Sea Level Rise

Introduction ON SEA LEVEL RISE REFERENCE MATERIALS

Sea level rise resulting from climate change is an issue that has far reaching consequences for California, including the lands under the jurisdiction of the Commission.  Lands within the Commission’s jurisdiction and adjacent properties are already vulnerable to a wide range of naturally occurring events, including storms and extreme high tides.  While some of these lands remain undeveloped, significant portions of California’s shoreline areas have been developed, including areas either pursuant to a lease from the Commission or pursuant to authorization from local government trustees of state tide and submerged lands.  The Commission has an important role to play in addressing the issue of sea level rise and assuring that those decision makers involved in proposed and existing development on the state’s Public Trust lands consider the impacts of sea level rise.

SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS

Ocean Protection Council’s Sea Level Rise Resolution - Resolution of the California Ocean Protection Council on Sea Level Rise adopted on March 11, 2011.

State of California Sea Level Rise Interim Guidance Document – October 2010 –This document was developed by the Sea Level Rise Task Force of the Coastal and Ocean Working Group of the California Climate Action Team (CO‐CAT), with science support provided by the Ocean Protection Council’s Science Advisory Team and the California Ocean Science Trust as a guide to assist state agencies in incorporating sea level rise projections into planning and decision making for new construction projects.

Minute Item 49 - A one-year status update on implementation of the recommendations of the Report on Sea Level Rise Preparedness adopted by the Commission at its December 17, 2010 meeting.

Sea Level Rise Resurvey – This is a follow-up survey report dated July 23, 2010 that assessed the extent to which the state’s major local government trustees of state tide and submerged lands and the Commission’s major lessees had considered the potential impacts of sea level rise on facilities located on state Public Trust lands.

Minute Item 39 - Commission action on December 17, 2009 in response to the staff’s report entitled, “A Report on Sea Level Rise Preparedness”.

Sea Level Rise Report - This December 2009 staff report was prepared at the request of the Commission to address concerns on the issue of sea level rise, the extent to which major local government trustees of state tide and submerged lands and the Commission’s major lessees had considered the potential impacts of sea level rise on facilities located on Public Trust lands. The report also included a summary of the efforts of California, federal agencies, and other coastal states, and a set of recommendations to lessen the impacts of sea level rise.

Governor’s Executive Order S-13-08 - Governor Schwarzenegger signed this order on November 14, 2008 to create statewide consistency in planning for sea level rise. The executive order calls for, among other things, the completion of a Sea Level Rise Assessment Report, the consideration of sea level rise scenarios for the years 2050 and 2100, and the development of a Climate Adaptation Strategy.

San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission information on Climate Change and Sea Level Rise – BCDC provides valuable information on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies involving the Bay Area.