Resilient California State Parks
San Diego Coast District Pilot
California State Parks manages many coastal parks along the San Diego Coast District (SDCD), which are the ancestral lands of the Luiseño and Kumeyaay, hold important resources, and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Many coastal parks are experiencing climate-related impacts such as sea level rise, which will affect how visitors use and access these parks.
In response, Coastal Quest and State Parks developed Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Pathways reports for coastal parks in SDCD.
Piloting Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments
San Diego Coast District, Coastal Park Units
California State Parks manages nearly one quarter of the state’s coastline across 128 coastal park units. State Parks also protects some of the State’s most valued natural and cultural resources, while providing world-renowned opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation to more than 50 million visitors each year.
Many coastal park units are already impacted by episodic coastal erosion and flooding caused by waves and storms, which is expected to increase as sea levels continue to rise. In response to sea level rise (SLR), State Parks developed a SLR Adaptation Strategy as a framework to address impacts of SLR on coastal park units.
An initial step outlined in this Strategy is the completion of vulnerability assessments in coastal units of the State Park System to better understand current and future vulnerabilities and plan for a more resilient future for coastal State Parks.
In 2022, Coastal Quest, in partnership with State Parks, launched a local and regional planning and coordination pilot project in the San Diego Coast District of the State Park System. Funded by the California Ocean Protection Council, California State Coastal Conservancy, and philanthropic donors, the project delivered SLR Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Pathways reports for the San Diego Coast District park units. To develop the reports, our team used a holistic approach to vulnerability and adaptation planning that included consideration of unique State Park assets – such as access, recreation, cultural and natural resources, and facilities – assets that are not typically addressed in other assessments.
Working with the San Diego region’s local communities, government, and key stakeholders who enjoy State Parks, we:
- Conducted SLR vulnerability assessments and identified adaptation pathways to 1.6ft of SLR by 2035, 3.5 ft of SLR by 2050 for all SDCD park units.
- Developed a regional (district-scale) summary report to inform regional investment and prioritization of adaptive pathways.
- Selected 1 project site for an alternatives analysis and 10% design or preferred alternative at South Carlsbad State Beach.
- Engaged with underserved communities and held Tribal consultations to collect input on the following:
- Identification of key coastal State Park unit assets they value and use
- Feedback on the coastal park unit sea level rise vulnerability assessments
- Identification of priorities for adaptation and site-specific adaptation solutions
- Developed a SLR vulnerability assessment “toolkit” for replication in other districts.
- Completed a SDCD Coastal Parks Visitation Study
List of Evaluated SDCD Coastal Parks
Combined Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Pathways Reports
Border Field State Park and Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Cardiff State Beach
Carlsbad State Beach
Leucadia State Beach
Moonlight State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach / Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Regional Coastal Hazards Vulnerability Assessment Summary
Get Updates
Coastal Quest and State Parks look forward to engaging with the San Diego region’s local communities, government entities, and other partners over the course of the project.
Please sign up below if you would like to be emailed information and announcements about this project in the future:
