Climate Change – preparing for the next level
San Francisco, California, USA
Waterfronts and shorelines are in high
demand for commercial development despite
their vulnerable and fragile position.
During the last century, vast stretches of the
San Francisco Bay shoreline were intensively
developed, including areas on low-lying,
reclaimed and subsided land. In addition, the
Bay represents one of the most diverse and
ecologically challenging landscapes in the
United States today.
ARCADIS is leading a team of U.S. and
Dutch engineers and scientists to investigate
the impact of a rising sea level on the Bay’s
shoreline, and to develop strategies for
adaptation. The study is the first pilot project
of an alliance between the Netherlands and
the State of California on climate change
adaptation.
ARCADIS assessed both the economic and
natural dynamics of the area to develop
different strategies with over 50 adaptation
measures. The strategies range from tidaldenying
and economic-driven measures,
to tidal-embracing and ecology-driven
initiatives depending on the nature of the
shoreline and the State’s future ambitions.
The results of the study were presented in
San Francisco at a special symposium: “The
Netherlands and California – A New Alliance
on Climate Change Adaptation.”