The Central Coast Regional Report includes climate science, impacts, and adaptation information for Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and northern Ventura counties.
The Central Coast region is shaped by its coastal, valley, and upland topography and its proximity to the ocean. It is home to iconic beaches, coastal towns, and stunning natural landscapes, with small- to medium-sized cities concentrated in coastal areas and agricultural valleys. Chumash, Esselen, Amah Mutsun, Salinan, Ohlone, and other Indigenous Peoples continue to sustain and revitalize intergenerational ecological knowledge systems that guide stewardship, restoration, and care for their homelands and the communities living within them.
There are significant disparities between wealthier coastal tourism-based communities and more economically disadvantaged communities with limited resources to respond to climate hazards. Key economic drivers in the region include agriculture, tourism, food processing, fisheries, aerospace, and energy production.
Central Coast Regional Report
Coordinating Lead Author
Ruth Langridge, UC Santa Cruz