Learning from the past
Uncovering the impact of human activity on our coastline
Did you know that the 2012 Ocean Beach Master Plan recommended setting the Upper Great Highway back by reducing the lanes from four to two? Specifically, the plan refers to the part of the highway that is now Sunset Dunes Park. Shrinking the former highway is mentioned as part of broader long-term adaptation necessary to respond to sea-level rise, which is predicted to result in the loss of the beach by 2050. This builds on last week’s observation that nature and urban environments are dynamically intertwined, rather than static and separate—and it’s just one of the many concepts I’m reflecting on as I read through Growing Resilience: Recommendations for Dune Management at North Ocean Beach from the San Francisco Estuary Institute
Another glaring example of how dynamic our natural spaces are: the informal path onto the beach at Judah has resulted in extensive loss of vegetation. Over the span of my lifetime, folks walking to the beach and fanning out has resulted in a wider path. On top of that, southbound wind has buried the vegetation to the point that intervention is required.
As our community provides input on how the new Sunset Dunes Park will take shape, it’s important to learn these history lessons and understand the impact of human activity on our coastline.
Stay on the footpath!!!