South Shore Adaptation Project

Purpose

To enhance the South Shore beach, beach dunes, tidal marsh, eelgrass beds and offshore mudflats while addressing coastal flooding and sea level and groundwater rise. 

Project Area

Alameda’s southern shoreline includes a three-mile long, human-made beach and bird sanctuary with offshore mudflats and eelgrass beds.  From west to east, the project area includes the City’s Encinal Beach and Ballena peninsula, Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach (Crown Beach), the City’s Alameda Beach and Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary.

Existing Conditions

This area is a popular day-trip destination for residents and visitors throughout the region as it is the Bay Area’s longest swimming beach and is one of the few accessible bird sanctuaries in the Bay Area allowing for all ages and abilities to take part. 

Much of this area is currently at risk of coastal flooding during storms. The coastal hazards change along the shoreline due to variable exposure to waves coming in from across the Bay and how those waves interact with the features along the shoreline. For example, Alameda Beach reduces
the wave hazard by a couple of feet or so.

Increasingly, major storms cause beach erosion, reduced public access and flooding on the beach, the San Francisco Bay Trail (Bay Trail) and Shoreline Drive. East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) manages the beaches for the State and the City. The beach movement leads to intermittent narrowing, which triggers sand moving or beach nourishment by EBRPD. In 1983 and 2014, EBRPD undertook major sand placement projects to maintain the beach. Due to EBRPD efforts, wintering Western Snowy Plovers have increased from 6 to 54.

Expected Future Conditions

The lowest portions of this shoreline area are already at risk of inundation during a major coastal flood. Sea level rise of 1 foot may occur by 2040-2060. Increasingly frequent and intense extreme rainfall events, combined with rising groundwater, are anticipated to cause additional flooding in low-lying areas. With 1 foot of sea level rise, King Tide flooding will remain confined to the shoreline. However, an extreme storm would have major impacts to much of this area’s built environment.

If adaptation measures are not implemented in the near term, coastal flooding will continue to increase in severity and frequency, significantly changing the South Shore neighborhood. Flooding from groundwater and extreme rainfall events will also impact inland areas. Alameda Beach will erode over time, no longer able to provide protection to Shoreline Drive, the Bay Trail, and homes and businesses along the shoreline

Potential near-term adaptation strategies focus on strengthening Alameda Beach and the Elsie Roemer tidal wetland using nature-based adaptation measures and raising other portions of the South Shore shoreline to address about 2 feet of sea level rise. The beach and marsh act as important buffers - protecting Shoreline Drive and inland areas from waves and coastal flooding. Ongoing sediment management and sand replenishment will be required. Geomorphic studies will determine placement of beach protections. Additional measures, such as flood resilience retrofitting of private structures, may also be required.

Resilient Cities Catalyst (2026): This grant from the California Coastal Accelerator program is providing partial funding for the Geomorphology and Ecology Study. 

General Fund (2025): Local monies are partially funding the Geomorphology and Ecology Study. 

Adaptation concepts for the area will be initiated as part of the Shoreline Adaptation Plan. Additional funding will need to be identified to further develop the design and eventually construct the project.

2027

• Winter: Stakeholder meetings to develop adaptation design concepts part of the Shoreline Adaptation Plan development

2026

• January 6: City Council meeting to authorize grant funding for the Geomorphology and Ecology Study - staff report(PDF, 140KB)

2025

• January 30: Alameda staff submitted a Division of Boating and Waterway grant application for sand replenishment, which was not funded due to state budget restrictions
• September: Alameda Sea Level Rise Planning Fair at REAP Climate Center - boards(PDF, 5MB) - survey results(PDF, 1MB)
• October: Alameda staff submitted a Measure AA grant application to develop a South Shore concept, which was not selected
• December: Alameda staff/consultant team began the Geomorphology and Ecology Study to inform the next phase of more detailed design

2024

• June: Alameda City and East Bay Regional Park District staff formed the South Shore Adaptation Sub-committee, which meets monthly 

Community Workshop - Presentation boards(PDF, 5MB) (September 2025) 

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

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

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