Pacifica State Beach

Between 1989 and 2005, Pacifica State Beach was the focus of an extensive beach habitat restoration program, in association with the San Pedro Creek flood control and habitat restoration. In 2002, as part of a partnership with the Pacifica Land Trust and the California Coastal Conservancy, this involved the $2.2 million purchase and removal of two oceanside homes and surrounding acreage for the purpose of beach and estuary restoration.{{cite web|date=July 17, 2006|title=NOAA Case Study: Pacifica State Beach Adopts Managed Retreat Strategy|url=http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/initiatives/shoreline_ppr_retreat.html#1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004042356/http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/initiatives/shoreline_ppr_retreat.html|archive-date=October 4, 2006|access-date=2010-01-23|website=coastalmanagement.noaa.gov}}

This project was identified as a Top Restored Beach by the

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association in 2005, cited as "...an example of a well-planned, well-executed coastal project that is the product of cooperative efforts of the local community, state and federal agencies, scientists, engineers and citizens. The complex beach and habitat restoration project involved over 10 regulatory and permitting agencies, funding from eight granting agencies and the active participation of eight environmental groups. It is one of the first beaches to utilize managed retreat as a method of shoreline protection. In addition to beach nourishment, it has restored habitat for four threatened and endangered species and enhanced community access with expanded parking lots, trails and new restrooms.

The World Dog Surfing Championships have been held at Pacifica State Beach since 2016.Rachael Myrow, [https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2016/09/11/surfing-dogs-crush-it-at-norcal-championships-in-pacifica/ "Surfing Dogs Crush It at NorCal Championships in Pacifica"], KQED, September 11, 2016.

Pacifica State Beach provides habitat for the western snowy plover, a shorebird which is designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/WSP/plover.html |title=Western Snowy Plover Species Profile, Fish and Wildlife Service |access-date=2010-01-23}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sfchron.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inpeninsulacoastside/detail?&entry_id=53051 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110805063623/http://www.sfchron.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inpeninsulacoastside/detail?&entry_id=53051 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-08-05 |title=SF Chronicle: Help save endangered snowy plovers @ Pacifica State Beach in Linda Mar |access-date=2010-01-23 }}

File:The Most Beautiful Taco Bell in the World.jpg

The Taco Bell restaurant on the beach side of the highway is reputed to be the world's most scenic Taco Bell location.{{cite book |author=Jan Friedman |title=Eccentric California (Bradt Travel Guide) |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |year=2005 |pages=95 |isbn=1-84162-126-9 }}{{cite web |last1=Bravo |first1=Tony |last2=Compton |first2=Laura |title=5 Northern California destinations that scream summer |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/guide/5-northern-california-destinations-that-scream-summer |website=Datebook |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=11 August 2023}} The structure was built in the late 1960s and originally operated as an A&W Restaurant.{{cite web |last1=Brinklow |first1=Adam |title=Architecturally stunning Pacifica Taco Bell remodeled |url=https://sf.curbed.com/2019/7/10/20689137/pacifica-taco-bell-remodel-cantina-alcohol |website=Curbed |date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=11 August 2023}} In 1972, California voters passed Proposition 20, which established the California Coastal Commission and barred buildings west of Highway 1; however, the Taco Bell was allowed to continue operations after being grandfathered in.{{cite web |last1=Hartlaub |first1=Peter |title=Chalupa in paradise: Does Pacifica have the world's best Taco Bell? |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Chalupa-in-paradise-Does-Pacifica-have-the-13379462.php |website=San Francisco Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214101348/https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/Chalupa-in-paradise-Does-Pacifica-have-the-13379462.php |access-date=11 August 2023|archive-date=December 14, 2022 }} The Pacifica Taco Bell first gained national recognition in the 1990s, when Condé Nast Traveler listed it as one of the world's most scenic fast food restaurants.

In 2019, the location underwent major renovations, including installing a fireplace and beginning to serve alcohol.{{cite web |last1=Fort |first1=Ellen |title=World's Only Beachside Taco Bell Now Serves Booze |url=https://sf.eater.com/2019/7/11/20690669/pacifica-taco-bell-cantina-beer-wine-booze-beach-open |website=Eater |date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=11 August 2023}}{{cite magazine |last1=Hitchens |first1=Antonia |title=Taco Bell's Innovation Kitchen, the Front Line in the Stunt-Food Wars |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/24/taco-bells-innovation-kitchen-the-front-line-in-the-stunt-food-wars |magazine=The New Yorker |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=11 August 2023}} In 2020, the location went viral on TikTok after the travel influencer Megan Homme posted a video that gained several million views.{{cite web |last1=Callahan |first1=Chrissy |title=You have to see the 'nicest Taco Bell in the world' for yourself |url=https://www.today.com/food/nicest-taco-bell-world-blowing-tiktok-t198843 |website=USA Today |date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=11 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Ann W. |title=Taco Bell's 'nicest' location stuns TikTok in viral video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/taco-bell-nicest-location-tiktok |website=Fox News |date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027033427/https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/taco-bell-nicest-location-tiktok |access-date=11 August 2023|archive-date=October 27, 2022 }}

A Los Angeles Times article addressing coastal erosion pointed out that the Taco Bell, which still boasts prime oceanfront views, could be seen as a sign that the climate-vulnerable Pacifica may be exceeding its intended lifespan.{{cite web |last1=Xia |first1=Rosanna |title=The California coast is disappearing under the rising sea. Our choices are grim |url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-sea-level-rise-california-coast/ |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 7, 2019 |access-date=11 August 2023}}

{{clear}}

File:World Dog Surfing Championship - Pacifica - 8-4-2018 (146).jpg|World Dog Surfing Championships

File:Skimboarder Pacifica.jpg|A skimboarder

File:Snowy Plover in Pacifica, California.jpg|Snowy Plover

File:Pacifica State Beach trail 1.JPG|A trail behind and around Pacifica State Beach

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=524 California State Parks webpage]
• [http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/230.pdf 1990 General Plan]
• [http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=5918&mode=sequential&flags=0 California Coastal Records Project]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091113060102/http://stokereport.com/location/san-mateo-linda-mar Pacifica State Beach Surf Reports]
• [https://www.pedrocreek.org/ San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition]
• [https://sites.google.com/site/pacificashorebirdalliance/ Pacifica Shorebird Alliance]
• [http://www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/rec_department/parksbeaches/beach_and_park_info_and_rules/linda_mar_(pacifica_state_beach)/default.asp City of Pacifica - Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica State Beach)]
• [https://digitalcollections.library.ucsc.edu/catalog?locale=en&q=Linda+Mar&search_field=subjectPlace Images of Linda Mar Beach], via UC Santa Cruz Digital Collections

{{Protected areas of California|SP}}

Category:California State Beaches

Category:Pacifica, California

Category:Parks in San Mateo County, California

Category:San Francisco Bay Area beaches

Category:Beaches of San Mateo County, California

Category:Beaches of Northern California

Category:CCT San Mateo Section 3