Carpinteria Living Shoreline Project: Tribal Engagement and Nature-Based Coastal Resilience

CLIENT NEED

The Carpinteria Living Shoreline Project centers Tribal engagement and nature-based coastal resilience along the culturally significant shoreline of the Chumash People. The Chumash People have lived along the Carpinteria shoreline since time immemorial. The shoreline remains a site of great cultural importance to Chumash communities, especially given its proximity to the Ancestral village of Mishopshno.

In 2019, the City of Carpinteria completed a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan as part of a broader General Plan & Local Coastal Land Use Plan. This effort identified vulnerabilities in infrastructure and resources, as well as the potential for future damage from coastal hazards. The plan highlights sediment management and the implementation of a nature-based “living shoreline” dune system as promising strategies to address coastal erosion, flooding, and sea level rise.

From 2025 to 2027, Integral, Rincon, and Strategic Earth partner with the City to lead environmental review, engineering design, and robust Tribal and community engagement for a stabilized dune system and sediment nourishment program. This work focuses on the beach neighborhood and areas north of Carpinteria City Beach, including downtown Carpinteria. Additional project information is available on the City’s website.

STRATEGY

Strategic Earth supports the City of Carpinteria by leading Tribal engagement efforts for the Carpinteria Living Shoreline Project, centering Tribal voices, needs, and priorities in the development of a nature-based coastal resilience approach.

We engage with Tribes, Tribal Leaders, and Tribal communities through informal conversations, one-on-one “Cups of Tea,” Tribal-only gatherings, and sessions with the broader Carpinteria community. This relationship-centered approach creates space for trust-building, shared understanding, and meaningful dialogue throughout the project lifecycle.

KEY RESULTS AND OUTCOMES

• An Outreach and Engagement Strategy shaped by Tribal input and perspectives.
• Tribal Roundtables, community events, and one-on-one “Cups of Tea” with Tribal Leaders.
• A Public Engagement Findings Report summarizing engagement with Tribes.