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Climate Resiliency

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The City of Manhattan Beach’s Climate Resiliency Program, includes the creation of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), hazard and vulnerability analyses including evaluating Sea Level Rise and Storm Drain flooding, increasing coastal resiliency through beach dune enhancement, and a Local Coastal Program planning update.

Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

3/2/20

Mayor Town Hall 2020 In March 2020, the City hosted a Town Hall with Mayor Hersman on the Challenge of Climate Change. Over 100 people attended this great event and were able to learn about what the City has done to address climate change and what it plans to do in the future, along with actions residents can take to reduce their own climate impact. City staff and the Mayor discussed the actions that the City of Manhattan Beach has taken to reduce emissions and opportunities for both the City and residents to do more to address climate change, as well as information on sea level rise and the City’s upcoming SLR analysis and planning projects (titled Climate Resiliency Program). Expert presenters included Juliette Finzi Hart, Ph. D., a USGS oceanographer, who discussed sea level rise and its impacts on Manhattan Beach. Access the recording here.

10/23/19

As of October 23, 2019, the RFP is closed and the City is continuing development of its Climate Resiliency Project and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

9/9/19

The City of Manhattan Beach has released an RFP calling for experts that can assist in its Climate Resiliency program, which includes the development of the City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

3/19

City of Manhattan Beach received grant funding from the California Coastal Commission to conduct Sea Level Rise Risk and Vulnerability Assessments, develop a Climate Adaptation Plan, and update the City's LCP-LUP.

1/31/18

January 31, 2018 at 6 PM in Council Chambers, the City held an Environmental Study Session with Council and the public. This meeting kicked-off the formation of a new Sustainability Task Force as well as the Environmental Work Plan projects and policies. The Environmental Work Plan included a plan for creation of a City Climate Action Plan.

11/7/17

City Council adopted an Environmental Work Plan for 2018-2020 to include a Climate Action Plan.

Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments

As a coastal city along Santa Monica Bay in Los Angeles County, Manhattan Beach's coast is a prime beach for California residents, a vacation destination for travelers, and one of the greatest assets of our beautiful community. In order to protect our coastline and infrastructure such as the public Pier Historic Landmark, Roundhouse Aquarium, Marvin Braude Bike Path, the Strand pedestrian walkway, and other resources, the City of Manhattan Beach is updating the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Land Use Plan to better plan for climate change in the Coastal Zone. In March 2019, the City of Manhattan Beach received grant funding from the California Coastal Commission to conduct Sea Level Rise Risk and Vulnerability Assessments, develop a Climate Adaptation Plan, and update the City's LCP-LUP.

The goal of the City of Manhattan Beach’s Climate Resiliency Program and Climate Change Adaptation Project is to complete best-practice sea-level rise (SLR) and climate change analyses and planning, thereby providing a strong scientific basis to inform and enhance the preparation and implementation of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and update to the LCP-Land Use Plan (LCP-LUP), General Plan, and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

This analysis and update to the LCP-LUP will include a sea-level rise vulnerability and risk analysis taking into consideration coastal storms and SLR overland flooding. The City will use the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal Storm Modeling System 3.0 (CoSMoS) to analyze the impacts from SLR to the local groundwater table and to assess the confluence of precipitation and coastal wave-driven storm events and impacts on stormwater infrastructure. Manhattan Beach is assessing SLR vulnerability through varying scenario-based analyses, which will show the City’s current hazards and project future impacts from coastal storm events, as well as risk to the Manhattan Beach shoreline from projected beach erosion. The assessment will be based on an initial analysis using an approach developed to address Manhattan Beach’s existing hazards and supplement results from USGS’ CoSMoS.

Once the coastal climate vulnerabilities have been assessed, the City will identify SLR adaptation strategies in order to minimize risks from hazards and protect coastal resources. The City will incorporate these adaptation strategies into the development of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), and update the City’s LCP, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and General Plan. These plans will be up for approval by the Manhattan Beach City Council and subsequent LCP certification by the California Coastal Commission (CCC).

The City of Manhattan Beach also plans to incorporate a strong public process and outreach to the SLR 2

community, utilizing innovative forms of communication such as virtual reality to complement deliberate stakeholder engagement. The City will ensure the process is open, inclusive, and develops science-based recommendations among stakeholders.

