morning of January 21, I joined Ventura City Councilmember Christy Weir, and Alex McIntyre, Ventura City manager for a flight along the Ventura County coast.  Volunteer Pilot Thomas AmRhein expertly handled his Cesna as we covered 30 miles of coast from Port Hueneme to Carpinteria.  The tide was 7.0 ft above mean sea level at 8:40am.  "Normal" high tides are around 5ft to 6 ft for most of the year.

These are some of the photos, arranged from north to south:

Pitas Point overview, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Pitas Point, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Solimar Beach, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Ventura Rivermouth and Surfers' Point, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Pierpoint, Ventura, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Santa Clara rivermouth and Ventura Wastewater Treatment Plant, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Ventura Harbor, Ventura Wastewater Treatment Plant, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

McGrath Lake, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Mandalay Power Plant, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Oxnard Shores, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Port of Hueneme, LightHawkVentura_1-19-2019

Many thanks to the good folks at LightHawk for making this flight possible!

LightHawk is the largest environmental flying organization in the country. Founded in 1979, LightHawk engages a network of almost 300 volunteer pilots to provide more than 400 flights each year. Partnering with more than 100 conservation organizations, LightHawk works to help solve pressing river, ocean, land and wildlife problems. Flights enable decision-makers, funders, scientists, media and community members to understand landscapes in a uniquely experiential way, inspiring them to make a difference.

https://www.lighthawk.org


More from Surfrider National:

https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/king-tides-our-future-sea