California Coastal Commission

Protect our coast and oceans fund, photo by Ann Seronello

Coronavirus Disease Update

Please note that public counter hours for all Commission offices are currently suspended in light of the coronavirus. However, in order to provide the public with continuity of service while protecting both you and our employees, the Commission remains open for business, and you can contact staff by phone, email, and regular mail (see staff contact information at www.coastal.ca.gov/contact). In addition to the regular means required by the regulations or statute, please make sure that you also send a copy of all correspondence or other documents electronically, to the email for the relevant Commission staff person. If you are not sure who the correct staff member is, please consult the District and Programs Contact list at www.coastal.ca.gov/contact. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work through this public health crisis.

Volunteers in the Community

Commission Chair Steve Padilla shares his experience surviving COVID-19

Coastal Zone Beach Access Restrictions due to COVID-19

Guidance on Coastal Access Restrictions and Closures Due to COVID-19

Sample Notification Letter to the Executive Director

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The April 2020 Coastal Commission Meeting is Cancelled

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the April 2020 Coastal Commission meeting is cancelled. We understand this may be an inconvenience and burden and we truly regret the disruption. For the May Commission meeting, we are currently working to develop the structure and procedures for a remote or “virtual” meeting in order to assure the health and safety of the public, commissioners and staff. Unfortunately, these new measures will not be in place in time for the April hearing. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. Our virtual offices remain open.

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Our Mission
Protecting & Enhancing California's Coast

The Commission is committed to protecting and enhancing California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations. It does so through careful planning and regulation of environmentally-sustainable development, rigorous use of science, strong public participation, education, and effective intergovernmental coordination.

Learn More

California Governor

Gavin Newsom

Commissioners

& Alternates

Executive Director

John Ainsworth

Highlights

Stay up to date on all the work being done by the Commission to protect & enhance the California Coast

Staff Report on Inspection & Maintenance Program for SONGS ISFSI
Southern California Edison’s proposed Inspection & Maintenance Program (IMP) for the San Onofre Generating Station’s Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (SONGS ISFSI), as required by Special 7 of CDP 9-15-0228, is scheduled for the Commission’s July 2020 meeting. Staff decided to post the staff report early to give the interested public extra time to review the staff recommendation and technical reports associated with the proposed IMP. Please find the staff report here and its associated exhibits and appendices: appendix B, appendix C. The agenda for the July meeting will be posted online Friday, June 19.

CCC Staff June 12, 2020

Chair’s Comments on Nation’s Social Justice Movement
As a public agency with an important public trust we wish to respect, honor and recognize this moment in our nation’s history, a movement – righteous, painful, necessary and long overdue which demands our society confront the reality of systemic racism and injustice which persists in our culture. As we participate in or just witness the movement of thousands across our nation in many communities taking to the streets to call for action, we are reminded this opportunity will require more than protests. more.

CCC Staff June 10, 2020

Coastal Commission adopts Statewide Principles to address Sea Level Rise
On May 13, 2020, the Coastal Commission adopted “Making California’s Coast Resilient to Sea Level Rise: Principles for Aligned State Action”. These principles were co-developed by 17 state agencies with coastal and climate change responsibilities to guide unified, effective action towards sea level rise resilience for California’s coastal communities, ecosystems, and economies. More information on this effort and the full principles can be found here.

CCC Staff May 26, 2020

Commission Chair Recovers from COVID-19 to Oversee Agency’s First Virtual Meeting
California Coastal Commission Chair and Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Padilla has recovered after being hospitalized for three weeks with COVID-19, and will oversee the agency’s first virtual meeting this week. Padilla likely contracted the illness in March and, before showing symptoms, attended the Commission hearing in Santa Cruz. No other Commissioner or agency staff reportedly came down with the virus. The April meeting was subsequently cancelled and Commission district offices have only been open virtually to protect public health. More

Press Release May 12, 2020

Guidance Memo on Implementation of New ADU Laws
On January 1, 2020, a series of new laws changed the requirements for how local governments can regulate accessory dwelling units. The Commission has issued a memo to describe the changes and provide guidance on how to harmonize these new requirements with LCP and Coastal Act policies.

CCC Staff April 27, 2020

Coastal Zone Beach Access Restrictions due to COVID-19
This is a list of beach access restrictions and closures that will be updated regularly, but due to rapidly changing conditions it might not capture all beach access changes. For most updated information, contact your local government or recreation department about local restrictions.

CCC Staff April 2, 2020

The Protect Our Coast and Ocean fund
The Protect Our Coast and Ocean fund on the California tax form supports coastal access, beach cleanups, pollution prevention, habitat restoration, public awareness, and more. Make a donation when you file your state taxes and join the nation’s first youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman in supporting the California coast. Learn more at CheckTheCoast.org.

CCC Staff March 6, 2020

Coastal Access – New Video Series
Announcing a new series of 5 minute videos that explore broad themes and topics related to coastal access in California. Produced by Rigler Creative with funding from a Coastal Commission Whale Tail Grant, the five titles are:

40 Years of the California Coastal Act

Public Access for all on the California Coast

Kids Belong at the Beach

Sea Level Rise and the California Coast

Activism and the California Coast

The new series complements the California Coastal Trail video series, which highlight different segments of the trail.

