Protect Sonoma County's Magnificent Coast

The Sonoma County Local Coastal Program (LCP) plays a crucial role in managing and safeguarding our cherished coastal areas. As we navigate the challenges of an ever-changing climate and growing development pressures, it becomes increasingly essential to emphasize the importance of coastal protections for the County’s magnificent coast.

Sonoma County has been working for several years to update the LCP. At the last minute, before adoption, County staff caved to developer pressure and recommended to eliminate parcel-specific coastal protections for many of the County’s remaining undeveloped parcels that have been protected under the existing LCP since 1981. Those include Fort Ross, Timber Cove, Bodega Bay and more. This would have sent the wrong message and  paved the way for coastal development that could negatively impact coastal habitat and public access to the coast. 

Surfrider's Sonoma Coast chapter jumped into action, along with local activists, and campaigned to keep these special protections in place for Sonoma's magnificent coast. On July 17, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the CDP with all the site-specific plans in tact (and made some improvements to them)! The County will now seek final certification from the California Coastal Commission.