Sea Level Rise Scenario Map for Long-Range Planning
Source: Inundation data from Knowles, 2008. Additional salt pond elevation data by Siegel and Bachand, 2002.
Interactive Sea Level Rise Scenario Map
Based on research conducted by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, a sea level rise of 16 to 55 inches over the next century will affect the shoreline of the Bay and Delta, and increase the risk of levee failures. The Bay Conservation Development Commission has developed this map depicting the lands most vulnerable to sea level rise. Read more.
Limitations of Sea Level Rise Map
From Preliminary Study of the Effect of Sea Level Rise on the Resources of the Hayward Shoreline, Philip Williams & Associates, 2010
- The data was developed using tidal data and do not include wave activity that occurs during storms. Consequently, an area that may flood from wave activity during winter storms is not shown as vulnerable.
- Where the elevation of land is below water level, it is shown as vulnerable, whether or not levees to protect it exist. This is because adequate information was not available on levee height or strength.
- Low-lying land located inland or depressions in upland area may also appear vulnerable even without a route for water to reach the areas isolated from the Bay.
- The effects of high Bay water level on erosion, loading of structures, stream water levels, effect on drainage and ground water levels were not considered.