Posted on September 19, 2025
The California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a controversial plan Thursday, Sept. 11, to restore 38.5 acres of native dune habitat along Santa Monica State Beach, despite fierce opposition from beachfront residents who warn the project could increase fire risks and attract homeless encampments.
The Phase 3 expansion will nearly double the existing dune restoration area to cover approximately 19% of Santa Monica’s sandy beach, making it one of the largest coastal habitat restoration projects in Southern California. The project builds on two smaller pilot phases that have been credited with bringing back endangered species and providing natural protection against sea level rise.
Commissioner Ann Notthoff praised the nature-based approach to coastal protection, saying “it’s great to see this type of soft approach to coastal erosion concerns.” The commission voted 10-0 to approve the five-year permit after a contentious public hearing that highlighted deep divisions over the project’s benefits and risks.
The restoration involves hand-planting native coastal vegetation and installing low-profile fencing across four polygon-shaped areas stretching from Will Rogers State Beach to Venice Beach. No sand will be imported, and the ocean-facing sides of each restored area will remain unfenced to preserve public beach access.
Supporters argue the “living shoreline” project offers critical environmental benefits. Research from the first phase showed restored dunes reduced wave travel distance by an average of 45 feet, providing natural flood protection. The pilot areas have also attracted thousands of endangered El Segundo blue butterflies and provided the first successful western snowy plover nesting site in the Los Angeles region in nearly 70 years.
“This project directly addresses the loss of biodiversity caused by decades of coastal alteration,” said Ashley Oelsen, a conservation biologist and Santa Monica environmental commissioner who lives on Palisades Beach Road. “Expanding the dunes gives us a chance to bring back what we have lost.”
Environmental groups including the Surfrider Foundation, Friends of Ballona Wetlands, and USC Sea Grant endorsed the project as a model for climate adaptation. Dr. Kyle Emery, a marine biologist at UC Santa Barbara who has studied the pilot sites, called the restoration “a powerful blend of scientific validation, ecological restoration, public benefit, and long-term resilience.”
However, residents of nearby Palisades Beach Road mounted fierce opposition, submitting nearly identical form letters warning of fire hazards and public safety concerns. They argued the vegetation and driftwood placement could create dangerous fuel loads near residential properties, especially given the recent Palisades fire that devastated the area.
“This project introduces a significant and foreseeable fire hazard to our community,” wrote Ziad Ghandour, a Palisades Beach Road resident, in comments shared by multiple opponents. “The introduction of dry vegetation, dune grasses, and associated landscaping in an area historically managed for open, sandy conditions creates increased fuel loads.”
Residents also expressed concern the dunes would become “homeless magnets” and compromise beach activities, particularly with the 2028 Olympics approaching. One speaker warned the project would reduce available beach area and increase maintenance problems.
Commission staff firmly rejected these concerns, noting no evidence from the existing phases supports claims of increased fire risk, crime, or maintenance issues. Staff explained that coastal dune vegetation consists of low-growing, salt-tolerant native plants with high moisture content that don’t behave like fire-prone dry brush.
“We have not experienced these sorts of issues” with the pilot phases, said staff member Steve Hudson. “These are sandy beaches, and restoration projects involve sparse vegetation within the sand.”
The approved project includes safeguards to preserve public access, including 25-foot-wide pedestrian corridors through the restored areas and requirements to maintain passable shoreline access during high tides. Educational signage will be provided in multiple languages, including Spanish.
The restoration is a partnership between the City of Santa Monica and The Bay Foundation, which will manage the site through modified beach grooming practices. The project requires the city to assume risks from coastal hazards and includes a five-year sunset provision allowing the commission to reassess the program’s effectiveness.
The dune restoration represents a shift toward “soft” coastal protection alternatives to traditional seawalls and rock revetments, which can harm beach dynamics and limit public access. If successful, the Santa Monica model could be replicated at beaches throughout California facing similar challenges from sea level rise and coastal erosion.
