Sea Level Rise

Picture of the Baylands on January 12, 2024 during a king tide. The peak tide was 9.33 inches, which is approximately the amount of sea level rise anticipated by 2060.

The State of California anticipates that relative sea level rise projections stemming from greenhouse gas emissions and related climate change pose significant economic, environmental and social risks to communities along the San Francisco Bay Shoreline, including the City of Palo Alto.

The City of Palo Alto completed a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment(PDF, 32MB) in 2022 which documents potential sea level rise hazards to City and community assets from increments of sea level rise between 12 to 84 inches. This is representative of what may occur through the year 2100 based on the estimates from the State of California Ocean Protection Council Sea Level Rise Guidance (2018). Palo Alto’s Assessment will inform the development of a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan which will include strategies and a timeline to preserve and expand habitat, and protect and adapt the City and community. The Adaptation Plan will serve as the Sea Level Rise chapter of the City of Palo Alto Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.

Project Status

The City anticipated beginning community discussions about the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan in 2023. Key to this effort is the project coordination and potential leveraging of resources of Valley Water and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for levee improvements around Palo Alto’s bay shoreline (known as the Shoreline II Project), and the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Replacement Project. The City was recently made aware that construction timelines for these projects is shifting and new construction timelines are unknown at this time. Staff will reschedule public discussion of sea level rise planning efforts as soon as possible once more is known about these critical projects.

Additionally, Senate Bill 272 (Laird): Sea Level Rise Planning and Adaption was signed in late 2023 which requires a Bay Area Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan and aligned subregional plans. Subregions and Plan contents will be defined by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) in late 2024. The SB272 requirements may alter and further inform the scope of work for Palo Alto’s Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan Development. Currently City of Palo Alto Staff are engaging in these regional conversations and identifying next steps for its own planning efforts to align with these requirements.

Questions specific to the Shoreline II and tide gate replacement can be submitted using the Valley Water customer request system.

Review Palo Alto’s Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment
(PDF, 32MB)