The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with California Department of Parks and Recreation, Coastal Environments, Inc, and Rincon Consultants, Inc., Implemented in October 2022 Phase 1 of the Ponto Living Shoreline Project.

The Project goals are:
1) restore coastal dune (southern foredunes) habitat at Ponto State Beach using nature-based solutions to facilitate sand deposition and growth of native dune vegetation;
2) enhance public access;
3) reduce sand transport towards Highway 101; and
4) provide protection for the beach and Coast Highway 101 from Sea Level Rise.

The project utilized green engineering techniques that are in line with State of California coastal policies, and include sand dune fencing, biomimicry using grouped 18” cedar shims, installation of native dune plants using seeds and transplanting vegetation from Batiquitos lagoon, symbolic fencing (post and rope), and signage. They were installed north and south of the jetty of Batiquitos Lagoon and close to the beach’s interface with Coast Highway 101.

Phase 1 is being funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program and includes experimentation of the effectiveness of different green engineering techniques to restore dune habitat.

Informed by the project’s first phase, the second phase will utilize the most effective and efficient technique to restore coastal dune habitat on a larger scale in adjoining areas.

Project Partners: USFWS, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Coastal Environments, Inc, and Rincon Consultants, Inc.