Saving LA’s Shrinking Shores: How “Living Shorelines” Aim to Rescue Iconic Beaches

Los Angeles beaches—beloved icons such as Zuma, Dockweiler, and Redondo—are rapidly vanishing. Accelerated by climate change, rising seas, and stronger storms, these shorelines are eroding at alarming rates. In response, LA County is investing $5.1 million in “living shoreline” projects to restore dunes and protect public access to the coast SFGATE.

The Problem: Accelerating Erosion

• Zuma Beach is losing roughly 3.6 feet of shoreline each year.

• Dockweiler State Beach has even higher losses at about 4.5 feet annually SFGATE.

While coastal erosion is natural, it’s being exacerbated by climate-driven sea-level rise and intensified storm activity.

The Solution: Living Shorelines

LA County’s plan involves living shorelines—nature-based solutions using native vegetation to rebuild dune habitats. These natural features serve as buffers, absorbing wave energy and enhancing resilience against erosion WikipediaSFGATE.

Key allocations include:

• $3.1M at Zuma Beach to widen the beach and create dune habitat (benefiting nearby Point Dume via downstream sand transport).

• $230K at Dockweiler Beach for sand barriers to protect parking lots and dune restoration.

• $1.7M at Redondo Beach for beach widening and dune creation SFGATE.

These funds will support design and environmental review, with construction expected in the coming years. Full build-out costs are projected to be significantly higher SFGATE.

Why It Matters: Public Access & Equity

A central goal of these dunes is to preserve public beach access, especially for underserved inland communities disproportionately affected by extreme heat and limited recreational options SFGATE.

Additional Strategies & Context

• LA County is exploring sand reuse—from development projects, dredging, and flood-control operations—to compensate for natural sediment loss caused by dams and seawalls SFGATE.

• A broader coastal resilience strategy is in play, building on a 2023 coastal resilience study and ongoing adaptation planning SFGATE.

Broader Perspective: A Statewide Climate Threat

Studies warn that by the end of the century, 25–70% of California’s beaches could be completely eroded if sea levels rise substantially—a trend that living shorelines aim to combat SFGATE.
Moreover, two-thirds of Southern California beaches could vanish without intervention under a 3-6-foot sea level rise scenario USGSSFGATE.

LA County’s $5.1 million "living shoreline" initiative marks a proactive, climate-smart step toward preserving its beaches. By restoring dune systems through native vegetation, supporting sand replenishment, and centering equitable public access, the region is embracing holistic coastal adaptation amid growing climate threats.

This blog post is based on reporting by Erin Rode in SF Gate, published August 30, 2025, “LA’s most iconic beaches are disappearing. A new project will try to save them.” SFGATE