CCC Staff March 2, 2020

Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program Interactive Workshop #1
Hollister Ranch – Coastal Access Program planning Interactive Workshop # 1 will be held on Thursday February 20 at 6 pm in Goleta, Santa Barbara County. Everyone is invited to attend and/or fill out the survey.

Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program: Public Survey #1
Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program – FAQ Sheet.
Planning Timeline 2020 - Next Steps.

CCC Staff February 4, 2020

Martin’s Beach Lawsuit
On January 6, 2020, the California Coastal Commission and California State Lands Commission jointly filed a lawsuit to ensure full public access to Martin’s Beach for all future generations. The lawsuit contends that the public’s historic use of Martin’s Beach as a public beach since at least the early 1900s has established permanent rights for the public to access and recreate at Martin’s Beach. Click here to read the joint press release and click here for a copy of the complaint. The Commission is interested to hear more about your experiences at Martin’s Beach. If you or your family has a history of use of Martin’s Beach, please take a moment to fill out the Commission’s Survey, which you can access by clicking here. You can send in the survey, written statements of your story, and any photographs you have by email to MartinsBeachPRS@coastal.ca.gov or in writing to the address on the survey.

Press Release January 6, 2020

Strategic Plan Comment Opportunity
The Public Review Draft of the Commission’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan is out for review. You may participate in these efforts by providing written comments through February 14, 2020. Comments can also be provided verbally at the December and February Coastal Commission hearings.

CCC Staff December 6, 2019

FAQ: The Coastal Commission and Sea Level Rise
Wondering what the Coastal Commission is doing about sea level rise? Click here

CCC Staff December 3, 2019

Marine Acoustics – Activities and Research
Since 1994 the California Coastal Commission has been involved in reviewing the effects of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment on marine mammal, sea turtles, fish, and other marine life. The following links are to major Commission-adopted reports involving significant activities, research on and monitoring of the impacts of noise in California (and other) ocean waters.

CCC Staff November 6, 2019

New IPCC Report on Oceans and Climate Change
On September 25, the IPCC released a Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC). Significant findings include that sea levels are rising at increasingly faster rates; that continued warming will result in increased frequency and intensity of El Niño and extreme storm events; and that both greenhouse gas emissions reductions and ambitious adaptation efforts will be critical for avoiding catastrophic impacts to coastal communities. Coastal Commission recommendations for sustainable land-use and adaptation planning will help communities address these impacts.

CCC Staff September 27, 2019

Announcing the winners of the 2019 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

Artwork: "The Colorful Sea Animals"
By: Callan Stephen Cheng
Grade 1, Cypress

CCC Staff March 12, 2019

Property Owners

© Josh Edelson

Property owners can apply for a Coastal Development Permit to legally develop their property within the California Coastal Zone

Local Governments

© Kesma Rauf

Many local governments are empowered to issue Coastal Development Permits through Local Coastal Plans

Informed Citizens

© US Army Corps of Engineers

Everyone can learn about our coast & how to protect it. Join a beach cleanup, get teacher resources & grants, help out & have fun

YourCoast

Explore thousands of California Coastal Access locations with the YourCoast Web app

California Coastal Trail

Find inspiration in the stories that shaped the iconic California Coastal Trail.

California Coastal Access Guide

The fully revised 7^th Edition has information on more than 1,150 public access areas.

Whale Tail^® License Plate

Help protect & restore the priceless resources of California's coast & ocean

© De-Bug Beach Wheelchair

Beach Wheelchair

Access the coast with ease in a free beach wheelchair, available throughout California

Check the Coast

Donate to the Protect Our Coast & Oceans Fund on your California Tax Form

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© 2019 State of California

John "Jack" Ainsworth, 58, came to the Coastal Commission from the private sector in 1989 as a Coastal Program Analyst. Over the past 27 years, he has shouldered a variety of responsibilities including overseeing the South Central and South Coast (LA County) district offices and as the agency's Senior Deputy Director beginning in May 2015. He was appointed Acting Executive Director in March 2016. Ainsworth has a BA in Environmental Studies & Geography and an MSc in Geography from the University of California, Riverside.

California Opposes Trump Oil Leasing Plan

Coastal Commission Chair's Letter on the 2019-2024 Draft Proposed National Oil and Gas Leasing Program

Pacific Coast Governors Condemn Federal Decision to Expand Offshore Drilling

Senate Resolution 73 Relative to a new 5-year National Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program on the Outer Continental Shelf

Resolution of the California Ocean Protection Council on Offshore Oil and Gas Development

Notice of Availability of the 2019–2024 Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

State Lands Commission Letter on National Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program

Over 200 State Legislators Stand United Against Offshore Oil Drilling

Coastal Commission Staff’s Letter on the 2019-2024 Draft Proposed National Oil and Gas Leasing Program

Coastal Commission Staff’s EIS Scoping Letter on the 2019-2024 Draft Proposed National Oil and Gas Leasing Program