The County of Ventura is actively planning for sea level rise to protect coastal resources and to minimize impacts to residents, businesses, and visitors. The coastal zone in unincorporated Ventura County includes approximately 29 miles of coastline and is home to world class surf spots, including Rincon Point. Land uses along the County's coastline include public beaches, State park facilities, critical infrastructure such as bridges, State highways and coastal access routes, residential communities, agricultural fields, and one naval base. As such, coastal hazards associated with sea-level rise could result in significant impacts throughout the coastal zone.
The VC Resilient Coastal Adaptation Project (VC Resilient) strives to use the best available science to understand critical vulnerabilities and then to develop a balanced and forward-thinking response to sea-level rise. Through an understanding of coastal hazards, we can begin to prepare for a future when sea level rise impacts are more severe.
Generous grants from the California Coastal Commission and the California Coastal Conservancy, together with supplemental funding from the County of Ventura, have made this project possible.
A GIS Story Map is here! Click the link below to interactively view the County’s sea level rise maps online and learn more about the VC Resilient Project.
The first step in the VC Resilient Project is development of a Vulnerability Assessment. Click on the links below to read the Vulnerability Assessment. This assessment is an informational document that highlights potential impacts using three different sea level rise scenarios across the entire unincorporated County coastline. The Vulnerability Assessment includes analysis of sea level rise projections out to the year 2100. The best available science was used to complete the report with a range of projections, including those that we already face with high tides and storms.
The Vulnerability Assessment can be accessed through the following links. Due to the large file size, the assessment has been broken into segments.
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Report Body
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Appendix A - Sector Profile Maps - Part 1
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Appendix A - Sector Profile Maps - Part 2
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Appendix B - Vulnerability Results Table
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Appendix C - Social Vulnerability
- VC Resilient Vulnerability Assessment - Appendix D - Natural Resources Maps
The Vulnerability Assessment is a starting point for a common understanding of the risks, but it does not provide solutions. There are few easy solutions and most require additional input from the public and private landowners, resource agencies, through new and existing partnerships, and with additional funding. This first step is a comprehensive look at what happens and when it might happen. The next step is to begin planning for adaptation. Proactive, thoughtful adaptation planning will allow Ventura County to minimize risks and meet the challenges posed by rising seas.
A sea level rise adaptation report is currently underway. It is tentatively scheduled to be available for public review in early 2019. A public workshop with the Planning Commission to receive public input on the Vulnerability Assessment and the Adaptation Report will be scheduled in early 2019. Any questions regarding this project should be directed to the Case Planner, Aaron Engstrom at (805) 654-2936, or through an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Click here to subscribe to the VC Resilient stakeholder list. You will receive email notifications regarding this project and future public hearings.
VC Resilient Project
Please click on the links below to access the PowerPoint slideshows from public workshops for the Vulnerability Assessment that occurred on April 11, 2018.
Public Workshop "Frequently Asked Questions" handout
Click here.
Workshop #1 (North-and Central Coast Focused);
PowerPoint Slideshow
Workshop #2 (South-Coast Focused);
PowerPoint Slideshow
Links to two established sea level rise models that were used to develop the Vulnerability Assessment are provided below:
Existing Local Coastal Plan
See the existing Ventura County Planning documents for the LCP here:
Coastal Area PlanCoastal Zoning Ordinance
Categorical Exclusion Order (E-83-1 & E-83-1A)
Coastal Maps
North Coast Land Use MapNorth Coast Zoning Map
North Coast Aerial Map
Central Coast Land Use Map
Central Coast Zoning Map
Central Coast Aerial Map
South Coast Land Use Map
South Coast Zoning Map
South Coast Aerial Map