Advancing policies and funding to create a resilient, sustainable, and equitable Bay Area.
The San Francisco Bay is the heart of the Bay Area—a shoreline ringed by neighborhoods, wetlands, trails, and the vital infrastructure that supports daily life. It’s where millions of people live, work, play, and connect with each other.
But climate change is reshaping our shoreline faster than our systems were built to handle. Rising seas and increased flooding threaten homes, habitats, and public access to the Bay, putting both people and wildlife at risk.
Future-proofing our region means acting now to adapt how we plan, build, and live along the Bay. Through smart policy and collaboration, we can protect communities, reduce flood risk, and ensure the Bay remains a place where people and wildlife can thrive.
For more than 60 years, Save The Bay has led campaigns to prevent pollution, protect and restore the shoreline, and improve access to the Bay. Learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing San Francisco Bay today and discover how Save The Bay is working to create a resilient region.
Sea Level Rise and Flooding
A Growing Problem
Climate change is already impacting the Bay Area. Rising sea levels, rising groundwater, and more extreme storms are putting more communities at risk of flooding. As these threats grow, we need innovative solutions to protect the people who live here.
That’s why Save The Bay advocates for funding and policies that support nature-based projects. These projects replicate natural processes to help communities adapt to climate change. By incorporating nature into our flood protection and stormwater management, we can better protect communities while also improving water quality, providing crucial habitat for native plants and animals, and enhancing public access to the shoreline.
Sea Level Rise And Flood Resilience Snapshots
Local governments play a key role in protecting residents from flooding. They can set standards to ensure buildings in flood zones are flood-resilient, upgrade critical infrastructure, preserve and restore wetlands, and build shoreline protection projects.
We evaluated each city in the Bay Area to identify what they’re already doing to prepare for climate-driven flooding and to develop tailored recommendations for what actions they should take next. These Sea Level Rise and Flood Resilience Snapshots provide a clear picture of current preparedness—and how we can future-proof our communities.
The map below shows the Bay Area regions that would flood regularly if sea levels rise by 6.6 feet. Homes, roads, emergency service centers, and contaminated sites are all at risk. Click on the cities and counties below to explore how they’re preparing for sea level rise, and our recommendations for next steps.
Sea Level Rise and Flood Resilience Snapshots
Combined Flooding of 6.6-ft Sea Level Rise, Groundwater Rise, and 100-yr Storm Surge*
Publicly-Owned Wastewater Treatment Plants
Contaminated Sites
Superfund Sites
Combined Emergency Operation Centers (Zoom for further detail)
Fire Stations (Zoom for further detail)
Healthcare Facilities (Zoom for further detail)
Police Stations (Zoom for further detail)
Bay Trail
* Note on our sea level rise projection: the Ocean Protection Council’s latest Sea Level Rise Guidance projects 6.6 feet of sea level rise for California by 2100 under a high future warming scenario.
Local Policy Highlights
Strong flood resilience policies can reduce risk, protect vulnerable communities, and safeguard public access to the Bay. While no city has all the answers, some are taking meaningful steps forward—and showing what’s possible with the right leadership and investment.
Click on the highlights below to learn more about our key policy recommendations and the cities that are making progress.
Urban development and human impacts create daily pollution threats that harm water quality and wildlife. Save The Bay advocates for strong policies to address pollution at the source and remove it from our environment. We have led successful campaigns to eliminate sources of plastic litter and reduce urban runoff through the storm drain system. As emerging pollution threats are identified, we continue to demand action from policymakers to ensure a healthy Bay for the people and wildlife who call it home.
