executive summary This plan presents recommendations for the management and protection of San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, 3.5 miles of beach and rugged coast from the Cliff House to Fort Funston. Ocean Beach is a national park, a popular urban open space, the site of a major infrastructure complex and a beloved San Francisco landscape. It faces a wide range of complex challenges — including severe erosion, jurisdictional issues, a diverse array of beach users and points of view, and the looming challenge of
Seven Focus Areas
[section III, page III-1]
The complex issues facing Ocean Beach are addressed through
4 Image and Character
seven Focus Areas, each of which is described in some detail. In
Ocean Beach has a wild, rugged character and a unique culture
summary, they are as follows:
and history. Once home to destinations like Sutro Baths, Playland and Fleishhacker Pool, today the beach draws users who find the
1 Ecology
the city. Improvements should retain and draw upon these
climate-induced sea level rise.
Ocean Beach is a national park and supports important natural resources, including two threatened birds and other migratory
qualities.
This document describes the challenges and presents a series of
waterfowl. Its non-native dunes hold the potential for ecological
recommendations that chart an ambitious and proactive course
restoration, which could provide improved habitat for native
5 Program and Uses
for a more sustainable future. The Ocean Beach Master Plan
species and a corridor linking other park resources.
(OBMP) is the result of a robust, 18-month-long public process in which a wide range of stakeholders and the public participated over an 18-month period. Several earlier efforts brought attention to the ongoing issues at Ocean Beach. This plan translates that energy into a series of implementable actions by the responsible agencies over a nearly 40-year period.
surfing to dog walking, that can come into conflict. It should be managed to benefit everyone.
A major complex of wastewater infrastructure, which protects
6 Access and Connectivity
coastal water quality, is located at Ocean Beach. The Oceanside Treatment Plant is fed by large stormwater and wastewater transport structures under the Great Highway, which are subject to erosion hazards.
Ocean Beach is the visible portion of a much larger coastal sediment system. Erosion problems will worsen with climaterelated sea level rise, and will need to be managed through a variety of approaches, including retreat, nourishment and coastal armoring. Ongoing dredging of the Golden Gate marine shipping channel provides a ready source of sand for nourishment of Ocean Beach.
ocean beach master plan | May 2012
Ocean Beach is used in a variety of ways, from bird-watching to
2 Utility Infrastructure
3 Coastal Dynamics
2
elemental beauty of its wind, waves and fog a scenic respite from
Ocean Beach links a wealth of open spaces and is transit-rich, but key gaps and some problematic street configurations could be improved to welcome all users, especially cyclists and pedestrians.
7 Management and Stewardship Though visitors experience a single place, a host of different federal, state and local agencies are responsible for different aspects of Ocean Beach, and they lack a shared guiding policy. The recommendations in this plan, and the dialogue they reflect, are important first steps in working across jurisdictional boundaries for the benefit of all.