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Waterfront Adaptation Plan

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Timmy Bolton
Senior Climate Adaptation Analyst
(805) 730-0836
TBolton@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

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The City of Santa Barbara's Waterfront is a cherished community resource and cornerstone of the local economy. Today, it faces growing challenges from beach erosion and flooding during high tides and major wave events that are causing millions of dollars in damage, disrupting recreation and operations, and rapidly narrowing East Beach. Sea level rise will make these impacts more severe - view Sea Level Rise Interactive Hazard Maps to learn more about projected flooding and erosion from sea level rise.

The purpose of the Waterfront Adaptation Plan is to develop practical solutions to address coastal flooding and erosion for the next 30 years, while enhancing what makes the Waterfront special.

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Sand and water cover Harbor Commercial Area following December 2023 storms
December 2023

Flooding in the Harbor Commercial Area

Partial collapse of Harbor Boat Yard due to beach erosion in January 2023
January 2023

Beach erosion caused a partial collapse of the Harbor Boat Yard

View of East Beach with high tide eroding beach and reaching iceplant along bike path
November 2025

Erosion and high tide along East Beach resulting in no usable beach space

Damaged fence along East Beach due to erosion
December 2025

Erosion at East Beach

West Beach flooded during November 2025 rainstorm
November 2025

West Beach flooded during a rainstorm

Parking lot for Leadbetter Beach and the Harbor covered in sand in December 2023
December 2023

Parking lot for Leadbetter Beach and the Harbor covered in sand

Parking lot at Leadbetter Beach and the Harbor covered in sand and debris in February 2024
February 2024

Parking lot for Leadbetter Beach and the Harbor covered in sand and debris

High tide and erosion impact the Leadbetter Beach and Harbor parking lot
February 2024

Flooding and erosion threaten the parking lot at Leadbetter Beach and the Harbor

Aerial view of waves damaging Yacht Club and flooding parking lot
January 2023

Large waves and erosion damaged the Yacht Club and parking lot

Leadbetter covered in water during King Tide AERIAL MS.jpg
December 2020

Leadbetter Beach covered in water during a high tide

Leadbetter Beach covered in water during October 2023 high tide
October 2023

Leadbetter Beach covered in water during a high tide event

Leadbetter Beach, parking lot, and facilities covered in sand and water during March 2014 wave event
March 2014

Leadbetter Beach, parking lot, and facilities covered in water and sand during a wave event

Water and seafoam inside Leadbetter Beach restrooms during March 2014 wave event
March 2014

Leadbetter Beach restrooms flooded during wave event

What can be done to protect the Waterfront?

The City is evaluating a range of adaptation options that prioritize sandy beaches and recreation, protect the Harbor and inland areas, improve the experience, and provide a safe method to walk and bike along the Waterfront.

Waterfront-Wide Goals & Priorities

Aerial view of Santa Barbara's Waterfront highlighting goals of keeping and enhancing sandy beach and recreation, protecting the working harbor, protecting inland areas from ocean flooding, and providing continuous separated walking and bike path

Initial ideas include:

  • Quick wins like temporary deployable flood control measures, drainage improvements, and restriping the Harbor West and Leadbetter parking lots to create a safer, separated walking and biking path.
  • Gradually moving some features at Leadbetter and East Beach inland, including parking, restrooms, paths, park areas, and commercial facilities, to protect them and create room for wide sandy beaches. Some facilities, such as Shoreline Beach Café, could stay in place until replacements are available or when flood and erosion risks reach set limits.
  • Adding sand, berms, and dunes to build up and maintain wide sandy beach areas.
  • Upgrading West Beach with better stormwater drainage to improve sand qualit,y and adding amenities such as restrooms and showers to make it a top beach destination.
  • Protecting the Harbor Commercial Area with a revetment that blocks flooding and erosion and is topped by a pedestrian promenade that improves public access between the Harbor and Leadbetter Beach.
  • Exploring ways to improve the Harbor Commercial Area by expanding services for boating and commercial uses, increasing public access, and creating new revenue opportunities to help fund Waterfront improvements.
  • Creating a safe, continuous, and separated walking and biking path along the entire Waterfront that is gradually elevated to protect the path and inland areas from flooding. 
  • The Waterfront Adaptation Plan will also analyze additional longer-term options that may be needed in the future and that are more difficult to fund and permit, such as groins, headlands, and offshore reefs.

The identified options will be analyzed in detail as part of a Draft Waterfront Adaptation Plan that is planned for release in early 2027. 

