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TAKE ACTION

URGE CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL TO SAVE THE BEACH

On Tuesday, April 23, the Carlsbad City Council will receive an update on the City's efforts to realign traffic off the beach along South Carlsbad Boulevard at Las Encinas Creek, aka "dip in the road." 

This coastal adaptation project will move a threatened roadway out of harm’s way and create a climate-resilient public beach in place of one that is narrow and rapidly eroding. But it still needs to be prioritized, funded, and executed correctly. 

If you support proactive planning to ensure our beaches have a future in light of sea level rise and erosion, please consider emailing City Council to ask them to prioritize this project - we've made it easy for you!

Want to know more? Check out this blog post for a detailed overview of this project, why we support it, & what's at stake.

SUBMIT A WRITTEN COMMENT

(email clerk@carlsbadca.gov if button does not work.)

Subject Line: Comments on Item #6, S Carlsbad Blvd Adaptation  

Body of Email: (something simple like the sentence below, or work with the suggested talking points below - personalize as you see fit!) 

In order to save the beach at Las Encinas Creek, please support "Retreat Now" as the preferred project alternative and direct staff to seek additional funding with that vision in mind. 

Emails should be submitted by 2pm on Monday, April 22

SUPER BUSY? CLICK BELOW FOR A PRE-WRITTEN EMAIL

(You can also email clerk@carlsbadca.gov)

Suggested Talking Points

• If you are a Carlsbad resident or frequent Carlsbad's beaches, please say so.
• Thank you for your leadership on this important coastal adaptation project.
• Please choose "Retreat Now" as the preferred project alternative. Removing the existing roadway once the new one is built will restore the beach at Las Encinas Creek and preserve it for future generations.
• Please direct staff to aggressively pursue current state and federal coastal resilience funding in order to prioritize "Retreat Now" and pay for this critical climate adaptation project. 
• Leaving the existing roadway in place may seem cheaper and easier in the short-term, but it will ultimately be costly and self-defeating. The road already floods and will suffer more damage and inundation as sea levels rise. There is no need to wait for more "triggers."
• Sadly, the beach in this area is already inaccessible and dangerous during high tides due to the existing road and the rock revetment placed on the beach to protect it. We want beaches with safe access and towel space, not rock revetments. 
• A protected bike and pedestrian lane can be put anywhere, but a beach cannot. Preserving coastal resources, and our access to them, is of paramount concern. Meanwhile, the preferred design for the realigned roadway incorporates a "Complete Streets" design, featuring wide bike and pedestrian lanes. 
• Since staff is not asking for any further City Council action at this time,  please consider a motion to support "Retreat Now" as the preferred concept (as the Beach Preservation Commission did). 

ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING

We encourage members of the public to attend the City Council meeting and make an in-person comment, especially Carlsbad residents and anyone who enjoys the Carlsbad coast. The City Council agenda can be found HERE, the meeting starts at 5pm and this will be the last item (agenda #6).

Members of the public receive 3 minutes to speak, occasionally  less if there are many speakers. If you would like to speak, you must submit a written speaker request card anytime before the item begins (more info HERE).

Surfrider volunteers will meet outside the council chambers at 440pm. Please reply to this email if you have any questions or would like to join us!