San Diego Seeks Public Input on Draft Coastal Resilience Master Plan to Combat Climate Change

In response to the accelerating threat of climate change and the rising sea levels, San Diego has taken a proactive step by introducing a draft Coastal Resilience Master Plan. The City is seeking public feedback on the project, which aims to safeguard the coastline through strategic, scientifically-informed projects. “Our shorelines are increasingly vulnerable, and the Coastal Resilience Master Plan will implement the most cost-efficient, natural solutions for long-term viability,” said Council President Pro Tem and Environment Committee Chair Joe LaCava, per details shared by

Inside San Diego

.

San Diego’s draft master plan outlines an approach to address challenges such as coastal flooding and erosion, advocating for nature-based solutions ranging from habitat restoration to waterfront parks. These strategies, deviating from traditional engineering practices, might indeed offer a more sustainable path forward for coastal preservation. The draft considers six specific sites for these implementations, including La Jolla Shores and Sunset Cliffs, central to the city’s recreation and tourism economy. LaCava further explained that this plan is designed to adapt our shoreline to the effects of the sea level rise while protecting our coastal neighborhoods.

City residents are encouraged to participate in shaping the resilience projects. San Diego’s officials are open and seeking such engagement, underlining the city administration’s commitment to collaborative policymaking. The public can offer suggestions via an online survey, email, or an upcoming community webinar set for November 18. “The coast provides so many benefits to our city,” according to

Inside San Diego

. City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum offered, “We have a responsibility to have plans in place to ensure the continued enjoyment and protection of this amazing resource. Input from community members helps us design projects that accomplish this in a way that is most meaningful to the public.”

Moreover, the impact of sea levels, which have already risen about 6 inches since 1970, is expected to intensify, with projections suggesting up to 0.8 feet by 2050 and possibly rising between 1.6 to 6.7 feet by the century’s end. These changes could lead to more frequent and potentially destructive coastal flooding, directly threatening the local economy and ecological systems. The draft Coastal Resilience Master Plan is a branch of the larger Climate Resilient SD initiative, which addresses broader climate change-related hazards, including extreme heat, flooding/drought, and wildfires.

Feedback for the plan and the forthcoming Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), due by the end of November, will be accepted until early January 2025. Incorporating public comments, the final plans are expected to progress through public hearings in spring, detailed in an announcement by Inside San Diego. The Coastal Resilience Master Plan, evolving with time and new insights, is a dynamic framework guiding San Diego’s commitment to resilient, sustainable coastal development for years to come.

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