Current Projects
Learn more about our existing sites
This program builds on previous efforts by expanding coastal resilience enhancements at existing restoration sites
Natural Bridges Enhancement Project began in 2016 with support from the California FIsh and Wildlife Service to enhance seabird habitat.
Work expanded to build better coastal dune habitat and enhance the beach entrance.
Students from local schools played an important role in project implementation.
NOAA and the California Native Plant Society have provided additional support for this work.
Natural Bridges State Beach
Seabright Beach
The project has built over ½ mile of coastal dune and scrub habitat at Seabright and the West Harbor Jetty since 2013.
This work reduces coastal erosion, protects bluffs from storm surge, and significantly increases biodiversity.
Thousands of students and volunteers have participated in over ten thousand hours of coastal stewardship and restoration-based education.
Supporters include the California Coastal Commissiion, California Coastal Conservancy, NOAA, and community members.
Since 2016, project partners have restored approximately 100 acres of dune habitat at Salinas River State Beach.
Funding has been provided by the Coastal Conservancy and CDFW.
Primary goals include removing invasive iceplant and restoring native vegetation to improve coastal resilience and habitat quality.
Surveys are conducted to monitor restoration success and improvements to coastal resilience.
Salinas River State Beach
This work began as an effort to enhance coastal dune habitat in 2018 via education-based restoration partnership with Environmental Science Students at Soquel High School.
Winter storms of 2023 and 2024 caused significant beach erosion.
State Parks responded by burying large woody debris to stabilize the sand.
To increase resilience of this popular community beach and build habitat planting of native dune species is planned for Spring 2025.