ACTION ALERT: It’s Time To Stand Up For Our Coast!
- Matt Simmons
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
California's coastline is special. From the Smith River to the Tijuana River, 3,427 miles of coastline (if you count bays and inlets) offer some of the most breathtaking ecosystems, outdoor activities, and views in the entire country. In a State that isn’t lacking for incredible and diverse opportunities to enjoy nature, our coast stands out as a particular draw. And it’s not just its scenic and ecological appeal that is important; California’s coasts hold deep economic and cultural significance as well. Recognizing its unique and irreplaceable quality, Californians have long supported protecting our coastline for all Californians and future generations.
For more than 50 years, California has protected its shores through the strongest coastal management program in the nation. In particular, the California Coastal Commission has helped stop harmful offshore oil development, protected public beach access, restored wetlands, safeguarded wildlife habitat, and ensured that all Californians have a voice in decisions affecting our coast. Now those protections are under attack.
On June 26th, the Trump Administration published in the federal register a notice of formal review of California's Coastal Management Program under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be leading the review. Normally, these reviews only occur every 5 years. And when the review was conducted 2 years ago, in 2024, federal officials found that it was working exactly as intended.
Now, state leaders and coastal advocates are warning that this particular review is being used as an opportunity to weaken California's authority over federal actions that impact our coastline—including offshore oil drilling, pipelines, industrial development, deep seabed mining, and other projects with significant environmental impacts. California's Coastal Management Program gives the state an essential seat at the table whenever the federal government proposes activities that could affect our coast. It is our strongest tool available to ensure that federal projects are consistent with California's coastal laws and values.
Without a strong state coastal program:
It becomes easier for the federal government to push new offshore oil and gas development.
Harmful infrastructure projects could move forward with less state oversight.
Communities could lose an important voice in decisions that affect local beaches, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and coastal economies.
Decades of progress protecting public access, coastal habitats, and climate resilience could be undermined.
This review comes at a time when the Trump Administration is already trying to expand offshore drilling off our coast and reduce environmental safeguards. Here is a fact sheet with more information about the review. Weakening California's coastal authority under our coastal management program would make those efforts far easier.
If you care about California’s coast, I urge you to let the Federal Government know our message is simple: Californians want a strong Coastal Management Program that continues to protect our beaches, coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and economy—not one weakened to accommodate polluting industries.
You can also attend two virtual public meetings on August 11th and 12th from 2 p.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT. To register for either meeting, use the following link: https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/e23ewcr5d65q/event/event_info.html.
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