But the California of the future may not be so idyllic. Without action, the state’s beaches could soon disappear. Shoreline modeling photos from the U.S. Geological Survey show that in 100 years, the beachfront homes along a large section of Stinson Beach would likely be underwater. At Ocean Beach in San Francisco, the beach shrank to half its size. In one model, Santa Monica’s beach parking lot almost touches the waves.

By 2100, the water could creep up 1 meter, decreasing beaches by up to 75% without intervention. Almost everyone agrees that something needs to be done — it’s the “what” that’s causing problems. Beach nourishment, the act of adding sand to a beach, has become the current Band-Aid, but it’s an approach that no one seems to love. 

The very nature of remediation is controversial, with private and public property and the environment in conflict. Big ideas from one camp seem to come at a high cost for the others, causing stalemate as the state’s shoreline slowly slips beneath the waves. As climate change accelerates every year and sea levels rise, the Golden State must grapple with whether to give up this iconic, fundamental part of its land…