Report on Coastal Erosion in Santa Cruz: A Case Study in Sustainable Development

Introduction: Climate Impacts on a California Coastline

The city of Santa Cruz, California, is experiencing significant environmental and infrastructural challenges due to climate change-induced sea level rise and coastal erosion. The degradation of West Cliff Drive, a vital coastal thoroughfare and cultural landmark, serves as a critical case study for the interconnected nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). This report analyzes the multifaceted impacts of these environmental changes and the community’s response, framed within the context of global sustainability targets.

SDG 13 (Climate Action): Manifestations of a Changing Climate

The accelerated erosion along West Cliff Drive is a direct consequence of climate change. Increased ocean temperatures contribute to more energetic and larger wave patterns, which batter the coastline with greater force. This phenomenon underscores the urgent need for climate action as outlined in SDG 13.

• Geological Vulnerability: The cliffs are composed of a hard mudstone base topped with weaker rock and an old marine terrace, which erodes rapidly when overtopped by storm-driven waves.
• Increased Storm Damage: Recent winters have seen unprecedented damage, with storms in January 2023 causing parts of the road and sidewalk to collapse into the ocean.
• Scientific Observation: Coastal geologists, such as Gary Griggs of UC Santa Cruz, have documented that wave energy is increasing, consistent with climate change models that predict more extreme weather events.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Threats to Resilient Infrastructure

The erosion poses a direct threat to public infrastructure, community access, and urban planning, challenging the objectives of SDG 11 to create safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. The city of Santa Cruz is grappling with how to adapt its infrastructure in the face of these persistent threats.

Infrastructural and Financial Challenges

• Emergency Repairs: The city has already expended tens of millions of dollars on emergency repairs, including the construction of a $35 million seawall, to address immediate damage.
• Long-Term Planning: A 50-year vision for West Cliff has been developed, which includes managed retreat strategies such as converting the road to one-way traffic and rerouting vulnerable sections inland.
• Funding Gaps: Efforts to secure federal funding for climate resilience projects have been hindered, forcing the city to explore alternative financing mechanisms to implement its long-term adaptation plan.

SDG 14 (Life Below Water): Impacts on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

The physical changes to the coastline have profound implications for the marine environment, directly impacting the targets of SDG 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. The unique surf breaks of Santa Cruz, which are a product of the local seafloor topography, are particularly at risk.

Ecological and Cultural Ramifications

1. Altered Seafloor Topography: Large sections of the cliff have collapsed into the water, creating new underwater rock formations that alter wave dynamics and navigational safety for surfers.
2. Threat to Surf Breaks: Continued erosion and the potential connection of sea caves threaten to fundamentally change wave patterns, potentially compromising or eliminating world-renowned surf spots like Steamer Lane.
3. Long-Term Sea Level Rise: Projections indicate that rising sea levels could eventually “drown” existing surf breaks, permanently altering a key component of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): A Collaborative Framework for Resilience

In response to the crisis, Santa Cruz has fostered a multi-stakeholder approach that exemplifies SDG 17. The city has engaged a diverse coalition of partners to ensure that adaptation strategies are comprehensive, scientifically sound, and socially inclusive.

Key Stakeholder Engagement

• Community Activism: The local surfing community, represented by organizations like Save the Waves, has become a vocal advocate in the planning process, providing invaluable local knowledge and ensuring the preservation of surf breaks is a key consideration in climate policy.
• Academic and Technical Expertise: The city has partnered with academic institutions like CSU Channel Islands and coastal engineering firms to model the impacts of erosion and evaluate potential solutions.
• Governmental Action: The Santa Cruz City Council has formally integrated community feedback into its planning, approving a five-year roadmap that balances immediate repairs with long-term strategic realignment.