Adaptation Options for Leadbetter

Graphic depicting “Quick Win” strategies for Leadbetter Beach to provide immediate safety and flooding fixes. These include 1) Restriping first row of parking to a walking and biking path. 2) Deployable flood proofing in front of Shoreline Café and Leadbetter Restrooms. 3) Low wall next to new path. 4) Convert unused areas to parking
Graphic depicting “Quick Win” strategies for Leadbetter Beach to provide immediate safety and flooding fixes. These include 1) Restriping first row of parking to a walking and biking path. 2) Deployable flood proofing in front of Shoreline Café and Leadbetter Restrooms. 3) Low wall next to new path. 4) Convert unused areas to parking
Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for Leadbetter Beach to keep sandy beach by moving things back. These include 1) Keep Sandy Beach and park by moving parks & facilities inland. 2) Move the biking and walking path inland and raise it to provide a flooding backstop. 3) Relocate parking to new parking garages at existing surface lot. 4) Improve stormwater drainage.
Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for Leadbetter Beach to keep sandy beach by moving things back. These include 1) Keep Sandy Beach and park by moving parks & facilities inland. 2) Move the biking and walking path inland and raise it to provide a flooding backstop. 3) Relocate parking to new parking garages at existing surface lot. 4) Improve stormwater drainage.
Graphic depicting “Future Options” for Leadbetter beach, larger projects for a wider beach and more protection. These include 1) Keey sandy beach for longer by moving paths, parks, and facilities further inland. 2) Raise biking and walking path higher to provide bigger flooding backstop. 3) Add a headland at the Harbor Breakwater with beach nourishment to widen the beach.
Graphic depicting “Future Options” for Leadbetter beach, larger projects for a wider beach and more protection. These include 1) Keey sandy beach for longer by moving paths, parks, and facilities further inland. 2) Raise biking and walking path higher to provide bigger flooding backstop. 3) Add a headland at the Harbor Breakwater with beach nourishment to widen the beach.

Adaptation Options for the Harbor

Graphic depicting “Quick Win” strategies for the Harbor to provide immediate safety and flooding fixes. These include 1) drainage improvements, 2) Deployable floodproofing, 3) Restripe first row of parking to a walking and biking path.
Graphic depicting “Quick Win” strategies for the Harbor to provide immediate safety and flooding fixes. These include 1) drainage improvements, 2) Deployable floodproofing, 3) Restripe first row of parking to a walking and biking path.
Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for the Harbor to provide flood protection and prioritize public access and boating. Thes include 1) Pedestrian promenade on raised revetment for flood protection and access. 2) Protect & improve Harbor Commercial Area for better public access & boating. 3) Walking and biking path for better access. 4) Explore converting some parking for economic development
Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for the Harbor to provide flood protection and prioritize public access and boating. Thes include 1) Pedestrian promenade on raised revetment for flood protection and access. 2) Protect & improve Harbor Commercial Area for better public access & boating. 3) Walking and biking path for better access. 4) Explore converting some parking for economic development
Graphic depicting “Future Options” for the Harbor to provide further protection. These include 1) Raise all paths and edges. 2) Add headland with beach nourishment to widen the beach. 3) Add wave screen and sand trap to the Harbor breakwater
Graphic depicting “Future Options” for the Harbor to provide further protection. These include 1) Raise all paths and edges. 2) Add headland with beach nourishment to widen the beach. 3) Add wave screen and sand trap to the Harbor breakwater

Adaptation Options for West Beach

Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for West Beach to make it a premier sandy beach experience. These include 1) relocate storm drain, 2) add restrooms, showers, café, and beach concessions, 3) Raised walking and biking path with an adjacent park along Cabrillo Blvd.
Graphic depicting “Core Measures” for West Beach to make it a premier sandy beach experience. These include 1) relocate storm drain, 2) add restrooms, showers, café, and beach concessions, 3) Raised walking and biking path with an adjacent park along Cabrillo Blvd.

Adaptation Options for East Beach

Graphic epicting “Core Measures for Each Beach to preserve the sandy beach for as long as possible and to protect critical infrastructure. These include 1) Keep sandy beach for as long as possible by moving parks and facilities inland. 2) Move the biking and walking path inland and raise it to provide flooding backstop and protect Cabrillo Pavilion.
Graphic epicting “Core Measures for Each Beach to preserve the sandy beach for as long as possible and to protect critical infrastructure. These include 1) Keep sandy beach for as long as possible by moving parks and facilities inland. 2) Move the biking and walking path inland and raise it to provide flooding backstop and protect Cabrillo Pavilion.
Graphic depicting “Future options” for East Beach to provide additional, larger projects for wider beach and increased protection. These include 1) Improve the Mission Lagoon per the future Laguna Flood Resilience Project. 2) Explore potential site for additional parking. 3) Raise the walking and biking path higher to provide a bigger flooding backstop. 4) Explore headlands to widen the sandy beach
Graphic depicting “Future options” for East Beach to provide additional, larger projects for wider beach and increased protection. These include 1) Improve the Mission Lagoon per the future Laguna Flood Resilience Project. 2) Explore potential site for additional parking. 3) Raise the walking and biking path higher to provide a bigger flooding backstop. 4) Explore headlands to widen the sandy beach

News

Hero Image 30yr Waterfront Adaptation Plan
City of Santa Barbara Launches 30-Year Waterfront Adaptation Plan
Help plan the future of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront!The City of Santa Barbara has begun developing a 30-Year Waterfront Adaptation Plan and is pleased to invite you and your group, business, or organization to participate in the process.…
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Timeline

1
Project Launch

Fall 2024

2
Technical Modeling and Vulnerability Assessment

Fall 2024 - Fall 2025

3
Adaptation Alternatives Analysis and Recommendation

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026

4
Draft Adaptation Plan

Spring 2026 - Fall 2026

5
Public Comment Period

Fall 2026

6
Plan Revisions

Winter 2026

7
Final Plan Adoption

Early 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

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