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Coastal preservation and climate change
adaptation
Entry Into Climate Change Adaption
• Surfrider’s 30 years of coastal
preservation advocacy applies
directly to climate change.
• Limit impacts to ecosystems,
public access & recreation.
• Limit hard structures so coastal
processes can maintain a natural
sand flow to the beach/dune= a
natural barrier.
• Focus on:
– managed retreat
– increased setbacks
– regional sediments plans
– limited dredge and fill
Surfrider’s Strategic Approach to Climate Change
• Widely educate our supporters, the
general public, and decision makers
about climate change impacts to our
ocean and coast.
• Influence local, state, and national
planning efforts to be more ‘proactive’
and incorporate climate change
adaptation measures (i.e. managed
retreat, increased setbacks, erosion
control via “living shorelines”, etc.)
• Support the work of other strategic
partners to decrease CO2 and
greenhouse gases.
• Advocate for policy reform (i.e. improve
land use policies, emergency responses
plans, insurance programs and end
subsidies for the fossil fuel industry and
“redevelopment” in vulnerable coastal
areas).
Coastal and Ocean Impacts Related to Climate Change
Sea Level Rise—6 feet by 2100.
More extreme storms
Stronger Hurricanes
Altered ocean currents
Increased ocean temperature
Altered ocean salinity
Beach Erosion
Ocean acidification
Reduced ecosystem health and
increased vulnerability
• Loss of coral reefs
• Potential loss of surfing waves
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Coastal Climate Change Impacts
• Sea Level Rise
• Current global rise (since 1901): 7.4 inches
• 2100 projected (U.S.): 6 ft
– What causes Sea Level Rise??
• Melting ice caps (hence more H2O).
• Warm water expands H20 molecules.
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Ocean Acidification
• Carbon Absorbing Oceans
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Absorbs 2/3 of CO2
changing ocean chemistry
Sea Butterfly in acidic water for 2100 projections.
Ocean Acidification documented in Maine and the
Pacific Northwest.
Bleaching occurs when symbiotic algae that lives within coral tissues are
expelled due to warmer temperatures. Algae give corals’ color so when
algae leave coral, the reef appears white.
Addressing Climate Change
 Push for integration of SLR science in
decision making
 Mitigation measures (Green streets, Ocean
Friendly Gardens, emissions reduction, etc.)
 Advancing Climate Change Adaptation
(managed retreat, setbacks, erosion control,
“living shorelines”, etc..)
 Incentivizing Adaptation Measures. (grants,
tax breaks for managed retreat, deed
restrictions, easements, etc.)
Resilient Retreat
• Inevitable! “Managed retreat is one of the only true options for
adapting to looming sea level rise, ” said Professor Gary Griggs at
a UCI Adaption Conference.
• Moving Infrastructure is more cost effective than continual
armoring.
– City of Imperial Beach’s long-term assessment of using
managed retreat over armoring. Study concluded that by
2100, City will spend nearly five times as much on armoring
compared to managed retreat.
– UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reminds us that in face of
sea level rise every $1 spent on reducing the risks from
disasters now will save around $7 of damages later.
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Lighthouse Beach
Coos Bay, OR
Body Copy
Can’t Move it…Manage it.
• Watershed and dune
restoration to prevent erosion.
• Advocating for “Living
Shorelines” that encompass
natural shoreline stabilization
techniques made up of natural
elements (e.g., vegetation ,
oyster reefs, buried/anchored
logs, sills, etc) for added
stability.
• Living shorelines maintain
continuity of the natural landwater interface and reduce
erosion while providing
habitat value and enhancing
coastal resilience.
• Living shorelines can reduce
armoring, but do not work in all
situations, and can be expensive.
• In order to pursue Living
Shorelines, partner with
experts and local municipalities.
Surfrider Dune Planting and
Cleanup Efforts Post
Hurricane Sandy
Influencing Decision Makers
• Surfrider has been working with
state agencies, academics and other
experts to strengthen planning
documents.
• Best approach! Go to planning
commission meetings!
• Read local land use and zoning
ordinances, state laws, and current
policy changes.
• Advocate for broader policy reform
(improved emergency responses
plans, insurance programs and end
subsidies for the fossil fuel industry
and “redevelopment” in vulnerable
coastal areas).
Washington Planning Example
Shoreline Master Program
• State mandated &
developed by counties
• Prioritize access,
restoration plans,
identifying critical areas.
• Surfrider is an official
stakeholder in process.
• Goals:
– Protect natural
resources
– Incorporate adaptation
– Build Climate resilient
communities
Florida Policy Reform Example
Law ends state subsided
insurance for new construction
or “improvements” seaward of
the Coastal Construction
Control Line or within the
Coastal Barrier Resource
System.
“This legislation brings
much needed reforms to
better protect the taxpayers
who support Property
Insurance. Additionally, this
law protects the
environment by removing
subsidies for new
construction in
environmentally sensitive
coastal areas.”
Governor Scott
Reading the Oceans
• A surfboard fin that measures
temps, acidity, salinity, GPS.
• Data is recorded on the fin and
uploaded using a Smartphone
app after each surf session.
• Collects coastal ocean
chemistry data in places where
it is difficult to place traditional
sensors.
• Engages citizens in ocean
science through the power of
surfing.
• Could help to ground truth
satellite temperature
measurements and inform
acidification and coral
bleaching.
Thank
you!