Our California beaches are facing a serious sand deficit, exacerbated by the recent impact of Hurricane Marie. While this immediate threat is alarming, the underlying causes are even more troubling. Human infrastructure and climate change threaten the stability of our coastlines as we know them. 

Hard structures, such as rock revetments meant to protect the shoreline, are inadvertently accelerating coastal erosion by blocking off coastal bluffs and reflecting wave energy. Channelized and concrete riverbanks have cut off historical sand supplies from reaching our cherished coastlines. These hard solutions are merely temporary solutions to an everlasting problem. Additionally, as sea levels rise, these hard structures aren't able to adapt to changing conditions like their nature-based counterparts. 

To combat this crisis, we urgently need to focus on restoring living shorelines such as kelp beds, sand dunes, eelgrass beds, salt marsh and oyster reefs. These nature-based solutions can migrate landward over time, providing resilient protection that adapts to changing conditions. Living shorelines also stabilize the sand supply, buffer waver energy, enhance marine biodiversity and sequester carbon. Reinstating these natural defenses will act as a regenerative solution against both anthropogenic and natural threats. 

We can no longer stand by and watch as our beloved beaches degrade. By prioritizing living shorelines, we embrace a sustainable path forward that respects and revitalizes our natural ecosystems. Join me in urging local authorities and environmental organizations to work with, not against nature! 

Please sign this petition to initiate the implementation of living shoreline projects in California. Together, we can preserve our beaches for future generations.