Establish California Surf Reserves!

California's surf breaks are more than just great waves — they're part of who we are.

AB 1938 would create an official State Surfing Reserves program, giving California the ability to formally recognize and protect its most iconic surf spots for generations to come.

Here's how it works: local governments, state parks, or surf-focused nonprofits could apply to the Ocean Protection Council to have a surf break designated as a California State Surfing Reserve. To qualify, a spot would need to demonstrate exceptional wave quality, environmental value, surf history and culture, and strong community support. Applicants would also submit a stewardship plan — a real commitment to maintaining what makes that break special over time.

Once designated, a reserve gets official recognition, public signage, and a lasting framework for protecting the conditions that make it worth surfing in the first place: the waves, the seafloor, the coastline, and the community that has gathered there for decades.

Think of places like Lower Trestles in San Clemente — already selected to host the 2028 Olympic surfing competition — or the dozens of other world-class breaks up and down California's 1,100-mile coast. Right now, those places have no formal status in coastal decision-making. Development, infrastructure projects, and other pressures can affect surf breaks without any requirement to consider what's at stake. This bill could change that.

Surfing isn't just California's official sport — it generates over $6 billion in annual retail sales and anchors coastal economies across the state. AB 1938 is a way to make sure the waves that built those communities are still there for the next generation of surfers.