Public works crews in Malibu are working to keep Westward Beach Road from being overtaken by an eroding stretch of shoreline near Zuma Beach after repeated storm surf chewed away the sand, raising concerns about beach access and the nearby Sunset restaurant.
Here's what to know
In a TikTok post, ABC7 Los Angeles (@ABC7LA) said crews were "in a race against time trying to shore up a crumbling coastline undermining Westward Beach Road near Zuma Beach."
@abc7la Crews in Malibu in a race against time trying to shore up a crumbling coastline undermining Westward Beach Road near Zuma Beach. The erosion posing potential problems for the popular Sunset restaurant as well. Weeks of pounding surf from several storms have battered the beach, with more wicked waves expected. Eyewitness News is live with the public works crews desperately trying to repair the damage. This morning at 6 from ABC7.
♬ original sound - ABC7LA
The beach had already endured weeks of pounding from storm surf, and more heavy wave action was still forecast.
ABC7's footage shows public works crews dumping large reinforcement rocks at the base of an eroded part of the beach, "desperately trying to repair the damage."
Its report said the washout could also affect the Sunset restaurant. One video clip shows just how close the restaurant is to the encroaching waves.
The beachgoer shown in the video said, "Last time we were here was like a month ago, and we were sitting out where the waves are crashing now, cause the sand was way back there." She said that growing up, when she went to Zuma, she had never seen waves this large.
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One viewer wrote, "This is [too] sad to see."
"We'll be stuck in a cycle of fix-destroyed for years," another commented. "Climate change is here, we're not getting it back."
Their account suggested the shoreline had moved back noticeably, with surf reaching an area where they said they had been sitting.
What's being done?
With more surf expected, the short-term focus was to shield the area beside the road and limit risk to nearby property.
Public opinion represented by the comments section was split between adding tougher shoreline defenses and allowing more space for the beach to shift. In ABC7's report, the only concrete response described was crews attempting to mitigate further erosion.
The beachgoer in the video said, "This sand is disappearing, definitely."
Where can I learn more?
Malibu isn't the only coastal community grappling with erosion as storms and rising seas reshape the shoreline.
• A report revealed that Stinson Beach, California, needs $1.2 billion to defend homes, roads, and beaches.
• In Stonington, Maine, officials warned a wall of water threatens roads, buildings, and working waterfronts.
• In Maui, officials say more than 30,000 structures face growing danger from sea-level rise.
• Along Massachusetts' Cape Ann, planners warned no central plan existed for adapting to rising seas.
• On Australia's coast, residents say worsening winds, waves, and tides have caused "no end of problems."
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