SF Bay Trail RAAPP

The   East Bay Regional Park District (Park District)   has developed the   San Francisco Bay Trail Risk Assessment and Adaptation Prioritization Plan (SF Bay Trail RAAPP)   to understand the future changes anticipated along the East Bay shoreline. This study evaluates the vulnerabilities facing the East Bay’s shoreline and assists the Park District in prioritizing nature-based adaptation projects to provide multiple benefits for the region. At a high level, the study is focused on balancing goals related to advancing ecological restoration, recreation, critical mobility, and building important interpretive educational opportunities. The study also focuses on several prototype sites to demonstrate how the latest techniques related to coarse beach and marsh adaptation, for example, can be implemented over time to provide shoreline access as sea levels rise. By working with a wide range of experts, from research partners to local community stakeholders, the team has developed an integrated approach to adaptation planning and design that will benefit the community and the broader region. 

The Park District is working with an interdisciplinary team led by WRT, including ESA, Arup, SFEI, and OnClimate.

The SF Bay Trail RAAPP project approach is structured around a process that explores the existing conditions and predicted impacts of climate change and sea-level rise across multiple scales. First, by looking across the full East Bay shoreline along both Alameda and Contra Costa counties, identifying the top at-risk zones and developing a Risk Assessment; and then by zooming in to several prototype sites to illustrate potential adaptation strategies and approaches that could be applied in multiple locations across the region. At each scale, and through the process, the analysis and design is guided by the Park District goals, listed below, and informed by ongoing conversations with key partners and stakeholders.

1. Resilience to Coastal Hazards
2. Restoration Potential 
3. Minimize Recurring Maintenance
4. Adjacency to Critical Infrastructure
5. Serving Disadvantaged Communities
6. Access to Nature/User Experience
7. Funding and Partnership Potential
8. Alignment with Park District Master Plan Goals and Priorities
9. Representation of a diversity of coastal conditions and geographies

The following series is a collection of regional site analysis which was used to inform the Risk Assessment. Included below you will find maps that provide an overview of coastal hazards, restoration potential, disadvantaged communities, critical infrastructure, and Park District ownership.

The Risk Assessment led to the identification and evaluation of the following top eight at-risk zones along the shoreline. Based on the Park District goals and understanding of the anticipated hazards, restoration potential, vulnerabilities and consequences, the following eight sites identify areas where the Park District, in partnership with adjacent stakeholders, could make the biggest improvements to prepare for the future.

The overall approach to stakeholder engagement and outreach throughout the SF Bay Trail RAAPP process was focused on ensuring that the Park District and its partners were able to open a dialogue around the future impacts of sea level rise across East Bay communities. The complex landscape surrounding the Bay Trail along the East Bay shoreline requires a holistic approach to community resilience.

The Park District hosted an informational webinar where the project team presented the latest research and ideas related to the Park District’s role in shoreline adaptation and the next steps related to regional partnership coordination.

Two Bay Trail sites were selected after the risk assessment to demonstrate the potential pathways for shoreline adaptation in more detail. They include Alameda Point and McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.

The Park District used a diverse set of tools and regional resources, including  Adapting to Rising Tides: Bay Shoreline Flood Explorer ,  Safeguarding California 2018 Update ,  State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance 2018 Update , among others.

Check out the  Park District Planning  website for information on other ongoing planning efforts.

See the project description on  Resilient CA .

Brian Holt,  Chief | Planning, Trails and GIS, East Bay Regional Park District:  BHolt@ebparks.org