California residents in Half Moon Bay have been in conflict with authorities over the proposed construction of a permanent 257-foot concrete seawall along the coast. The growing threat of rising sea levels has put many California homes at risk, with Half Moon Bay being particularly vulnerable. Following a 2016 storm, local residents petitioned the California Coastal Commission to build a seawall to safeguard the area from further erosion.

However, the commission rejected the request, citing that seawalls could only protect properties built before the California Coastal Act was established in 1977. In response, the homeowners' association filed a lawsuit and won. Despite this, the commission appealed the ruling, which has now been taken to court in San Francisco. Local media reports indicate that the court plans to reverse the previous decision, siding with the commission and blocking the seawall construction.

Currently, seawalls already protect approximately 33% of Southern California's coastline. While seawalls help prevent bluff erosion, they also hinder the natural movement of beaches inland, which reduces public access to these coastal areas. This has sparked opposition from environmental groups, including the Surfrider Foundation, which argues against expanding seawall construction.

The Surfrider Foundation's San Diego branch voiced opposition to the proposed seawall in Half Moon Bay, aiming to prevent the "seawall precedent" from spreading further. In November, a 3,200-foot-long seawall along the San Francisco coastline faced similar resistance. A Surfrider spokesperson stated, "Every time a seawall is approved it increases the likelihood that more seawalls will be approved and the more we guarantee the loss of our beaches."

Jennifer Savage, Surfrider’s California Policy Associate Director, told Newsweek, “When you put up the seawall, you essentially kill the beach, because it destroys the natural interaction between the waves and the natural landscape, so the sand gets scoured away because the ocean just bounces off of the seawall.” She added, "Every time a seawall is approved, we're saying that the person or corporation whose property we're protecting, from the ocean is more important than the public's right to the beach."

Savage also highlighted that alternative solutions, such as restoring natural dunes, offer better protection from erosion without compromising beach access. These methods use natural landscapes as buffers instead of artificial barriers.

The California Coastal Commission was contacted for comment, but no response was received outside of working hours. A final decision is expected following a December 11 hearing, as reported by San Diego Reader.

Concerns about rising sea levels have grown recently due to extreme weather events. In November, a bomb cyclone brought severe weather to the Pacific Northwest, causing widespread power outages and fatalities. California's Lake Oroville also saw a dramatic 18-foot water level increase after several atmospheric rivers impacted the state.