San Rafael, CA - Sand, sun and surf – the perfect mix for a fantastic Labor Day weekend. But what would it be like in the future when the sand is gone as a result of sea-level rise?
Holiday beachgoers at Stinson Beach will get a vivid preview of what may be in store Saturday when Marin County planners stake the beach with signs showing how the beach could shrink with increased erosion and permanently higher water levels as a result of climate change. It’s part of an effort to educate the public and get more people involved in the process of planning for a coordinated response to sea-level rise.
“We all have a stake in getting prepared for rising seas – more than many people are aware of,” said Jack Liebster of Marin County’s C-SMART ("Collaboration: Sea-level Marin Adaptation Response Team") program. “This is a way to provide a picture of the future, and get people to play a role in helping to shape it.”
Organizers will staff a booth at the “Year 2100” level of the beach to sign up those interested in following and participating in sea-level rise planning, not just in Marin but throughout the Bay Area.
A preliminary report from the firm of Environmental Science Associates shows Stinson Beach being reduced to almost nothing by 2100 by a combination of drowning by rising seas and increased erosion. Similar consequences could be expected in many ocean-fronting beaches all along California’s coast.
Got to www.MarinSLR.org for additional information.