County scientist looks to create ‘living shorelines’ at Tiburon Peninsula beaches

A team of scientists led by a county engineer plans to create three man-made beaches in Tiburon and Strawberry, replacing mud scarp and construction debris with gently sloping sand and gravel. Once completed, the beaches would guard against shoreline erosion, engineers say, and provide a friendlier environment for both wildlife and park users. The team, led by Senior Flood Control Engineer Roger Leventhal of the Marin County Public Works Department, was granted $225,000 from the county and the California Coastal Conservancy to design demonstration beaches at Blackie’s Pasture, Paradise Beach Park and off Seminary Drive in Strawberry. The plan is to demonstrate a more natural approach to fighting shore erosion, replacing hard materials like seawalls and riprap bouldering with “living shorelines.” (Elliot Karlan photo / For The Ark)

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