Goal 1: A community that is resilient to coastal flooding.

Coastal communities face additional challenges as it relates to flooding from tsunamis, rogue waves, king tides, storm surges, seiche, and precipitation that continues to intensify as sea-levels rise. With more frequent storms, it is important that the City and community are prepared for flood risks, especially along the coast. While infrastructure can protect the community in the event of flooding, it is also important that existing and planned development is modified and built to last and that the community is aware of how to best protect themselves and their property.

Goal 2: A community protected from floods through adequate and well-maintained infrastructure.

Infrastructure is an essential component of a community and must be developed and maintained to adequately respond to flood hazards. Sufficient infrastructure can consist of both nature-based and gray solutions to protect the community during storms, king tides, and other potential flood events. As the extent of flooding changes, the type of infrastructure needed may also change. Therefore, this goal is intended to address changing needs associated with flooding and the steps needed to adequately plan for such infrastructure.

Goal 3: Beaches that are maintained and protected from erosion.

The City’s beaches are an essential part of the community, providing recreational opportunities, driving tourism, which contributes to the local economy, supporting natural ecosystems, and protecting inland areas from flooding. Efforts to minimize erosion and the loss of sand will help protect the shoreline and maintain beaches.

Goal 4: Stabilized bluffs to minimize erosion and prevent landslides in developed areas.

Bluffs are an important part of the City’s landscape, providing valuable views, development of homes and other uses, and offering natural habitat for many plant and animal species. The land formations in and around Upper Newport Bay and the coastal cliffs and bluffs in and proximate to Corona del Mar are some of the most vulnerable. Development near coastal bluffs is vulnerable to damage from erosion or complete loss due to landslides.

Goal 5: Current and accessible data and information on flooding, beach erosion, and bluff erosion.

Projects and programs to manage the shoreline require up-to-date data for flood-prone locations, the direction and rate of sand and bluff erosion, among other information on changing conditions. Current, high-quality data allows for a more tailored, responsive approach to managing the shoreline.