Sunset Cliffs is a hidden gem along the western side of Point Loma and a Master Plan was approved to protect it's natural beauty. The park is a local favorite but slowly over the years it has attracted many more admirers and the City with help from the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council are working to manage the effects of erosion which inevitably wreak havoc on the gently sloping sandstone , called the Point Loma Formation.
Uphill runoff is the main contributor of the erosion. Some of the effects are turbidity in the water which is not healthy for marine life on the coastal shelf and there is also the issue of more rapid loss of the Cliffs themselves.
Revegation with the use of native plants is one solution. This helps to absorb some of the runoff. Also creating a trail system with more winding paths that do not encourage water flow straight up and down the hill. Reworking parking lots up the hill are also being considered. These act as water conduits during the rainy winter months
Native plantings have many advantages... their roots are stronger and they look greener throughout the year and have longer blooming cycles and most importantly don't need extra water. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council is a good resource for tracking the implimentation of the Master Plan. They have a website : www.sunsetcliffs.info . It's a new site so suggestions are welcome. Meetings are held monthly and the public is welcome to join. Information about the native plants that can be used effectively by all residents who live on or near the Cliffs is available on the website and by contacting the Council.
