Estuary Adaptation Project

In September, the Alameda Sea Level Rise Planning Fair explored concepts for the development of the Alameda Shoreline Adaptation Plan and the Estuary Adaptation Project. The materials(PDF, 24MB) for the Northern Waterfront area cover an Introduction, Near-term Alternatives, Mid- to Long-term Adaptation and the Near-term Estuary Project.

The Estuary Adaptation Project is a near-term sea level rise adaptation concept to address increased coastal, stormwater, and groundwater flooding for up to two feet of sea level rise. The project includes strategies to elevate and adapt low-lying areas of the shoreline with seawalls and levees combined with green detention basins, upsized pipes and other stormwater improvements. On January 21, 2025, City Council endorsed the design concept for the Alameda side of the estuary. In February 2025, the City/consultant team finished the Caltrans grant that funded the community outreach and analysis related to the design concept. City staff are seeking additional funds to complete the environmental documentation, permitting, design and construction.

Estuary Adaptation Project boundary at Jack London District and Alameda's Tube Portals

Purpose

The purpose of the Estuary Adaptation Project is to develop an adaptation design concept that is responsive to community needs to protect the Oakland-Alameda Estuary shoreline from sea level rise and to reduce the impacts of flooding in the near term. 

Bay Trail by Oakmont and floating homes

 

Project Area

The project area includes Alameda’s northern shoreline by Marina Village including Caltrans’ Posey/Webster Tubes (State Route 260) and the San Francisco Bay Trail and downtown Oakland/Jack London District.

Background

Climate Action and Resiliency Plan(PDF, 17MB) (2019) includes an adaptation project for this northern shoreline area(PDF, 545KB) to protect the critical transportation infrastructure and the adjacent properties from a 100-year flood event and expected sea level rise.  The City's Climate Plan was developed in close collaboration with Alameda partners, stakeholders and community members.  A solution requires continued involvement to ensure that the project will serve multiple functions as follows:

  • Act as a barrier to the current 100-year coastal flood entry on the Alameda side;
  • Protect adjacent commercial and residential properties within the flood zone;
  • Act as a barrier using a conservative sea level rise scenario;
  • Ensure interior drainage including with projected emergent groundwater levels; and
  • Become a FEMA-accredited project as a first step toward enabling the flood zone removal in this area. 

Alameda City Council endorsed the project concept design(PDF, 57MB) in January 2025.

The design concept effort was funded from a Caltrans Sustainable Communities grant and Measure BB, and terminated in February 2025. Design strategies were developed to a conceptual level. Refinement, continued stakeholder review, environmental documentation, permitting, design and construction will be done with future funding. 

2025

2024

2023

  • June: Alameda City Council approved the adaptation project Community Partner - Greenbelt Alliance - staff report
  • Sept: Alameda City Council approved the Technical Consultants for the adaptation projects - staff report
  • Fall: Began adaptation projects existing conditions analysis. Committee adopted Project Charter(PDF, 433KB)

2022

  • April: Caltrans awarded the Sustainable Communities grant for $425,000 with a $75,000 local match totaling $500,000 
  • June: Alameda City Council accepted the state grant from Caltrans to develop an adaptation concept - staff report

2021

  • Jan: Completed an Existing Conditions Needs memo(PDF, 4MB) for the City of Alameda's northern shoreline
  • Feb: Submitted a Caltrans Sustainable Communities grant application only for the Alameda side of the estuary
  • April: Caltrans did not award grant and suggested including Oakland
  • May: Completed a Basis of Design memo(PDF, 6MB) with Funding Options(PDF, 780KB) appendix and Regulatory(PDF, 1MB) appendix for the City of Alameda's northern shoreline
  • June: Alameda City Council approved $200,000 in Measure BB monies for fiscal years 2021 to 2023 as shown in the Capital Improvement Program - Project Sheet(PDF, 351KB)
  • Oct: Submitted a second grant application to Caltrans with the inclusion of Oakland and interior drainage alternatives(PDF, 3MB) in Alameda

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% when considering emergent groundwater - staff report

2019

  • Sept: Alameda City Council approved the City of Alameda Climate Action and Resiliency Plan - staff report
  • Nov: Alameda voters passed the Water Quality and Flood Protection Fee on the ballot 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  

Community Workshop - Presentation boards(PDF, 24MB) (September 2025) 

Basis of Design & Adaptation Concepts(PDF, 34MB) (February 2025)

Governance White Paper(PDF, 894KB) (December 2024)

Oakland-Alameda Estuary Draft Concept Designs Workshop Presentation (English), Presentation (Spanish), and Recording (December 2024)

Community Workshops - Presentation boards (August 2024):

Community Workshop Recording, Presentation and Survey Results(PDF, 213KB) (May 2024)

Community Partner Engagement Strategy(PDF, 4MB) (March 2024)

Existing Conditions Report(PDF, 22MB) (February 2024) 

OAAC ADAPT Sea Level Rise Criteria(PDF, 4MB) (January 2024)

OAAC King Tides Site Walk(PDF, 19MB) (January 2024)

OAAC Project Charter(PDF, 433KB) (October 2023)  

CIP Project Summary(PDF, 351KB) from City CIP (January 2021)


 

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Contact

Gail Payne, Project Manager

gpayne@alamedaca.gov

510-747-6892

 

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

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Progress

City Council has endorsed the concept designs and City staff are seeking additional funding to complete the environmental documentation, permitting, design and construction.

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