Marin County’s decision to limit short-term vacation rentals in communities like Stinson Beach will likely come before the Coastal Commission.
Malibu, Santa Barbara—and say, “Wow, this is so beautiful, this is wonderful. Thank God everything is safe.” [Paraphrasing a quote from former CCC Executive Director Peter Douglas] The coast is never saved—it is always being saved. Of course, we can’t end a coastal-commissioner interview without asking—what’s your favorite beach? That’s really a tough one. Since I was the parks director it’s for sure going to be a Sonoma County Regional Parks beach. Everyone loves Doran. And I love Doran because it’s a big beach and it has everything. It’s just so spectacular, you can’t beat it there, it’s amazing. But I really love Stillwater Cove Beach [in Jenner]. On one side of the freeway there is a beautiful redwood grove and redwood trail into a canyon and then you go across the highway and there is this little coastal water cove and it’s just magical. There’s a little beach and then rocks, just tons of wildlife—it’s a really magical place. I would put that in my top list, I really love it there. That’s a great tip! [Laughs] Being a tour guide is my back-up career in case things get a little slow here with the Coastal Commission. g
What’s the biggest issue facing the California coast today? This pressure for housing in California and the need for housing— particularly affordable housing. Siting that in the right locations, working hand in hand with local communities to do that. There are so many difficult aspects; I think that’s a big issue. Can you talk about sea-level rise? Sea level rise and erosion of coastal cliffs [and] bluffs will impact not just humans, but every single creature that lives in that area. It’s just a huge issue for us and we are dealing with another very difficult issue down at Imperial Beach. That’s the San Diego County city experiencing frequent flooding due to rising sea levels? Imperial Beach has been closed for over a year because the Tijuana sewage plant—there’s one in Mexico and another one jointly operated by the U.S.—that became overwhelmed and has been basically inoperable, so sewage has been spewing into the Tijuana River into the wetland down there by Imperial Beach. [It is] making it so that not only is it impossible to swim—and Imperial Beach is an incredibly beautiful beach, but you also can’t even go into the water there—but the whole city smells like sewage, the whole wetland is being filled up with sewage. As Hart explains, sea level was stable prior to the acceleration of climate change. And as a result, all sorts of developments—railroads, roads, houses—were built right on the coast. But now with rapid sea level rise, houses are collapsing in Santa Cruz and at-risk of falling due to cliff erosion in places like Pacifica. The sea level rise coupled with intensive storms along the coast, she says, has created a recipe for disaster. ..... What is one thing you wish California residents better understood about the coast? You can’t just go to the beach or go to the Sonoma Coast—or
To find out more about the California Coastal Commission, visit visit coastal.ca.gov.
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June 2024
NorthBaybiz 27
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