SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Recreation and Park Department joined dedicated volunteers and key environmental organizations to kick off a sand dune replanting project at Ocean Beach today. The collaborative effort aims to restore the health of the beach’s vital dune ecosystem, enhance biodiversity, and protect native species. 

The sand dune replanting project is also a testament to the power of community involvement, as some 100 volunteers helped replant native grass beach wildrye along dunes near the intersection of Judah Street and Great Highway. The newly planted grass, surrounded by temporary fencing, will help stabilize the dunes to prevent further erosion and restore the health of the beach.

The initiative was made possible thanks to a robust partnership with the National Park Service, the California Academy of Sciences, the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Surfrider Foundation, and Friends of Ocean Beach Park.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to this important project,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Their hard work is helping to restore the dunes, while also enhancing what will be the City’s newest park. This project exemplifies what can be accomplished when we come together with our partners and the community to protect our natural resources.”

“The Cal Academy’s partnership with Rec and Park has flourished under the Reimagining San Francisco alliance, and this Ocean Beach dunes project exemplifies the unique way the alliance can help connect volunteers, civic organizations, and city agencies to regenerate critical habitat for local wildlife, residents, and Bay Area visitors,” said Cal Academy Executive Director Scott Sampson. “San Francisco’s natural beauty is a huge draw for tourists, and regenerating our city’s natural spaces will not only increase equitable access to nature for residents but also help increase visitation to our gorgeous city by the bay.”

The replanting project falls in line with environmental restoration efforts outlined in the $1 million grant provided to Rec and Park by the California State Coastal Conservancy Board in November to analyze and address sea level rise, improve dune habitat, while providing access to Ocean Beach along the Great Highway from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard. The project also aligns with the California Coastal Commission’s permit to approve the Great Highway’s transformation into full-time 2-mile park, which also identified dune restoration goals.

A December 2023 study published by SFEI on the escalating erosion happening at Ocean Beach provided a roadmap to stabilizing the dunes and minimize the effects of climate change. The report also provided ways to diversify habitat, while still maintaining access through the dunes to the beach.

“To see this level of interest and stewardship from volunteers is really inspiring,” said SFEI Senior Scientist Kelly Iknayan. “Today’s event marks a significant step in making a healthier Ocean Beach—and it’s just the beginning. Getting these dunes stabilized means we can then introduce more plants beyond beach wildrye, eventually creating a more natural area that can be enjoyed by not only people but wildlife too.”

“Coastal dunes are a natural defense against erosion and rising seas, absorbing wave energy and protecting our shores. Surfrider supports community driven coastal adaptation protects, using nature-based solutions—restoring dunes and building living shorelines—to ensure Ocean Beach remains resilient in the face of rising tides,” said Surfrider Foundation San Francisco Chapter Manager Nina Atkind.

“Friends of Ocean Beach Park is thrilled to partner with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Surfrider Foundation, and the community in this important native plant revegetation project,” said Friends of Ocean Beach Park Environmental Committee Chair Jane Lew. “This initiative marks a significant step toward restoring our dunes and enhancing the resilience of our coastline in the face of sea level rise, as outlined in the SFEI’s Growing Resilience report. We’re deeply grateful to the volunteers who are helping make this project possible, and we encourage our neighbors and visitors to respect the fenced-off areas so the dune grasses can thrive.”

The newly planted dune grass will need one year to establish, and two years to propagate. During this time, the public is asked to be mindful of the new plantings. Signage will be posted to protect the area.

Partner organizations will assist in monitoring the newly planted grass, with the intention of replanting in more areas along the beach on a later date.

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