As winter approaches, California prepares for storms and higher tides, a reminder of the ocean’s immense power and need for action along the coast. This December, King Tides (December 13-15, 2024) will provide a glimpse into the future – a preview of what higher sea levels may look like in our everyday lives even when extreme weather events are not occurring. With climate change accelerating sea level rise, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is leading efforts to ensure our ecosystems and communities are resilient for decades to come. 

Coastal Resilience: A Dynamic Approach 

Resilience isn’t static. As sea levels rise, the risks of flooding increase significantly. Beaches erode, roads become impassable, and homes are threatened. Resilience means addressing these challenges head-on by integrating the best available science, planning, and community collaboration – and continuing to adapt as conditions change. 

The State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update, developed and adopted by OPC, is a key resource as California coastal communities confront the growing challenges of sea level rise.  By offering updated sea level rise scenarios and a precautionary approach, the guidance helps local governments and stakeholders plan for the future by making informed decisions about adapting to the accelerating impacts of sea level rise. It also highlights the importance of equitable adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable communities – those that are most prone to flooding or other coastal hazards as sea levels rise. As California communities look ahead, this guidance ensures that communities are equipped to act and prepare proactively, rather than reactively. This guidance has been translated for use by partner state agencies, including an update to the Coastal Commission’s Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance and adoption of San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan, ensuring best available science is informing local sea level rise planning efforts. 

Nature as a Partner in Protection 

California’s 1,100 miles of coastline face unique risks from sea level rise, but also offers unparalleled opportunities for innovation, such as working with natural processes rather than against them. Coastal wetlands and dunes, for instance, serve as natural buffers, absorbing wave energy and reducing the impact of rising tides. Wetland restoration projects along California’s coastline combat erosion and also provide essential flood protection for nearby communities. Similarly, restored dunes help stabilize beaches, reducing the risk of infrastructure damage while creating recreational and ecological benefits.  

OPC recognizes that restoring and preserving coastal ecosystems supports their multifaceted role as habitats for wildlife, frontline defenses for communities, and vital economic and recreational sources of opportunity for all Californians. OPC’s strategic investments and funding opportunities, including the Senate Bill 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program, help ensure that communities are planning for the impacts of sea level rise and prioritizing projects that address future hazards from changing sea levels.

Building a Resilient Future Together 

Sea level rise isn’t a challenge that any one group can solve or combat alone. OPC’s work is rooted in collaboration—connecting scientists, policymakers, tribes, and local leaders to develop strategies that benefit both people and nature. Coastal resilience also depends on individual and community actions, and it is vital that it extend to advancing equity and environmental justice. Low-income and marginalized communities often face the greatest risks from coastal impacts, including flooding inundation and mobilization of toxics. OPC ensures that resilience and adaptation planning includes and elevates these voices, so solutions work for everyone. 

Whether it’s supporting coastal adaptation efforts, advocating for sustainable policies, or reducing emissions that contribute to climate change, every step helps protect the California coast we love. 

Beyond the Waves 

California’s coastline is more than a boundary – it’s a source of life, inspiration, and connection. The rising tides remind us of what we stand to lose, but they also call us to action. Through science, policy, and collaboration, OPC is working to safeguard this invaluable resource for future generations. 

Higher tides are coming, and with them, a chance to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect the coast. This winter, let’s look beyond the waves to the work being done—and the work still needed—to create a future where California’s coast remains resilient, vibrant, and thriving. 

To learn more about OPC’s efforts to address coastal resilience and the impacts of sea level rise, visit our Sea Level Rise webpage. 

King Tides:
Seeing the Future, Taking Action Now 

King Tides, (very high tides, caused by alignment of the gravitational pull between the sun, moon, and Earth) offer a chance to witness firsthand what higher seas could mean for California. Roads that flood only occasionally today may become permanently submerged in the future. Coastal habitats, already squeezed by human development, could disappear under rising waters. 

Californians are encouraged to participate in the California Coastal Commission’s California King Tides Project, documenting these extreme tides to build a visual record of change. These images not only inform scientific research but also bring the issue of sea level rise to life, making it tangible for communities and policymakers alike. 

Photos courtesy of the California King Tides Project