Large-Scale Shoreline Resilience, Multi-Benefit Projects
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Why is this a San Francisco Bay Program Priority?
Projections from the State of California indicate a 9.6-inch increase in sea level by 2050 along the 400 miles of the Bay's shoreline. To protect homes, infrastructure, local economies, and habitats, regional partners completed vulnerability studies and are proposing projects that can mitigate the impacts of sea level rise and coastal flooding. In 2023, new California State legislation, SB272, now requires all local governments within a coastal zone to create a sea level rise mitigation plan by 2034, which will assess vulnerabilities and develop adaptation strategies.
EPA is supporting the development of multi-purpose shoreline protection designs, including horizontal or ecotone levees that mix habitat features with water treatment infrastructure and public access for recreation, as shown below. Several wastewater treatment facilities around the Bay Area are in the planning stages of utilizing such levees to help polish wastewater before discharging treated water into the San Francisco Bay.
EPA recognizes the need for robust, coordinated efforts to implement these large-scale, multi-jurisdictional projects to protect our vital regional economy.