Watershed Project seeks community input for Richmond sea-level-rise resilience plan

Nama, representing the Watershed Project, told the committee the City of Richmond is managing a sea-level-rise resilience planning process that will identify vulnerable shoreline assets and community priorities. The Watershed Project is conducting outreach and the technical team (including ESA and a San Francisco design firm) is preparing maps and vulnerability assessments for public review.

Nama explained the project has two phases: first, confirm vulnerable assets and gather community input on priorities and missing sites; second, develop potential pathways and design responses to be refined through additional outreach and funding steps. The plan will later be reviewed by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and is funded in part by the Ocean Protection Council, the presenter said.

Presenters showed maps of mid-century and end-of-century scenarios and emphasized risks to wastewater, transportation and recreation infrastructure. Staff asked residents to identify contaminated or community-valued sites that may not appear on technical maps. The team will circulate a short survey, hold community workshops and provide quarterly updates as the planning process proceeds.