Conclusion: The Path Forward for Coastal Adaptation

The situation in Santa Cruz highlights the complex challenge of balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability. While solutions such as coastal armoring and artificial reefs are being explored, their efficacy and environmental impact remain under review. The primary challenge lies in securing sustainable funding and maintaining public consensus for forward-thinking adaptation plans. The collaborative effort in Santa Cruz serves as a vital model for how communities can work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on the challenges faced by the city of Santa Cruz in managing its coastal infrastructure, specifically West Cliff Drive, due to climate-related hazards. It details the city’s efforts to create long-term plans for urban resilience.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The core issue discussed is the impact of climate change, manifesting as sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and more energetic waves. The entire narrative revolves around the city and community’s response and adaptation strategies to these climate-related impacts.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article discusses the effects of coastal erosion on the marine environment, including the seafloor topography, sea caves, and the quality of surf breaks which are natural coastal phenomena. It also mentions the potential use of artificial reefs, an intervention in the coastal ecosystem.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the collaboration between various stakeholders, including the city government, community members (surfers), non-profit organizations (Save the Waves), and academic institutions (UCSC, CSU Channel Islands), to address the complex issue of coastal erosion.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…” The article directly addresses this by describing the damage to West Cliff Drive from storms, the “tens of millions of dollars” already spent on repairs, and the city’s long-term planning to mitigate future economic losses and protect a vital community area.
  • Target 11.b: “…substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster risk resilience…” The article explicitly mentions Santa Cruz’s creation of a “50-year vision” and a “five-year roadmap” for West Cliff, which are integrated plans for climate adaptation and resilience. The inclusion of surfers in the planning process is also highlighted.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article is a case study of this target in action. Santa Cruz is strengthening its resilience by building seawalls, planning road relocations, and exploring solutions like artificial reefs to adapt to the climate-related hazards of sea-level rise and increased storm intensity.
  • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The article shows this through the involvement of coastal geologist Gary Griggs in explaining the science to the city, the city’s efforts to get community feedback, and surfers becoming actively involved in city council meetings, demonstrating increased awareness and capacity.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration…” The focus on preserving “world-class surf breaks” is a proxy for protecting the unique coastal and seafloor topography. The discussion of how erosion changes the seafloor and the potential use of artificial reefs to “slow down incoming swells” are actions aimed at managing and protecting this specific coastal ecosystem.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article details a public-civil society partnership between the City of Santa Cruz and the surfing community (“They’re listening to us now”). It also mentions partnerships with the non-profit “Save the Waves” and academic institutions like “CSU Channel Islands” and a “coastal engineering firm” to find solutions.
  • Target 17.3: “Mobilize additional financial resources… from multiple sources.” The article explicitly points to a funding challenge, noting that a “federal grant… they paused” and that there is “less federal funding available.” This has forced the city to conduct a study to find alternative ways “to pay for things like road relocations.”

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

• For SDG 11 & 13 (Resilience and Adaptation)

  • Economic Losses: The article mentions “tens of millions of dollars” already spent and a specific “$35 million dollar sea wall.” Tracking this expenditure on disaster repair versus proactive adaptation measures serves as an indicator of progress.
  • Adoption of Local Strategies: The formal approval of the “50-year vision” and the “five-year roadmap” for West Cliff Drive are direct indicators of the city adopting local disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies.
  • Implementation of Adaptation Projects: The progress on specific projects mentioned, such as the construction of seawalls, relocation of road sections, and potential installation of artificial reefs, can be measured to track the implementation of the adaptation plan.

• For SDG 14 (Coastal Protection)

  • Monitoring of Coastal Change: The article implies monitoring through the observations of surfers and geologists about cracks in cliffs and changes to wave breaks. The partnership with “CSU Channel Islands and a coastal engineering firm to learn more about how erosion and sea level rise could change the waves” suggests a more formal monitoring system is being developed, which would provide data as an indicator.

• For SDG 17 (Partnerships and Finance)

  • Number and Effectiveness of Partnerships: The article names several multi-stakeholder partnerships (City-Surfers, City-NGO, City-Academia). The continued participation of surfers in city council meetings is a qualitative indicator of the partnership’s effectiveness.
  • Financial Mobilization: An indicator would be the amount of funding secured through the new financing strategies being explored by the city’s study, especially in light of the reduction in federal funding.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kalw.org