Four years in the making, after forming solid community and agency partnerships and securing full grant funding, the Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration is on the precipice of commencing! The Bay Foundation, in partnership with the City of Manhattan Beach, L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors, L.A. County Fire Department – Lifeguard Division, and the California State Coastal Conservancy, will start implementation of restoring approximately 3 acres of beach dunes along the north Manhattan Beach coastline. The CA State Coastal Conservancy is fully-funding the Manhattan Dune Restoration project through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and California Climate Investments-cap and trade dollars at work. For more information on the project, please visit The Bay Foundation website.

Volunteer to help The Bay Foundation and project partners remove non-native iceplant and plant and seed native dune species as an approach to increase coastal resiliency.

About the Dune Restoration Project

In February 2019, Manhattan Beach City Council supported the Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project in coalition with The Bay Foundation and L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors.

Beaches are broadly recognized and highly valued as cultural and economic resources for coastal regions, however their value as ecosystems that provide natural protection is less appreciated. This project will enhance existing dunes along the Manhattan Beach coastline. The project's innovative approach would increase the extent and condition of a key ecosystem in the coastal area, including all of the functions and services dunes provide such as habitat for endangered shorebirds, accretion of sediment, preventing coastal erosion, and sequestering carbon. In addition, coastal dunes provide a living shoreline to buffer coastal infrastructure from climate change, coastal storms, and sea level rise. This project will create a resilient shoreline that will provide educational and recreational opportunities to Manhattan Beach residents and visitors.

Project Description

This project will enhance approximately 3 acres of the existing back dunes in Manhattan Beach from 36th Street to 23rd Street, along approximately 0.6 miles of coastline. The restoration project will involve the removal of non-native vegetation, seeding/planting of native vegetation, strategic installation of temporary sand fencing as vegetation establishes, installation of symbolic fencing on existing pathways, and installation of educational features like interpretive signage. 

All detailed project components will be agreed to by partners including the City of Manhattan Beach, The Bay Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, and the California State Coastal Commission prior to implementation.

Project Goals:

Goal 1: Increase the resiliency of the shoreline through the restoration of sandy beach and foredune habitat
Goal 2: Implement soft-scape protection measures against sea level rise and coastal storms
Goal 3: Increase engagement of the community through enhanced beach experiences, outreach and education

The development of the project will serve as a model for the region, exemplifying how nature-based solutions may be a cost-effective manner of providing protection to our beaches through restoring California’s ecosystems.

Additional Resources:

The Dune Restoration and Monitoring Plan provides a full description of the project and is available on The Bay Foundation's website. 

An informational video with a detailed overview of the project is available on The Bay Foundation's YouTube channel. You can also watch the Community Survey, which interviews local residents about their opinions on the dune restoration in Manhattan Beach.

The Bay Foundation has also prepared a list of FAQs that cover the project summary, project design, monitoring and maintenance, and community participation.

To learn more about the project, you can contact The Bay Foundation by phone (888) 301-2527, or visit the The Santa Monica Bay Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Project website.