COAST CITIES — The first week of January 2014, some of the year’s highest tides will hit California shorelines, providing a glimpse of what the state can expect as sea-level rises, according to the California Coastal Commission.
In North County, beaches most affected will include Oceanside Beach, San Elijo Lagoon, Del Mar Dog Beach/San Dieguito Lagoon Entrance, Torrey Pines (where Penasquitos enters the ocean) and La Jolla Shores.
The ultra-high or “king tides” occur primarily in the morning Dec. 30 through Jan. 2 and again Jan. 29 through Jan. 31. The California King Tides Initiative, now in its fourth season, encourages the public to view and photograph ultra-high tides and add to a growing collection at flickr.com/groups/cakingtides.
Initiative organizers aim to help the public envision how California may be affected by sea-level rise (National Academy of Sciences projects one foot of sea-level rise by 2050).
“Many of our beaches, trails, wetlands, roadways, and critical infrastructure become flooded during king tides, illustrating the severity and scope of potential sea-level rise impacts. Significant economic impacts underscore the need to start planning for sea level rise in California now,” said Susan Hansch, Chief Deputy Director at the California Coastal Commission, an Initiative organizer. The commission is inviting the public to provide input on its recently released Draft Sea-Level Rise Policy. The document is designed to assist local planners and others in addressing sea-level rise in Commission planning efforts. More information is available at coastal.ca.gov/climate/SLRguidance.html.
