As sea levels continue to rise, and climate impacts worsen, communities will need to adapt the San Francisco Bay shoreline and contributing watersheds to create greater social, economic, and ecological resilience. Home to rivers, beaches, wetlands, marinas, ports, landfills, lifeline infrastructure, residential neighborhoods and more, San Francisco Bay’s shoreline and contributing watersheds are diverse, which means there is no one-size-fits-all solution to increased flooding. In December 2022 and January 2023, the Bay Area experienced 9 atmospheric rivers on top of winter King Tides, leading to extreme flooding both along the shoreline and along rivers and creeks. These hints of climate change impacts show us that traditional grey infrastructure alone will not be able to solve our flood related issues, and that a mix of green, grey, and hybrid solutions are essential. Along with state, regional, and local partners, the SF District of the Army Corps of Engineers has become an Engineering with Nature (EWN) Proving Ground. EWN Proving Grounds are USACE districts committed to the broad integration of EWN principles and practices into all business lines in the form of constructed projects. Proving grounds are Districts where innovative ideas are tested on the ground. EWN allows us to work with the power of water and sediment to efficiently and cost-effectively protect communities, restore natural systems, and prepare us for the challenges of the future. This presentation will outline the reasons EWN is critical as an approach in the San Francisco Bay Area, and describe some successes, challenges, and paths forward as the USACE embraces Engineering with Nature.
To register, please visit: https://limno.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fe7hnfnSS5CvbiTpADWmXA
hsteissberg@limno.com
