Beaches are among LA's favourites. But they're fake
Santa Monica Beach transformed from a rocky coastline to a 500-foot-wide sandy beach through sand importation. Climate change threatens its future, prompting restoration projects to enhance resilience and biodiversity.
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Santa Monica Beach, a popular destination in Los Angeles, has undergone significant transformation from its original rocky coastline to a wide sandy expanse. This change began in the early 1900s when city officials aimed to create a resort city akin to Miami, leading to the importation of sand to widen the beach. Over the years, approximately 13.4 million cubic meters of sediment were added, resulting in the current 500-foot-wide beach. However, climate change poses a threat to this artificial landscape, with predictions indicating that Southern California could lose a significant portion of its beaches by 2100 due to rising sea levels. In response, local organizations like The Bay Foundation have initiated restoration projects to reintroduce native plant species and sand dunes, which serve as natural barriers against erosion. These efforts have already shown success, with the return of wildlife, including the federally threatened western snowy plover, to the area. The project aims to enhance coastal resilience while promoting biodiversity, demonstrating the importance of integrating natural solutions in coastal management.
- Santa Monica Beach was artificially widened in the early 1900s to attract tourism.
- Climate change threatens the longevity of these beaches, with significant erosion expected by 2100.
- Restoration projects are underway to reintroduce native plants and sand dunes for coastal protection.
- The return of wildlife, including the western snowy plover, indicates the success of these restoration efforts.
- Integrating natural solutions is essential for enhancing coastal resilience and biodiversity.
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7 commentshttps://www.sandag.org/projects-and-programs/environment/sho...
This is all very nice but I can attest that if the beaches weren't regularly "groomed" they would be filthy and trashed. The amount of litter left by inconsiderate beachgoers or washed up onshore is a legit problem.
I've walked along SM beach hundreds of times in recent years and these new cordoned off dunes attract the homeless who camp and defecate there. I wouldn't walk barefoot in that sand for love or money. What would be nice is if, in conjunction with dune restoration, the City could get it together to remove the vagrants and fine the litterers. Not holding my breath for that.
Anyway photos inside show the property right on the beach, though today it is a good ~half mile/1km away. That part of the beach is too wide imho makes it seem empty.
The whole article is aspirational fluff and projects such as these prevent us from forwarding solutions, that would rather work, versus some heartwarming stories. In this case, about how snowy plovers returned randomly with a whole 3 eggs, and how trees have created one foot dunes.
California has a serious problem with non-profits and foundations, successfully pulling on well-meaning and loaded people's hearts and wallet strings
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