The City of Santa Barbara is developing a Waterfront Adaptation Plan to identify practical solutions to address coastal flooding and erosion over the next 30 years while enhancing beach access, recreation, and boating. The City will be seeking community feedback over the next three months on a variety of preliminary options being considered for further evaluation.
Staff presented these initial options to City Council on March 10 and will present at City Board and Commission meetings and host several community events through May. Community input will help refine the options as they are developed into a Draft Waterfront Adaptation Plan, anticipated for release in early 2027.
The City of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront, from Leadbetter Beach to East Beach, is a cherished community resource and cornerstone of the local economy. It faces growing challenges from beach erosion and flooding during major wave events, which are causing millions of dollars in damage, disrupting recreation and operations, and rapidly narrowing East Beach. As sea levels rise, these problems will get worse…