Resources
Phase 3 Planning (Summer 2026)
California State Parks is working on two planning efforts that will support development of a vision for the desired future of Seacliff and New Brighton state beaches.
A Camping Feasibility Study will evaluate potential locations for new camping opportunities to replace the camping capacity formerly available at the Seacliff RV Camping Area. Locations to be considered in the Camping Feasibility Study include the existing camping area of New Brighton State Beach, the Porter-Sesnon area of New Brighton, Seacliff State Beach and Sunset State Beach.
The Coastal Facilities Management Plan (CFMP) will define goals and objectives for the adaptation of five specific sites at Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches and will incorporate the findings of the Camping Feasibility Study. The CFMP will further develop design concepts for adaptation sites and will include implementation strategies for increasing resilience at Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches.
Community engagement is important to these efforts. State Parks will share initial concepts for camping and design development of the five adaptation sites and ask for community feedback during Summer 2026. Feedback received will inform further development of the Camping Feasibility Study and CFMP. A second opportunity for community feedback is anticipated for Winter 2027 to share results of the camping feasibility study and the CFMP with the community.
All opportunities to provide feedback will be announced here in advance.
Seacliff Day-Use Interim Nature-Based Solution
Over the past few years, California State Parks has been studying how to adapt Seacliff State Beach to changing coastal conditions. Community feedback about erosion and storm damage in the day-use area has helped shape this effort.
Building on lessons learned from the Rio del Mar nature-based solutions pilot project and with funding from the California Coastal Conservancy, State Parks is developing designs for protective coastal dunes at Seacliff State Beach. These dunes are intended to improve resilience in the day-use area by working with natural coastal processes rather than relying on traditional structures such as seawalls.
PROJECT GOALS:
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Design and permit a nature-based coastal resilience project for Seacliff SB Day Use Area
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Increase the beach’s ability to withstand storms in the near term
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Keep current beach access open during and after construction
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Set up monitoring so we can track how the dunes perform over time
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Share what we learn to help inform future projects up and down the coast
To help explain how these dune features would be constructed and function over time, State Parks has created a short animation illustrating the proposed approach. Watch the animation below to learn more about the project and how nature-based solutions can help protect coastal areas.
