California Coastal Analysis and Mapping Project (CCAMP)

​For decades, the Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) that govern land use along the California coastline were focused on conservation and recreation, but not mitigation. That’s changing thanks to a state grant program that has made millions of dollars available for local communities to update their LCPs, with priority given to those that address sea-level rise, increasing erosion, and other effects of climate change.

​Wave overtopping is a common coastal hazard and source of flooding along the Pacific coast. During severe coastal storms, high waves and wave runup can overtop coastal barriers including bluffs, dunes, seawalls, revetments, and beach berms. When this happens, the overtopping water floods the area immediately behind the barrier. In some cases, the overtopping water has enough energy and force to damage structures, including homes. Therefore, analysis of wave overtopping is typically an important part of a detailed coastal flood study. It is also useful for communities to understand the process of wave overtopping so they can identify where it is included on their coastal flood maps. Learn more about some of the physical aspects of wave overtopping, how it was analyzed and why it was mapped in the California Coastal Analysis and Mapping Project (CCAMP) Open Pacific Coast (OPC) Study in this article.