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LA County takes step toward saving popular Dockweiler and Zuma beaches
Children play in the surf on Zuma Beach.
(
Wally Skalij
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Topline:
On Monday, L.A. County's Department of Beaches and Harbors took another step toward making popular beaches like Zuma, Redondo and Dockweiler more resilient against sea level rise. A $5 million grant allows officials to move forward with large scale projects, including building the beaches up with lots of sand.
Why it matters: As many as 67% of Southern California’s beaches could disappear by the end of the century due to rising sea levels. Zuma is shrinking at a rate of about 3.6 feet per year, Dockweiler 4.6 feet and Redondo 2.8 feet. Disappearing coastlines jeopardize infrastructure and recreational opportunities.
The plan: The county plans to add sand to the beaches (as has been done since the 1930s). Coastal resilience projects could also include installing barriers and planting vegetation on dunes to keep sand from blowing away, while also restoring dune systems and wetlands, both of which can buffer against waves.
The backstory: The grant comes from Measure A, which was passed in 2016 and provides roughly $100 million annually to build and maintain public spaces like beaches and parks.
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