Man-made dunes may one day help shield Stinson Beach from rising seas and coastal storms, if the county and coastal land managers follow through with the idea. This Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a $200,000 grant application with California State Parks for a feasibility study that will explore implementing “nature-based green infrastructure” at the beach. Since the creation of dunes has less impact to beach ecology than hardscape alternatives like seawalls, the county believes such a project will be easier to permit under California Coastal Commission and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary policies. Dunes also have the added benefit of providing habitat for native species. “As a coastal community, we know a lot about constructing other types of shoreline protection, such as seawalls, but we are still learning how to do these other kinds of projects that incorporate more natural materials,” Doug George, a coastal scientist at the Greater Farallones Association, which is collaborating with the county, said. “Doing this study will give us the chance to elevate our knowledge about dune restoration primarily, and then we can compare that with other kinds of alternatives.” Mr. George said the idea is to mimic natural dunes in the area, though the feasibility study will hammer out details such as size and the types of native vegetation that could help provide dune integrity. Stinson Beach is one of West Marin’s most vulnerable communities to rising seas, coastal storms and erosion, according to recent county assessments. A staff report presented to supervisors this week explains that since much of the beach is backed by development, roadways and hills, there is minimal room for natural retreat. “If no action is taken, the beach at Stinson will likely be a victim of ‘coastal squeeze,’ as water and waves erode and drown this resource of great natural, economic and cultural importance,” the report states. Within just 12 years, 200 to 400 of Stinson Beach’s homes, along with its roadways and utilities such as septic systems and water lines, could be exposed to flooding, according to county reports. By the end of the century, 600 homes could be affected. Six and a half feet of sea-level rise and a single 100-year storm—the county’s long-term forecast, for 2100—could leave just six feet of beach. The feasibility study has the support of the Stinson Beach County Water District, the Stinson Beach Village Association, the Greater Farallones sanctuary and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. If funds are obtained, the study will likely take up to two years.