In response to decades of beach erosion, the property owners of Broad Beach have banded together and formed a Geologic Hazard Abatement District ("GHAD") to implement a long-term shoreline protection plan to return Broad Beach to its historical proportions and splendor. The proposed project consists of: 1) sand nourishment; 2) dune restoration; 3) sand backpassing (moving sand from wider reaches of the beach to narrower reaches of the beach when objective triggers are reached) designed to prolong nourishment, and 4) retaining the existing rock revetment seaward of certain Broad Beach properties as a permanent protective structure buried under both the restored beach and dune. This exciting, privately funded project will create an approximate 65'-75' wide dry sand beach and 40'-60' wide restored dune system for all to enjoy. It will also provide long-needed protection to private property immediately inland of the sand and dunes. The GHAD has committed to conducting and maintaining this beach restoration and preservation project for decades into the future, complete with sand sourced from inland locations.
The project includes the initial sand replenishment of 300,000 cubic yards (cy) of sand, dune restoration, related preservation work, and future sand backpassing and renourishment activities. The project applications have required significant studies and technical analyses. A team of coastal engineers, biologists, surveyors, lawyers, and other professionals have been working with volunteer property owner lay leadership to bring this project to fruition since the placement of the emergency revetment seaward of some Broad Beach homes in early 2010.
Project representatives have met and enjoy regular dialogue with all of the federal, state, regional, and local agencies involved in the permitting process. The State Lands Commission (SLC) has been designated the lead agency for the project and is analyzing environmental impacts. To date, the GHAD has received a consolidated Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission (October 2015) and approval from the State Lands Commission (August 2016).
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is finalizing the parallel federal process of studying the project's environmental impacts. Formal permit applications have also been filed with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (water quality certification). Multiple other agencies are also involved in the Project.
The GHAD hopes to obtain all permits and entitlements by 2017, and remains optimistic that the restoration will be implemented by Fall 2017. The restoration work should take about four to six months to complete once it is fully permitted. The GHAD would also assume monitoring and maintenance obligations.
WHAT IS A GHAD?
Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts ("GHADs") are political subdivisions of the state (Public Resources Code § 26500 et. seq.) formed in specific geographic areas to respond to geologic hazards. Approximately 40 GHADs exist in California (some are inactive) with approximately 4 of these formed to address coastal erosion issues.
The City of Malibu approved the formation of the Broad Beach GHAD on September 12, 2011. The Broad Beach GHAD spans the entirety of Broad Beach and a portion of Victoria Point (from Trancas Creek at the east to Lechuza Point at the west) starting at 30708 Broad Beach Road in the east and concluding with 6525 Point Lechuza Road in the west.​
GHADs finance their response and maintenance work through assessments of property owners who own real estate within the boundaries of the designated district. State law authorizes GHADs to issue and service bonds, notes, or other debentures. The assessments and associated financing of the GHAD improvements are overseen entirely by the GHAD's Board of Directors. The Broad Beach GHAD Board has approved and passed a resolution (Resolution No. 2011/03) accepting the Plan of Control, which serves as the guiding document for the GHAD, and a resolution adopting the Engineer's Report (Resolution Nos. 2012/01 and 2015/03), which specifies the work to be completed and financing for same. The manner in which assessments are calculated is based upon the amount of linear beach frontage owned by each GHAD member. Broad Beach GHAD projects will remain subject to all required regulatory agencies, including the CCC, SLC, Army Corps, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the City of Malibu.