Areas of the SF Bay region that are at risk of inundation.
In Part I, I talked about the issue of global warming as it directly relates to the Bay Area, particularly in the context of sea level rise. So what does the APA suggest we do to prevent catastrophe, or to at least mitigate the effects?
One category of preventative measures is related to structures. The APA discusses building levees, barriers, tidal barrages, and seawalls to manage tidal flux and to situate the coastline in its current place. When it comes to building new structures, the APA suggests either building at higher elevations, or considering floating structures that can withstand floods and adjust to tidal changes. Bans on allowing new development to occur in places likely to be inundated is also strongly encouraged.
The second category of global warming mitigation relates directly to the natural environment. “Flooded development” is a term that describes areas that are environmentally designed to withstand the often disastrous effects of flooding, or sometimes also having the ability to retain stormwater. Another environmental design possibility are “living shorelines,” whose landscapes are built to absorb the effects of flooding and erosion while creating new environmental habitats.
Source:
“Climate Adaptation and Sea-Level Rise in the San Francisco bay Area” by Laura Tam
