Mission
The mission of the CSMW is to facilitate regional approaches to protecting, enhancing and restoring California's coastal beaches and watersheds through federal, state and local cooperative efforts.
Goals
In support of this mission, the goals of the group are to:
- Coordinate California’s coastal beach and watershed restoration, protection and enhancement efforts with local, state and federal stakeholders and programs;
- Better coordinate coastal sediment management and beach nourishment activities with related ongoing coastal watershed management, habitat restoration and protection, water quality enhancement, resource sustainability, and urban waterfront planning efforts;
- Increase awareness of state and federal coastal beach and watershed protection, restoration and enhancement policies, programs and activities among local and regional governments; and
- Prioritize sediment needs and opportunities, make such information available to resource managers and the public, and identify opportunities to streamline regional sediment management activities in California by developing a comprehensive "Sediment Management Plan".
Overview
The California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup (CSMW) was established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the California Resources Agency (Resources Agency) in 1999 to develop regional approaches to protecting, enhancing and restoring California's coastal beaches and watersheds through federal, state and local cooperative efforts.
The CSMW is the first state and federal partnership developed in California for on-going, multi-agency interaction on statewide coastal sediment management issues. Until the CSMW was formed, The Corps, Resources Agency, regional government agencies and local coastal communities separately conducted studies, beach nourishment, harbor maintenance, habitat restoration and other efforts.
The CSMW was formed in response to concerns voiced at a meeting between the Resources Agency and Corps on shore protection needs in California. The consensus was that coastal sediment management is a key factor in developing strategies to conserve and restore California's coastal beaches and watersheds.
The Corps participates in the CSMW as the federal agency with the mission, authority and capability to assist in managing and restoring coastal shorelines, wetlands, and watersheds. In addition, the Corps has lead federal authority for flood control, ecosystem restoration and navigation activities that provide systematic coastal sediment management linkages. The Los Angeles, San Francisco and South Pacific Divisions all participate in the CSMW.
The Resources Agency participates as the state "superagency" that oversees conserving, enhancing and managing California's natural and cultural resources, including coastal beaches, coastal watersheds and the ocean ecosystem. Resources Agency member groups include the Ocean Resources Management Program, Department of Boating and Waterways, Department of Park and Recreation, California Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, California Geologic Survey and Department of Fish and Game.
The California Coastal Coalition (CalCoast) is a non-profit organization comprised of cities, counties and regional government agencies along the coast. CalCoast advises the CSMW with local feedback and updates regarding projects and studies underway in coastal communities.
The entities that participate in an advisory capacity include the federal Minerals Management Service and U.S. Geological Survey, and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).
Participants can use group discussions to strengthen their own coastal sediment management programs. The CSMW provides a forum to enhance these individual efforts, minimize redundant studies and ensure that various studies are being conducted in a complementary way.
Together, the CSMW is overseeing the California Coastal Sediment Management Plan (SMP). The SMP will identify and prioritize regional sediment management needs and opportunities along the California coast, provide this information to resource managers and the general public, and streamline sediment management activities. Such issues may include coastal erosion, recreational opportunities, dredging and sediment flow through coastal watersheds.