- Home
- Portal
- County Homepage
- Government
- Planning & Building
- About Us
- Divisions
- Long Range Planning
- Regional Sea Level Rise Planning
Humboldt Bay Regional Sea Level Rise Planning
Photo by Aldaron Laird
HUMBOLDT BAY SEA LEVEL RISE REGIONAL PLANNING FEASIBILITY STUDY
The Humboldt Bay Sea Level Rise Regional Planning Feasibility Study explores whether it might make sense to address the risk of sea level rise through a cooperative and coordinated regional approach to the identification, funding, and implementation of various sea level rise adaptation measures. A regional approach is being used successfully for roads and trails and other local infrastructure projects, and may serve as a good model for other coastal communities struggling to adapt to sea level rise.
The public is encouraged to provide feedback about regional sea level rise collaboration and planning at the link below.
THE PROJECT AREA
The focus of this regional planning effort is the lands surrounding Humboldt Bay within the City of Eureka's and City of Arcata's local coastal programs (LCPs), and the County's Humboldt Bay Area Plan (HBAP), one of six coastal land use plans in the County's LCP, hereafter referenced as the Humboldt Bay region or project area. Lands in the project area that could be impacted by one meter or more of sea level rise contain many critical assets owned and operated by various entities, located in multiple hydrologic units and in multiple federal, state and local governmental jurisdictions with regulatory authority over development or public trust responsibilities for natural resources. A regional sea level rise regulatory framework, and ultimately a regional sea level rise adaptation plan, would be the best approach to addressing sea level rise in the Humboldt Bay region given these circumstances.
OBJECTIVES
The Feasibility Study consists of three main objectives: Outreach, Research, and Reporting
Outreach
Outreach was centered on four groups: Local Coastal Program agencies; permitting and public agencies; asset owners; and community. The results are compiled in the Stakeholder Catalog, linked below.
- Complete Stakeholder Catalogue (pdf)
- Chapter 1. Introduction (pdf)
- Chapter 2. Tribal Government (pdf)
- Chapter 3. Land Use Authorities (pdf)
- Chapter 4. Resource Management Protection-Regulator (pdf)
- Chapter 5. Shoreline Structure-Property Owners (pdf)
- Chapter 6. Vulnerable Property Owners (pdf)
- Chapter 7. Utility Infrastructure-Service Provider (pdf)
- Chapter 8. Transportation Infrastructure Owner (pdf)
- Chapter 9. Academic-Public Interest Organizations (pdf)
- Chapter 10. Appendices (pdf)
Research
Research was conducted to identify the types of regulatory frameworks that could be implemented in a regional planning effort, opportunities for cross-jurisdictional coordination, opportunities for funding, and potential regulatory pathways and barriers. A memo by the County and consultants outlining research and results is linked below.
Report
A final Feasibility Study Report will incorporate results from Outreach and Research to summarize findings, lay out regional planning framework options, identify opportunities and challenges, and identify recommendations for next steps.
Appendixes to the Feasibility Report
- Appendix A. The Sea Also Rises Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury Report (PDF)
- Appendix B. Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Grand Jury Report Response (PDF)
- Appendix C. City of Arcata Grand Jury Response (PDF)
- Appendix D. City of Eureka Grand Jury Responses (PDF)
- Appendix E. Harbor District Grand Jury Report Response (PDF)
- Appendix F. Coastal Commission Grand Jury Report Response (PDF)
- Appendix G. Coastal Commission Staff Comments on Humboldt County Regional SLR Planning Feasibility Study (PDF)
- Appendix H Greenway Partners Task 2 Research Memo (PDF)
OTHER RESOURCES
For more information on Sea Level Rise in Humboldt County and Local Coastal Planning in general, visit the County’s Local Coastal Plan Update page at:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Public Workshop on Feasibility Study April 19 with in person and Zoom option available at https://humboldtgov.org/Calendar.aspx
Join by zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84251035912
PAST EVENTS
Farm Bureau Board Meeting Presentation 4/06/23
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PDFs for Download
- Humboldt Bay Area Plan Communities at Risk Strategic Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Report November 2019 (PDF)
- Humboldt Bay Area Plan Communities at Risk Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment November 2019 (PDF)
- Humboldt Bay Area Plan Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy Background Study August 2018 (PDF)
- Humboldt Bay Area Plan Diked HBAP Shoreline Adaptation Feasibility Study, 2018 (PDF)
- Humboldt Bay Area Plan Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment Report, 2018 (PDF)
- Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan for Humboldt Bay/Eureka Slough Area Public Works Environmental Services
- Humboldt Bay Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Project
- Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance - California Coastal Commission
- Draft Residential Adaptation Policy Guidance - California Coastal Commission
- March 26, 2019 Sea Level Rise and Tsunami Public Workshop Presentation (PDF)
- August 14, 2018 Fairhaven & Finn Town Sea Level Rise Workshop Flyer (PDF)
- August 14, 2018 Fairhaven & Finn Town Workshop PowerPoint (PDF)
- August 14, 2018 Fairhaven & Finn Town Workshop Notes (PDF)
- August 7, 2018 King Salmon & Fields Landing Sea Level Rise Workshop Flyer (PDF)
- August 7, 2018 King Salmon & Fields Landing Workshop PowerPoint (PDF)
- August 7, 2018 King Salmon & Fields Landing Workshop Notes (PDF)