Shoreline Adaptation Plan

Alameda is developing a Shoreline Adaptation Plan to protect Alameda’s infrastructure, homes, and habitats from sea level rise, coastal storms, and rising groundwater through a combination of levees, nature-based habitat enhancements, stormwater upgrades, and elevating roadways and properties. This plan complies with Senate Bill 272 and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission's Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan. The Alameda plan will be completed in coordination with the Oakland Alameda Adaptation Committee (OAAC).

Aerial view of Alameda

About the Plan

The Shoreline Adaptation Plan will consist of four main components:

  • Adaptation Strategies & Pathways: Phased, flexible strategies to be implemented over time to address evolving risks and shoreline impacts.
  • Land Use & Policy: Recommending land use changes and new policies to adapt the shoreline over time.
  • Funding & Implementation: Priority projects & funding strategies to implement the plan.
  • Community Engagement: Inclusive public workshops and surveys to capture resident priorities.

The first phase of the Shoreline Adaptation Plan was completed in 2025 with funding from the SFEP and NFWF. The final phase of the planning effort is funded with a California Ocean Protection Council SB 1 grant. Plan completion is expected in 2027.

Notice of Intent to Initiate City of Alameda Shoreline Adaptation Plan that includes the Jurisdiction of City of Alameda

Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan page 1

Hazards and Vulnerabilities

Visit the interactive BCDC Bay Shoreline Flood Explorer

Visit the Alameda King Tides Viewer

View the Hazards and Vulnerabilities images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 9MB)

Hazards and Vulnerabilities Page 1 Sea Level Rise

 

Hazards and Vulnerabilities Page 2 Multiple Hazards

Shoreline Transformation - Historical Change and Imagining the Future

View Shoreline Transformation images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 11MB)

Shoreline Transformation Page 1 looking to the past

 

Shoreline Transformation Page 2 assessing the present

 

Shoreline Transformation page 3 imagining the future

Adaptation Approach Overview

Adaptation Approach Overview page 1 Where and How to Adapt Subregional Adaptation Planning

 

Adaptation Approach Overview page 2 Approaches to Adaptation Subregional Adaptation Planning

 

Adaptation Approach Overview page 3 Prioritize Nature-Based Solutions Adaptation Strategies

 

Adaptation Approach Overview page 4 Potential Physical Strategies Subregional Adaptation Planning

 

Adaptation Approach Overview page 5 Near- Mid- and Long-term Adaptation Subregional Adaptation Planning

 

Adaptation Approach Overview page 6 Evaluating Options subregional adaptation planning

Bay Farm Island

Visit the Bay Farm Island Adaptation Project page

View all Bay Farm Island Adaptation images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 7MB)

Bay Farm Island page 1 Introduction

 

Bay Farm Island Page 2 Near-term adaptation alternative

 

Bay Farm Island Page 3 Mid- to Long-term adaptation

 

Bay Farm Island Page 4 Deep dive: Northern shoreline near-term project

East End & Tidal Canal

View all East End and Tidal Canal images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 5MB)

Street flooding on the East End: An atmospheric river storm combined with high tides caused significant flooding on the East End in 2022. The City is in the process of evaluating the Central Ave pump station and developing concepts and costs to upgrade pump stations and pipes to reduce future flooding in this area.

East end and tidal canal page 3 mid- to long-term adaptation

 

East end and tidal canal page 4 deep dive: east end residential areas

Northern Waterfront & Estuary

Visit Estuary Adaptation Project page

View all Northern Waterfront images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 24MB)

Northern Waterfront Page 1 Introduction

 

Northern Waterfront Page 2 Near-term adaptation alternatives

 

Northern Waterfront Page 3 Mid- to Long-term Adaptation

 

Northern Waterfront Page 4 - Deep Dive: Near-term estuary project

South Shore

Visit South Shore Adaptation Project page

View all South Shore images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 5MB)

South Shore Page 1 Introduction

 

South Shore Page 2 Near-Term Adaptation Alternatives

 

South Shore Page 3 Mid- to Long-term adaptation

 

South Shore Page 4 Deep Dive: Adapting the Beach

West End & Alameda Point

View all Alameda Point and West End images in accessible pdf format(PDF, 7MB)

Alameda Point and West End Page 1 Introduction

 

Alameda Point West of Monarch Street Page 2 Planned Projects

 

Alameda Point Redevelopment Areas Page 3 Master Infrastructure Plan

 

West End Page 4 Future Adaptation Approaches

Take Action in Your Home and Community

Find resources on each recommended action!

View the Take Action image in accessible pdf format(PDF, 278KB)

Community and Shoreline Resistance Page 1 What can I do?

Schedule

2027

  • Fall (anticipated): Final Shoreline Adaptation Plan
  • Spring/summer (anticipated): Draft Shoreline Adaptation Plan community workshops
  • Winter (anticipated): South Shore Sea Level Rise Neighborhood Meeting – Focus on adaptation strategies for the southern shoreline of Alameda
  • Jan 2027 (anticipated): Bay Farm Island community meeting – status update on 60% design Bay Farm Island Adaptation Project

2026

  • December 14: Planning Board – UC Berkeley Urban Design Studio student presentations on long-term shoreline adaptation ideas for Alameda.
  • November 9: Planning Board – Shoreline Adaptation Plan status update
  • October 24: East End Sea Level Rise Neighborhood Meeting – Focus on adaptation strategies for the East End (particularly Eastshore area)
  • April: Phase 2 Shoreline Adaptation Plan kick-off

2025

2024

2023

  • June: Alameda City Council approved the Long-term Plan SFEP and NFWF federal grant funds and the adaptation project Community Partner - Greenbelt Alliance - staff report
  • Sept: Alameda City Council approved the Technical Consultants for the adaptation projects - staff report

2022

  • June: Alameda City Council adopted the City of Alameda Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plan, which calls out the need for a sub-regional Long-term Adaptation Plan - staff report and to Plan

2020

  • Nov: Alameda City Council accepted the report: “City of Alameda, The Response of the Shallow Groundwater Layer and Contaminants to Sea Level Rise”, which states that the areas at risk of future flooding increase by up to 25 percent when considering emergent groundwater - staff report

2019

  • Sept: Alameda City Council approved the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan - staff report
  • Nov: Alameda voters passed the Water Quality and Flood Protection Fee, which is used to operate and maintain the storm drain system, protect water quality, replace aging infrastructure, and prepare for sea level rise and the impacts of climate change

Contact and Stay Up To Date on the Plan

Danielle Mieler, Sustainability and Resilience Manager | dmieler@alamedaca.gov, 510-747-4713

Subscribe to our mailing list for project updates - Climate Resiliency and Adaptation: Adaption - General Interest

If you need an alternative or translated format, please contact ada@alamedaca.gov 

Key Documents

Response of the Shallow Groundwater Layer and Contaminants to Sea Level Rise (September 2020) 

Interview with Corinna Gould, Sogorea Te' Land Trust (October 2024)

                 
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