Marin Coast Adaptation Planning
The Tomales Bay Bulkhead Vulnerability Assessment Report
Funded as part of the 2023 MCM-LHMP Update process, the County contracted with Miller Pacific Engineering Group and Adaptation International to conduct a vulnerability assessment of bulkheads along the eastern shoreline of Tomales Bay.
The final Tomales Bay Bulkhead Vulnerability Assessment report outlines an objective assessment of sea level rise risks based on cumulated data and inventory of vulnerable structures, provides conceptual options for mitigating episodic flooding and sea level rise where vulnerable structures exist, and encouragesstakeholders to begin considering individual or coordinated actions.
Public Engagement
A public meeting held on September 29, 2021 kicked off this assessment for Tomales Bay’s East Shore, with County staff and the consultant team introducing the study’s background, purpose, and approach.
A second public meeting held on July 20, 2022 provided an overview of the Draft Tomales Bay Bulkhead Vulnerability Assessment. The project team presented study results and discussed conclusions and recommendations with members of the public. The presentation and meeting recording are available here for review.
Please contact Kathleen Kilgariff with any questions about this Assessment.
Tomales Bay Living Shoreline Project
With a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy, the County contracted with Environmental Science Associates to evaluate a range of living shoreline measures in Tomales Bay to determine the extent to which they can provide flood protection of habitat, public access, and shoreline development. Living shorelines such as eelgrass, oyster reefs, wetlands and other natural systems can provide services in adapting to climate change impacts, as well as sequester carbon. This study evaluated the feasibility of such adaptations at specific locations in Tomales Bay and ultimately selected two sites for development of conceptual design plans.
The final report explains the process the project team followed to select the two sites, including mapping of Tomales Bay habitats, identifying a range of living shorelines that can thrive in the bay, identifying potential sites for several types of living shorelines, and selected two sites for further conceptual development: Cypress Grove and Martinelli Park. The final project report is located below
Entire document (with appendices):
ESA_TomalesBay_LSP_FSR_with_appendices.pdf
Report only:
ESA_TomalesBay_LSP_FSR.pdf
Appendices only:
ESA_TomalesBay_LSP_appendices.pdf
For more information, contact Leslie Lacko.
Stinson Beach Nature-Based Adaptation Feasibility Study
The County of Marin received grant funding from the State Coastal Conservancy for a nature-based adaptation feasibility study to examine the extent to which nature-based adaptation, such as dune restoration and enhancement, can sustain the beach and protect development from coastal flooding in Stinson Beach. The study convened a unique cross disciplinary team of experts to assess the feasibility of multi-objective natural infrastructure as an alternative to coastal armoring. The project goals are to enhance existing habitats and public access, support vibrant recreational opportunities for users of all socioeconomic circumstances, and provide flood and erosion protection against existing coastal hazards and future sea level rise. The project is now completed and the County is offering opportunities to watch presentations and read the report.
- Watch the recording of the September 27, 2021 webinar on sea level rise planning in Stinson Beach.
- Watch the recording of the October 21, 2021 presentation of the Stinson Beach Dune Study or Nature-Based Adaptation Study
Stinson Beach Nature-Based Adaptation Feasibility Study Documents:
For more information, contact Leslie Lacko.
Marin Ocean Coast Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning
On February 27, 2018 the Board of Supervisors accepted the Marin Ocean Coast Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Marin Ocean Coast Sea Level Rise Adaptation Report; and received an overview of the Phase II Work Program. The meeting can be viewed here.
Summer 2017 Adaptation Planning
Board of Supervisors August 2017 C-SMART Workshop
For those who were unable to attend the Board of Supervisors Workshop held August 1st, the meeting can be viewed here.
The Adaptation Report is the final Phase I deliverable of the Marin County Community Development Agency's Collaboration Sea Level Rise Marin Adaptation Response Team (C-SMART) program. Since 2014, Community Development Agency staff have worked in conjunction with local residents and a variety of agencies and technical experts on adaptation strategy development. The Adaptation Report is not a plan, but rather an informational document compiling adaptation options proposed to date to set the foundation for continued planning in West Marin. The report also outlines possible next steps as part of an ongoing adaptive management approach.
A thirty-day public comment period preceded this draft. Comment letters with Community Development Agency responses can be found here.
C-SMART Adaptation Plan Passport
Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) launched the Collaboration Sea Level Marin Adaptation Response Team (C-SMART) Adaptation Plan Passport. The objective of this passport was to seek input from community members to inform next steps the County could take to address sea level rise in West Marin.
View Passport Results Summary.
Spring 2016 Adaptation Planning
Building on information gathered through the Vulnerability Assessment and public outreach efforts, Marin County is currently drafting an Adaptation Report.
Over 200 people participated in the West Marin Sea Level Rise Adaptation Poll between November 2015 and January 2016, helping Marin County Community Development Agency understand which adaptation strategies might receive the most public support in the future. View the West Marin Sea Level Rise Adaptation Poll Results.
Contact us at MarinSLR@marincounty.org or (415) 473-4333 if you have any questions or would like to invite a planner to your group's meeting to explain the poll.
Presentation on Adaptation Strategies
Community Maps
East Shore
Marshall
Inverness
Point Reyes
Stinson Beach
Bolinas
Area Maps
South Tomales Bay
North Tomales Bay
Strategy Posters
Strategy Key
Beach Nourishment
Coastal Armoring
Green Infrastructure
Land Use Policies
FEMA IBC V Zone Construction Requirements
FEMA IRC V Zone Construction Requirements