How Do We Solve a Problem Like Erosion?

As detailed in the city's recent draft Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment Update, the Shell Beach bluffs are eroding, with undercutting by waves as a primary cause. Infrastructure, homes and hotels are at risk.

We can't stop the sea, but we can slow it down. The usual approach for shoreline stabilization is armoring: sea walls constructed on the bluffs, sometimes with large rocks placed at the base. These are temporary band-aids that crumble over time, and they cause adverse effects nearby such as beach loss. But this is not the only tool in the toolbox, and the city should consider alternatives. For example, an artificial reef is proposed for Pacifica in the Bay Area, modeled on ones already in use in Australia at Narrowneck and Palm Beach. Other stabilization approaches include vegetation and dewatering.

Complex problems require complex thinking. As mayor, I would ensure we do the work to find the best approach.