Photo of The Great Highway and Ocean Beach in San Francisco

Ocean Beach Master Plan

Creating a sustainable future for San Francisco's coast

Ocean Beach, one of the gems of the San Francisco landscape, faces significant challenges. Since 2010, SPUR has led an extensive interagency and public process to develop the Ocean Beach Master Plan, a comprehensive vision to address sea level rise, protect infrastructure, restore coastal ecosystems and improve public access.

The Ocean Beach Master Plan and Implementation Studies are made possible by the State Coastal Conservancy, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the National Park Service.

 

Updates

With El Nino Looming, Ocean Beach Gets Smarter About Storm Protection

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The Ocean Beach Master Plan could face a major test this winter if predictions of El-Nino-driven storms come to pass. In previous storm seasons, San Francisco used large piles of boulders to armor the beach, but this degrades beach access and can even accelerate erosion. Based on recommendations from the master plan, the city is looking to weather the coming winter with less intrusive measures.

Coastal engineering study validates Ocean Beach Master Plan vision

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SPUR, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and a top-notch team of coastal and structural engineers have completed a significant engineering study that validates the Ocean Beach Master Plan approach to coastal management. The plan's approach combines managed retreat, beach nourishment and low-profile protection structures. At issue is severe coastal erosion that threatens the Lake Merced Tunnel, a key piece of the SFPUC's wastewater infrastructure.

Big Changes at GGNRA

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The Golden Gate National Recreation Area lost two longtime leaders this month, Frank Dean and Nancy Hornor, both of whom were instrumental in the development of the Ocean Beach Master Plan. Congratulations to them both on their well-deserved retirement.

Sand Placement Provides a Buffer Against “Storm of the Decade”

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December’s drenching rain and big swells were the biggest thing to hit Ocean Beach for years. Fortunately, sand placement was already in process, providing a ‘sacrificial’ (i.e. temporary) buffer in the locations most vulnerable to erosion. This will be an important design factor in the managed retreat process.

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