Bilbray Makes Waves in Washington

Early Warning System for San Diego Coastline Wins Bipartisan Support

Washington D.C.--Congressman Brian Bilbray (CA-50) was able to bring assistance to two coastal protection projects in San Diego: the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) and the Southern California Beach Process Study (SCBPS). The CDIP program provides sea state and surf warnings for the protection of life and property along the U.S. West Coast, Georgia, the Hawaiian Islands and Guam, while the SCBPS monitors beach elevation along the Southern California coastline. Program support—in the sum of $897,000—was included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, H.R. 3183, which passed the House 308-114 yesterday.

"San Diego's coastal areas should have as much warning as possible," said Congressman Bilbray. "Early warning systems need data, and CDIP is the program that puts that data together. That, with the addition of the Southern California Beach Process Study, combine to make San Diego’s coastline a much safer part of our community."

The Coastal Data Information Program measures, models and forecasts waves along the entire western coastline of the United States and other marine areas around the world. The results are disseminated in real-time to the National Weather Service and to more than 80,000 users per day via the CDIP website, http://cdip.ucsd.edu.

The Southern California Beach Process Study, monitoring beach elevation, is used for making educated policy decisions for the protection and enhancement of local shorelines.

The amendment provides financial support for the San Diego-based programs. Both programs are critical to marine safety and operations for the coastal United States and Congressman Bilbray's request was publicly supported by the City of Carlsbad, the City of Del Mar, the City of Solana Beach, the City of Encinitas and the United States Marine Corps. The bill is expected to pass the Senate in the coming days and then be sent to the President to be signed into law.

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