Santa Monica Dunes Phase 3: Questions and answers

Santa Monica first launched the Beach Dune Project in 2016. In partnership with The Bay Foundation, we have successfully restored 8 acres of coastal sand dunes with California native vegetation on Santa Monica beach. 

In August 2024, the City Council authorized moving forward with a third phase of the dune restoration project, authorizing an additional 38 acres of sandy coastal habitats to be restored. The expansion of this living shoreline project is again a partnership with The Bay Foundation and funded through state grants. You can view the staff presentation and council discussion here. 

The proposal is now before the California Coastal Commission for final sign-off. The staff report for the Sept.11 meeting can be found here. 

Santa Monica’s 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, or CAAP, identifies coastal sea level rise and flooding as one of Santa Monica’s most substantial climate threats, and calls for the enhancement of natural systems, such as beach dunes, to prevent coastal flooding.  

In addition to being the first line of defense for the coast, the public benefits of these projects include beautifying the developed coastline, educating the public about the importance of natural landscapes, promoting tourism based on environmental values, and restoring native habitat for rare and endangered coastal flora and fauna. Perhaps most importantly, these projects serve as examples of strategies that balance priorities of both coastal resilience and public recreational use.  

Data and consistent monitoring from the first two phases of the project have shown no negative impacts from dune restoration. Phases 1 and 2 have been implemented without generating adverse community impacts, and in fact, have provided important lessons on how urban coastal areas can adapt to climate change.  

Phase 3 builds on this success and has been carefully designed to preserve access, protect the natural environment, and support Santa Monica’s long-term climate goals. 

In response to some community feedback, below are some commonly asked questions and answers about the dune restoration effort. 

What are the benefits of restoring coastal habitats? 

As an adaptive and preventative measure, low-cost natural solutions to improve coastal resilience, such as beach dunes, have become a vital tool to combat vulnerabilities brought by Climate Change. 

The proposed living shoreline project offers significant benefits, including enhancing coastal resilience by reducing the erosion and loss of beach sand, creating and supporting native dune habitat for sensitive plant and wildlife species, and promoting natural shoreline processes.  

By establishing vegetated dune systems that can trap and retain sand, the project helps stabilize the beach profile and buffer inland areas from storm surges and sea level rise. In doing so, the project not only restores ecological function to a highly altered urban beach but also provides a soft, adaptive alternative to traditional hard shoreline armoring.  

As a potential added benefit, the project may slow erosion and buffer nearby beach areas from wave energy, providing long-term protection for public recreational resources. 

What will the dunes look like, and will they impede the views of the ocean?  

The proposed project includes hand-seeding and planting of native dune species, supported by the installation of low-profile, 3-foot-high fencing along three sides of each dune polygon, with open ocean-facing edges to maintain access to recreational beach users. The fencing is temporary, and teams will continue to monitor the dune habitats as they eventually grow and evolve naturally.  

It does not impede ocean views from public vantage points such as the bike path and Ocean Front Walk and reintroduces native coastal features that enhance the natural visual character of the beach. 

The project will consist of a checkerboard-type footprint of smaller polygons, ranging from one to two acres in size, spanning the beach from the border with Will Rogers State Beach to the border with Venice Beach. To balance the need for recreational space and access to the shore with conservation and coastal resilience, some of the polygons will be near the shoreline and the other polygons will form a back dune habitat adjacent to the bike path, parking lots and the upper portions of storm drain outfalls. 

Will there still be room for recreation and special events on the beach? 

The polygon design for the third phase of the dune restoration project is a direct result of lessons learned from the first two phases.  

The updated layout incorporates 25-foot-wide access corridors, significantly wider than in previous phases, ensuring ample space for strollers, beach carts, and group passage. These paths maintain open connections between key shoreline destinations, including parking areas, recreational facilities, and the shoreline. 

This design maximizes shoreline protection, shoreline access, storm drain beautification, and wildlife considerations while also leaving plenty of recreational space and maintaining existing resources, such as volleyball courts and permitted use sites. It will bring significant, long-lasting ecological and coastal resilience benefits to Santa Monica and enhance the beach experience for all. 

Do the dunes attract wildlife and pests? 

There has been no evidence from the first two phases of the project that the 8 acres have attracted unwanted insects, rodents or predators such as coyotes. The Bay Foundation monitors all dune sites and has reported no issues. 

The sparse native vegetation used in dune restoration is not known to support large rodent populations or attract predators. Coyotes are generally attracted by food waste, not dune habitat. 

How does the city maintain the dunes and ensure they don’t attract crime or other activity? 

There have not been any complaints or calls related to increased trash as a result of the Phases 1 and 2 dune restoration projects.  

As part of the project’s management strategy, The Bay Foundation, in conjunction with city staff, will maintain and monitor Santa Monica’s beach, including the restored dune areas.  

The restored dunes consist of low-lying, gently sloped topography with low-growing native plants that do not create concealment – they do not contain dense vegetation or large dune formations that could obscure visibility. 

The habitat remains open and visible from Ocean Front Walk and other public vantage points, and avoids creating enclosed or hidden spaces or provide the environmental conditions conducive to litter or debris accumulation or illegal camping activity.  

As with prior phases, the project does not encourage or support unauthorized uses, and no changes to current patterns of public safety enforcement are anticipated as a result of the proposed dune restoration. 

Regular maintenance practices will remain in place, ensuring the area continues to be clean, safe, and accessible to the public. 

Will the dunes pose a fire risk? 

The proposed project does not encourage or facilitate bonfires, and the placement of driftwood within the habitat will be carefully managed to mimic natural wrack patterns, not piled in ways that would attract human use. The use of burned or treated wood is specifically prohibited to further minimize any potential risk. 

Additionally, the native plants used in the restoration are low-lying, sparsely distributed coastal species that are naturally fire-resistant and not conducive to fueling large fires. The vegetation is intended to stabilize sand and support habitat, not to create dense growth that could pose a fire hazard. 

How will success be measured? 

The Bay Foundation will be responsible for ongoing adaptive management and monitoring for the Phase 3 project, including conducting beach surveys to inform annual reports regarding the success and quality of the dune systems.  

The Bay Foundation will also be primarily responsible for maintenance of the restored dune areas, including trash and garbage removal, plant care and fencing upkeep. Beach maintenance staff will assist on an as-needed basis with beach dune maintenance responsibilities. 

The Bay Foundation, in coordination with city staff, will ensure that public beach access is maintained during and after Phase 3 project installation. 

What outreach did the city do about the project? 

City staff conducted multiple rounds of engagement, including initial consultations with organizations such as Heal the Bay, LA County Beaches & Harbors, LA County Lifeguards, CA state parks, CA department of Fish and Wildlife, CA Coastal Commission, neighborhood organizations, beach clubs and local HOAs.  

The Office of Sustainability and the Environment hosted a public meeting on Aug. 15, 2024, to discuss the project and gather community input. Following the Aug. 27 City Council discussion, staff continued to meet with community members and relevant organizations to further refine the project proposal. 

Staff will conduct additional educational outreach up until project installation.