Today, Santa Monica Beach stands as one of the world’s most iconic coastal destinations, stretching over three miles (4.8 km) and covering 245 acres (1 sq km) of pristine sand. In 2023, the beach attracted a staggering 4.6 million visitors. However, this picturesque paradise wasn’t always as inviting; it was once characterized by rocky cliffs and wild coastline, a stark contrast to the bustling beach scene we see today.
In the early 20th century, Miami was the epicenter of beach tourism in the United States, boasting miles of golden sand and a warm climate that beckoned travelers. On the opposite coast, Los Angeles’s beaches were much less inviting. The region featured steep cliffs and crashing waves, with only small stretches of sandy shore. City officials recognized the need for transformation. “Santa Monica wanted to establish itself as the resort city for the rich and famous,” explains Elsa Devienne, a historian at Northumbria University who has studied Los Angeles' beach history. “These beach cities had big ambitions.”
As the population surged during the 1920s, families flocked to Santa Monica and Venice, crowding the already narrow beaches. Devienne’s research indicates that these beaches were once only 75 to 100 feet wide, compared to today’s expansive 500-foot stretches. To solve the problem of overcrowding, municipal officials decided to dramatically expand the beach.
From 1939 to 1957, a monumental undertaking transformed Santa Monica Beach. Officials sourced sand from various locations, including Playa del Rey and even the ocean floor, dumping a staggering 13.4 million cubic meters of sediment onto the shoreline. “They played God with that landscape,” Devienne reflects, noting that the ambitious project largely succeeded, resulting in the beautiful beaches we enjoy today.
Yet, while Santa Monica was transformed into a sandy oasis, concerns about climate change and coastal erosion began to emerge. The wide, welcoming beaches that had withstood time were now increasingly vulnerable to storm surges and rising sea levels. Predictions indicate that Southern California could lose a third to two-thirds of its beaches by 2100 due to these environmental threats.
Historically, natural sand dunes helped protect coastlines from erosion and flooding. However, ongoing beach grooming practices, aimed at maintaining the beach's aesthetic for recreational activities, had stripped away much of the natural habitat. Tom Ford, president of the nonprofit The Bay Foundation, identified the need to restore the natural dune ecosystem to combat these challenges.
In late 2015, The Bay Foundation launched a restoration project by cordoning off a three-acre area and dispersing native seeds such as beach evening primrose and flowering sand verbena. The goal was to halt destructive grooming practices and allow native plant communities to flourish. Over time, these plants would naturally capture windblown sand, forming dunes that serve as a protective barrier against erosion.
By March 2016, the results of this initiative were evident: the federally threatened western snowy plover, a species absent from the region for nearly 70 years, returned to nest within the newly formed dunes. Ford and his team were astonished by the quick response of both the plovers and native plant species that began to emerge. “It really was a breakout year,” Ford noted, emphasizing the ecological significance of this revival.
As the dunes grew taller, the habitat began to attract various wildlife, including dune beetles, which contribute to the food chain for shorebirds. The stark contrast between the restored habitat and the groomed beach highlighted the ecological benefits of the project. Visitors began to appreciate the natural beauty of the coastline, recognizing that beaches need not resemble “a giant sandy parking lot.”
In January 2023, a powerful storm tested the newly restored dunes, bringing high tides and significant ocean swell. While many beaches in Los Angeles faced substantial erosion, the restored area remained largely unscathed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the sand dunes as a natural barrier. Timu Gallien, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at UCLA, noted that dunes help mitigate the impact of wave run-up and flooding, protecting vital infrastructure and ecosystems behind the shoreline.
Gallien has joined The Bay Foundation’s project to monitor the ongoing changes in the coastal ecosystem. “Anecdotally, we’ve seen that stopping beach grooming has allowed nature to take her course,” he explains. Similar projects in other regions, like Cardiff State Beach in San Diego, have set a precedent for living shorelines—coastal areas made of natural materials that protect communities while providing habitats for wildlife.
As climate change continues to threaten coastal areas, the restoration of natural sand dunes represents a sustainable solution for enhancing beach resilience. “Sand dunes are nature’s way of protecting its coast,” Gallien emphasizes. “We’ve often paved over those or built upon them, but living shoreline projects are about engineering with nature, not against her.”
The success of the Santa Monica Beach restoration highlights a crucial shift toward embracing natural ecosystems as a buffer against climate challenges. By fostering biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience, initiatives like those led by The Bay Foundation offer hope for the future of Santa Monica Beach and its iconic status.
