Scientists and environmentalists have long delivered the message that low-lying coastal zones are vulnerable to climate change due to rising sea levels and the corresponding land loss. These have tremendous negative implications for many island communities around the world.
But for years, cities along the California coast have considered this a problem that would not affect their populations or property.
No longer.
Tony Barboza of the Los Angeles Times reported that many California coastal cities are now implementing plans to protect their waterfronts. Seawalls, levees and other forms of protection are going up throughout California’s 770-mile (1239K) coastline. Newport Beach mayor Michael Henn said of his city’s plans where potentially thousands of homes are threatened, “It’s irrelevant what the causes of global warming are. What we are dealing with is the reality that sea levels are rising.”
The realization of the threat has taken hold throughout the state. Susanne Moser, a Stanford University researcher explained, “The state of preparedness was close to zero in terms of looking forward to climate change and what it’s going to bring. Since [2006] there’s been an explosion of interest on the local level.”
What is being studied and planned in Newport Beach is being replicated in cities all over including San Francisco and Oakland, where the height of levees around their airports are being raised.
Open water swimmers who have been swimming in the same locations for decades know these changes. It is good that others are recognizing the threat.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.