What’s at stake
The Bay’s vibrant wetland ecosystems are vital to people and nature. They protect our communities from sea level rise flooding by acting as natural sponges. They operate as a natural water treatment plant through groundwater recharge and pollution filtration. They serve as a massive carbon exchange engine in the face of climate change. In addition, our access to natural open spaces is important to our physical and mental health, academic and professional performance, and reduced violence in our communities.
The San Francisco Bay is also home to over 1,000 species of animals, including threatened and endangered species, and supports over 130 fish species, including salmon and other fish whose life cycle depends on the Bay’s connections to fresh water rivers and creeks. It is a critical stopover for hundreds of thousands of birds on the Pacific Flyway and hosts more wintering shorebirds than any other estuary on the west coast outside of Alaska.
Dire sea level rise projections
The threat of sea level rise due to climate change has steadily worsened. The State of California is now encouraging local jurisdictions to plan for 3.5 feet of sea level rise by the year 2050, and scientists predict 7-10 feet of sea level rise or higher by 2100.
Potential local impacts are substantial. By way of example, in Redwood City alone, sea level rise threatens $9 billion in property damage, impacting 568 commercial properties and housing for nearly 25 percent of the city’s population. Hospitals, the County jail, over 80 miles of roadway, and 27 hazardous material sites are also at risk.
Adaptation to sea level rise will require a dramatic re-envisioning of the Bay Area’s relationship with the Bay. Protecting and restoring San Francisco Bay’s wetlands ecosystems can be a vital piece of successful climate change response, with natural and nature-based adaptation strategies offering sustainable solutions that benefit our people, ecology, and built infrastructure.
Decisions made across the region in the next several years will not just shape the future shoreline of the Bay, but will define what sea level rise adaptation approaches are - and are not - possible for decades to come. Who and what can live and thrive here lies in the balance.