California Sea Grant College Program

This article provides a synthesis of the virtual Coastal Dunes for Resilience Workshop held on December 8th and 9th, 2021. In an effort to foster knowledge-sharing across these sites and disseminate information and lessons learned, the California Dune Science Network hosted the Workshop that featured recent dune research, information about nature-based dune and resilience projects, and collaborative learning opportunities at California's pilot project and natural dune sites. It also engaged diverse perspectives on coastal resource stewardship, public access, and culturally inclusive climate adaptation approaches and how these play a role in the success of coastal dune resilience efforts. 

The Coastal Dunes for Resiliency Workshop provided an initial opportunity for ideas and strategies to be shared amongst the many practitioners working in the coastal resilience space. The workshop highlighted common challenges, needs, and four emerging themes for implementing coastal dunes for resilience in California: (1) there is no one-size-fits-all approach to designing dunes for resilience, (2) defining resilience goals and expectations are key to selecting an effective dunes approach, (3) importance of socio-cultural engagement and perceptions in dune project success, and (4) evaluating project and shoreline resilience is key to optimizing project designs and developing best practices.

These initial recommendations will allow for further conversations on how to evaluate strategies and move forward in a more unified and efficient way to meet the needs of our coastal communities and ecosystems. The Network will continue to build its base of knowledge and contribute to best practices that make sense for the California landscape. Further workshops should dig into the details of how to effectively design dune resilience projects and monitoring and management strategies, while meeting the changing and unique needs of beach users and coastal community members and infrastructure impacted by sea-level rise.

The California Dune Science Network (Network) is a collaborative effort to expand understanding of coastal dunes and their role in building a resilient, transitional, and adaptive coast for future generations. In an effort to foster knowledge-sharing across these sites and disseminate information and lessons learned, the Network hosted a virtual Coastal Dunes for Resilience Workshop on December 8th and 9th, 2021. The workshop featured recent dune research, information about nature-based dune and resilience projects, and collaborative learning opportunities at California's pilot project and natural dune sites. It also engaged diverse perspectives on coastal resource stewardship, public access, and culturally inclusive climate adaptation approaches and how these play a role in the success of coastal dune resilience efforts.

In 2016, a series of workshops were held to discuss living shorelines in Southern

California. The workshops specifically focused on the unique benefits, challenges and

opportunities for implementing living shorelines in the region, and the nexus between

nature-based solutions and ongoing local adaptation planning. Approximately 140

participants partook in these dialogues, and some of the key themes that emerged

include:

 Letting nature do the work for you

 Designing for the future

 Integrating nature into shoreline management projects

 Project goals distinguishing living shorelines

 Engineering and urban living shorelines

 Space constraints along urban coastlines

 Permitting pathways to support demonstration projects

 Living shorelines and phased sea level rise planning

 Designing with watersheds and sediment management in mind

 Exploring emerging commercial opportunities

 Public access and project success

 Planning for living shorelines alongside the community

 Sharing monitoring and best practices to ensure future success

 Citizen science and socio-ecological monitoring

The workshops provided the first ever opportunity for Southern California stakeholders

to outline what is unique about designing living shorelines in the context of Southern

California shorelines for state and federal entities.