Beach Dune Enhancement Pilot Project

The City of Manhattan Beach, in partnership with The Bay Foundation, LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors, and the California State Coastal Conservancy, is in the process of planning a Beach Dune restoration project set to be implemented in 2021. The State Coastal Conservancy is funding the Manhattan Dune Restoration project through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and California Climate Investments-cap and trade dollars at work.

Beach Dune Restoration-Current Condtion 1

In February 2019, City Council supported the Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project in coalition with The Bay Foundation and LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors.

Beaches are broadly recognized and highly valued as cultural and economic resources for coastal regions, however their value as ecosystems that provide natural protection is less appreciated. This project will enhance existing dunes along the Manhattan Beach coastline. The project's innovative approach would increase the extent and condition of a key ecosystem in the coastal area, including all of the functions and services dunes provide such as habitat for endangered shorebirds, accretion of sediment, preventing coastal erosion, and sequestering carbon. In addition, coastal dunes provide a living shoreline to buffer coastal infrastructure from climate change, coastal storms, and sea level rise. This project will create a resilient shoreline that will provide educational and recreational opportunities to Manhattan Beach residents and visitors.

Project Description

This project will enhance approximately 3.5 acres of the existing back dunes at Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach from 36th Street to 23rd Street, approximately 0.6 miles of coastline. The restoration project will involve the removal of non-native vegetation, seeding/planting of native vegetation, strategic installation of temporary sand fencing as vegetation establishes, installation of symbolic fencing on existing pathways, and installation of educational features like interpretive signage.

Project implementation will be broken into two phases:

Phase 1: the restoration of northern dune (36th Street to 28th Street) and southern dune (27th Street to 23rd Street) sections, approximately 3 acres, (except vicinity of 28th Street).

Phase 2 (future phase): the restoration of the vicinity of 28th Street, 0.5 acres, following the completion of the Manhattan Strand 28th Street Subsurface Infiltration Trench Project.

Dune Project

All detailed project components will be agreed to by partners including the City of Manhattan Beach, The Bay Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, and the California State Coastal Commission prior to implementation.

Beach Dune Restoration-Natve vegetation Example 1

Project Goals:

Goal 1: Increase the resiliency of the shoreline through the restoration of sandy beach and foredune habitat
Goal 2: Implement soft-scape protection measures against sea level rise and coastal storms
Goal 3: Increase engagement of the community through enhanced beach experiences, outreach and education

Dune Project

Urban Tides Walks

Sea Level Rise and Urban Tides Beach Walks

800x800 Urban Tides Beach Walk

The City of Manhattan Beach has partnered with USC Sea Grant twice to host Urban Tides Beach Walks. These walks helped residents learn about beach ecology, the changing shoreline, and the City's beach dune restoration project.

On January 10, 2020, the City of Manhattan Beach partnered with USC Sea Grant to conduct Manhattan Beach's first ever Urban Tides Beach Walk. Over 35 people attended- according to USC Sea Grant, it was the most well-attended Urban Tides Walk they’ve had in L.A. County! Participants were able to talk with coastal scientists from The Bay Foundation, USC, and Manhattan Beach staff to explore beach ecology, capture the changing shoreline, and learn about beach dune restoration as we work toward resilience and planning for SLR, while documenting coastal issues as well as identifying areas of concern to assist in local planning and policy efforts.

On February 7, 2020 the City hosted the second Urban Tides Beach Walk in partnership with the Bay Foundation and USC Sea Grant. Around 20 members of the public attended the walk to view an extreme low tide event and learn about the ocean, changing tides, sea level rise, and the City's upcoming Beach Dune Restoration project and SLR Planning project. Attendees were able to enjoy warm weather and talks by scientists from the Bay Foundation and USC Sea Grant. Because of the extreme low tide, residents were also able to learn about local marine flora such as kelp and eel grass that can mitigate for climate change and provide habitats for marine life in the Santa Monica Bay.

Residents can continue to document tide events with the Urban Tides Initiative in order to engage with our changing coastline and help inform sea level rise planning efforts.

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