VICTORY! Restore the Coastal Resilience Budget

California experienced a ‘parade of cyclones' in January 2023 that flooded homes, closed state parks, and damaged infrastructure. The same week, Governor Newsom proposed severe coastal resilience cuts to the State Budget. Surfrider led a coalition of 35 organizations to respond by urging the state to restore a budget that would better prepare coastal communities for the reality of sea level rise and storm surge.

The Administration's original proposal cut $481 million from the State Coastal Conservancy's adaptation and resiliency 2022-2025 budget, and $79 million from the Ocean Protection Council's 2023-2025 budget to facilitate ocean protection and prepare for sea level rise pursuant to Senate Bill 1.

After advocacy and legislative negotiation, the final 2024-25 budget restored $298.2 to the Coastal Conservancy for purposes of climate resiliency and $69.5 million to the Ocean Protection Council to plan for sea level rise and ocean protection. 

This funding will be used to fund projects like living shorelines that restore nature, facilitate coastal access and provide a buffer from storm surge. It will also be used to help local governments complete sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation plans.