King tides this weekend to offer glimpse into what Ventura's future might be

Twice a year, an astronomical tide carries seawater well above its usual path, onto walking paths and nearer to homes and businesses. King tides show where California's coastline may be headed, as the impacts of climate change become more pronounced. 

This weekend, the tides are headed our way.

“We kind of see it as a peek into the future with rising sea levels," said Paul Jenkin, Ventura Campaign coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation. "If these extreme tides become our normal tides, the higher high tides will be higher and when the storms come, we’ll see significant impacts along the coast.”

At 8 a.m. Sunday and 8:30 a.m. Monday, see the impact of high tides with groups that are closely tracking changes to the shoreline. 

IF YOU GO
What: King tides
When: Sunday at 8 a.m. and Monday at 8:30 a.m. 
Where: At the flag just west of the Ventura County Fairgrounds' Derby Club at 10 W. Harbor Blvd.
What: Surfrider and BEACON will host strolls, talks and provide information about how to get involved.  

Members of Surfrider and Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON) will be there to share information and provide solutions to address what's happening. Meet them at the flag pole just west of the Ventura County Fairgrounds’ Derby Club.

Don't forget your camera. 

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To chronicle the impact of king tides, and how the tides themselves are changing, Surfrider and BEACON are partnering with LightHawk, an organization that documents environmental issues from the air. They'll be in the air Monday morning. 

Jenkin said that in 2015 there was significant flooding along the lanes in Ventura’s Pierpont community, where homes just about touch the beach.

“There are significant vulnerabilities on our coast,” Jenkin said.

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There are parts of Highway 101, and the old Pacific Coast Highway that’s “overtopped frequently and all those houses built along the shoreline that will be increasingly vulnerable as shore levels rise,” he said. 

There are sea walls, rocks and other barriers being put up to fend off rising waters, but Jenkin said managed retreat is the most effective strategy.

Interested in learning more about what's been done to proactively prepare for the future? On Tuesday, the board for the Ventura County Fairgrounds will get an update on the second phase of the Surfers Point Managed Shoreline Retreat Project. 

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In 2011, officials completed a multiagency effort to return a portion of Surfers Point to its natural state. It cost just under $5 million and involved taking out a 120-space parking lot, moving the bike path inland 65 feet and installing dunes full of native vegetation.

The second phase, north of there, would line up the bike path and remove a second parking lot.

The board will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the director's room at the Derby Club, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Get more information at https://bit.ly/2ARRqwJ. The information related to the project starts on page 27.