The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has voted to adopt a comprehensive Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP), taking a critical step forward in addressing climate change and its impending threats on the Bay Area's coastline. In a decisive move against rising sea levels that jeopardize local communities and ecosystems, the RSAP aims to coordinate a unified regional response for coastal resilience, as reported by the BCDC on Thursday.
The RSAP offers a blueprint for Bay Area governments to mount a locally planned yet regionally harmonized campaign to fend off the risks posed by higher waters. This plan aligns with SB 272, which mandates local governments along the shoreline to draft Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plans by 2034. Those meeting the criteria will receive priority for state funding. The BCDC emphasizes the importance of such collaboration, facing a collective battle for survival, their shores lapping against the tick of time.
At the core of the RSAP are guidelines designed to establish a shared vision for adaptation, foster governmental guidance, and promote standardized methods for addressing sea level rise. Upholding a focus on equity, the initiative requires the inclusion of environmental justice within local planning efforts. The adoption of the RSAP is the first stride in a march toward a region that is resilient to climbing sea levels, according to BCDC Chair R. Zachary Wasserman.
"The Plan approved today will help California communities adapt to rising sea levels, storm surges, and coastal flooding threats," said California Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot via the BCDC press release. Echoing this sentiment, Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), the legislator behind SB 272, stated, "The approval of the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan will mark a significant milestone in empowering local governments with science-based solutions to protect our coastlines, infrastructure, and natural habitats from the growing threats of climate change." These approvals underline the urgency and the community-focused approach crucial for addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate.
