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Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

Ocean Beach coastline might disappear due to beach erosion

Ocean+Beach+coastline+might+disappear+due+to+beach+erosion

He has recognized the subtle changes in the landscape over the past few years.

“You can see the road falling off there, sand is shifting all the time,” O’Keeffe said. “Every year you notice a big change.”

According to King, the loss of land and swallowing up of roads are at greater risk in the area.

“In the case of Ocean Beach, the biggest losses are going to be due to lands and infrastructure, for example the Great Highway,” King said. “We didn’t even look at the water treatment plan south of Sloat Boulevard, which is also a big issue.”

King’s study mapped out the future cost of damages for four other beaches on California’s coastline, including Venice Beach, Zuma Beach and Broad Beach in varying Southern California locations.

Damages to their economy were estimated to be larger than Ocean Beach’s due to their economy’s reliance on tourism, according to King’s report.

King and his research team received $85,000 from the California Department of Boating and Waterways to conduct the study, although this did not sustain him in his final year of work.

“It was used up by June 30 last year, so I’ve been basically working for this for a year for free,” King said.

Although King’s report uses the estimation of a 4.6 feet rise spanning the next century, solutions to slow the erosion process are being explored such as beach nourishment or artificially adding sand to coastlines where it is lost.

“There are different ways to try and stave off this natural process and one is to add sand,” Picavet said. “Other ways people have tried in the past is to plant native plants in the dunes.”

Picavet said working with city officials and organizations is part of plan to ease beach erosion.

“We are working with the City and County of San Francisco and SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association),” Picavet said. “They have been doing a lot of work to study what can be done.”

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Ocean Beach coastline might disappear due to beach erosion