Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaption Project
Overview
This project will comprise concepts developed through the 2012 Ocean Beach Master Plan (Master Plan) and follow on documents including the Coastal Protection Measures and Management Strategy for South Ocean Beach (2015) and the Ocean Beach Open Space Landscape Design (2017). Project elements include managed retreat, structural protection, access and recreation improvements, and beach nourishment through the placement of sand. In addition, this project will remove existing shoreline armoring placed during large storms by the City and County of San Francisco (the city) to protect the Great Highway and critical San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) wastewater infrastructure. On behalf of the City, the SFPUC is leading the efforts to implement two of the six key moves identified in the Master Plan (see below) that focus on chronic shoreline erosion at Ocean Beach between Sloat Boulevard and Fort Funston. These two key moves make up the elements of the San Francisco Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project). For more information on other projects in the area, please visit the sfplanning.org/ocean-beach.
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Project Background
This work is necessary to address climate induced sea level rise, removal of shoreline armoring, improvements to public access and recreation, and to protect the integrity of wastewater assets built in response to the Clean Water Act. The wastewater assets, built to protect public health and the environment, include the Lake Merced Tunnel, the Westside Pump Station, and the Oceanside Treatment Plant. There are several city, state, and federal agencies working on various efforts at Ocean Beach to adapt to climate change and coastal erosion. For more information on other projects in the area, please visit the sfplanning.org/ocean-beach.
The Project is being implemented in three sequential sub-phases -- 1) Short-term Improvements, 2) Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Ocean Beach Storm Damage Reduction and Beach Nourishment, and 3) Long-term Improvements. A key component of the Long-term Improvements phase will require on-going, managed beach nourishment via sand placement. As part of this Project, the Corps Beach Nourishment represents one of the potential sand sources needed for the long-term management of the area.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, in response to the Clean Water Act, the SFPUC built the Oceanside Treatment Plant and associated wastewater infrastructure to protect coastal water quality from pollution and protect public health. Portions of these facilities were built under the Great Highway.
Starting in the late 1990’s the coastal area south of Sloat Boulevard began experiencing chronic climate induced erosion which threatened the Great Highway and the most seaward component of the SFPUC’s wastewater infrastructure – the Lake Merced Tunnel, a fourteen-foot diameter wastewater conveyance tunnel.
In support of a comprehensive solution to the erosion problem, the SFPUC actively participated in the development of the 2012 Master Plan, an inter-agency effort led by SPUR to develop a sustainable long-term vision for all of Ocean Beach. The Master Plan presents 6 key moves that are organized by geographical reaches and designed to be implemented incrementally over a period of decades. This Project focuses on South Ocean Beach and includes two of the six key moves.
- Removal of the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline Boulevard and
- The introduction of a multipurpose coastal protection/restoration/access system
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Short Term and Long Term Phases
Short-Term Improvements Phase
The Short-term Improvements Phase involves beach nourishment activities (e.g. sand backpassing) and installation of sandbags along South Ocean Beach which is directly in front of the Great Highway. This work is a critical, environmentally friendly approach that is protecting public infrastructure and improving beach access while the Long-term Improvements Phase undergoes environmental review, completes design, and is ready for implementation. Potential annual sand replenishment activities in this Phase are informed by annual monitoring efforts required by California Coastal Commission’s Coastal Development Permit.
Status of Short-term Work
- Since 2015, as part of this phase, over 213,000 cubic yards of sand have been transported from the northern portion of Ocean Beach where sand is plentiful to the area south of Sloat Boulevard most susceptible to wave-driven erosion
- The SFPUC performs annual monitoring to comply with permit requirements and utilizes the data to determine if sand placement and/or sandbag work is necessary to protect critical infrastructure
United States Army Corps of Engineers Beach Nourishment Phase
The ACOE Beach Nourishment Phase involves designing and implementing activities that move dredged sand from the San Francisco Bay Main Ship Channel (approximately 400,000 cubic yards) that is currently placed offshore to Ocean Beach south of Sloat Boulevard. This work beneficially used the dredged sand to minimize storm damage and protect the beach, infrastructure, habitat, and recreational access to the beach.
Implemented in partnership with the Corps and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, sand placement activities were initiated and completed in August/September 2021. The ACOE placed approximately 255,000 cubic yards of sand (380,000 CY were pumped, but some material was lost to ocean wave action) onto this portion of Ocean Beach using sand dredged from the San Francisco Main Ship Channel. Monitoring shows on-going wave action quickly changed the grading of the sand placed along some locations of the beach. Our focus is on public safety and accessibility, so we continue to monitor the site and work with our team of coastal experts and federal partners to determine next steps to address these changes. For more information on this project visit the Armcy Corps of Engineers webpage here.
Long-Term Improvements Phase
The Long-term Improvements Phase is the result of extensive planning and analysis work, (e.g., Ocean Beach Master Plan and Coastal Protection Measures and Management Strategy) which is captured in the completed Alternatives Analysis Report, Conceptual Engineering Report, and subsequent design documents. This phase of work is expected to involve the implementation of coastal management strategies that include managed retreat (i.e., recontouring the bluffs and removing the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline boulevards), constructing a multi-use trail, beach access stairway, coastal access parking, and restrooms, , removal of rubble and revetment rock from the beach and bluffs, continued beach nourishment, and installation of a low-profile (buried) wall to protect the Lake Merced Tunnel and associated assets. This work will not only protect vital public wastewater infrastructure, but will also improve access, recreation, and habitat at South Ocean Beach. The Long-term Improvements Phase is expected to begin construction in late 2023 and last for 4 years.
Status of Long-term Work
- An Engineering Contract received Notice of Contract Award on September 27, 2018
- The Conceptual Engineering Report was completed on September 30, 2019
- 35% Design was completed in October 2020
- 65% Design was completed in October 2021
- 95% Design is in progress.
- An Environmental Consultant Contract received Notice of Contract Award on August 18, 2018
- A virtual public scoping meeting was held in September 2020 to request input on the environmental considerations of the Long-term Improvements Environmental Impact Report. The Notice of Preparation, the full scoping meeting presentation, and details for the virtual public scoping meeting can be found here
- The Draft Environmental Impact Report will be released on December 8, 2021 and a public hearing at the Planning Commission will be schedule in January 2022. See this link for updates: sfplanning.org/sfceqadocs
- The Ocean Beach Long-Term Improvements Phase is expected to begin construction in late 2023 and last for 4 years.
Rendering of the Lake Merced Tunnel with a low-profile underground wall providing protection - Project Materials
