A report from NASA reveals that some communities in Marin County, California, particularly eastern San Rafael and Corte Madera, are sinking at an accelerated rate of over 0.4 inches per year due to sediment compression. This subsidence, compounded by rising sea levels, poses significant threats; some low-lying areas could see sea level increases of 17 inches or more by 2050, more than double the regional average of 7.4 inches. Other Bay Area locations, including Foster City and Bay Farm Island, are experiencing similar subsidence rates.
The study highlights the urgent need for adaptation strategies as communities grapple with these threats. In December, the San Francisco Bay Area Conservation and Development Committee initiated a coastal adaptation plan, driven by Senate Bill 272, requiring local governments to develop sea level rise strategies by 2034. Marin County is expected to incur around $17 billion in costs for necessary adaptations like living shorelines and levees.
City officials, including San Rafael’s climate adaptation planner Kate Hageman, acknowledge that the dual challenges of sinking land and rising oceans complicate flood risk management. Both Hageman and Corte Madera’s Public Works Director RJ Suokko reported that their municipalities are actively pursuing strategies to bolster flood defenses, with Suokko noting a $900,000 FEMA grant application for flood mitigation efforts. Community engagement sessions are slated for updates on these initiatives.
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