California State Law Calls on Coastal Regions to Create Resiliency Plans

Cities and counties at risk of flooding and erosion from sea level rise can access state funding to implement coastal resiliency plans.

1 minute read

October 27, 2023, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View of windy road in Marin County and Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline in background at sunrise.

Marin County is a coastal region just north of San Francisco, California. | Chris / Adobe Stock

Northern California’s Marin County is developing a plan to address sea level rise threatening the coastal region, according to a report from Bay City News, in compliance with a new state law that “requires coastal governments to create a sea rise or shoreline resiliency plan in order to receive funding from the state to implement the plan.”

“As part of a state-mandated effort to create a shoreline resiliency plan, the county Board of Supervisors got a glimpse Tuesday of what the consequences of inaction could be if efforts are not made to protect the shoreline from rising sea levels,” the article explains. “Flooding in Marin County could impact 28,000 residents, 104,000 existing jobs, and 85,000 planned jobs, according to projections from the commission.”

Flooding could also impact rail and highway transportation networks and could affect mobility around the state, while water levels could surge by as much as 96 inches by the year 2100 without mitigation measures. Local officials are working to coordinate efforts among city and county governments in the region. “The projections are fueling a proposal to invest about $110 billion in shoreline resiliency around the Bay Area.” 

Thursday, October 26, 2023 in Bay City News Foundation

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Large brutalist building and skyscrapers viewed from middle of wide street in downtown Houston, Texas.

Research Links Urban Design and Human Happiness

An emerging field of ‘neuroarchitectural’ research is revealing how building facades and urban design impact the human brain and body.

January 3, 2025 - Wired

Graphic illustrating street with various lanes designed in Streetmix.

Reimagining Your Street

How to use free online tools to redesign your local streetscape.

January 3, 2025 - Urbanism Speakeasy via Substack

Sprawl

Research: Sprawl Linked to Poverty

Low-income families living in high-sprawl neighborhoods are limited in their access to education, jobs, and other amenities, often trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

January 6, 2025 - Science Blog

Aerial view of Olympia, Washington with state cpaitol dome in foreground on a somewhat cloudy day.

Washington Lawmakers Eye Rent Stabilization

Democrats are pushing for a statewide rent stabilization bill that would give renters some protections while offering more flexibility for landlords than blanket rent control policies.

January 14 - The Urbanist

Eaton Canyon trailhead in Los Angeles County on a cloudy day.

Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools

The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

January 14 - AP News

Close-up of person on bike wearing backpack riding on city street.

Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’

Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.

January 14 - Streetsblog California

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.