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Study Session on Alameda Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SAP) and Overview of Related Adaptation Projects. This item is for discussion purposes only, and no approval or other action is being taken at this time, and therefore it is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The SAP and future adaptation projects described are subject to CEQA, and environmental review will be considered at a later time prior to any final action being taken.
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To: Honorable President and Members of the Planning Board
From: Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Interim Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Date: November 9, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides an update on the City of Alameda’s Shoreline Adaptation Plan (SAP), required under Senate Bill 272 (Laird), and summarizes progress on related shoreline resilience initiatives. The SAP is now entering a critical development phase supported by state grant funding, extensive community engagement, and technical studies. This report offers an overview of accomplishments to date, recently held workshops, upcoming milestones, and the Planning Board’s role in shaping the land use, policy, and longterm adaptation strategies.
BACKGROUND
Alameda faces significant and increasing risks of coastal flooding from sea level rise and storm surge, groundwater rise, and pluvial flooding (heavy rainfall that overwhelms the storm drain system). The City’s 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), and 2040 General Plan all identify shoreline adaptation as a top priority for the City.
To comply with SB 272, Alameda must submit a comprehensive shoreline adaptation plan for approval by the City Council and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) by 2034. The City completed the first planning phase, including extensive community engagement, in 2025. In September 2025, the Alameda Sea Level Rise Planning Fair at the REAP Climate C...
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