Agenda

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C. 38

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	August 15, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Planning Grant Opportunity

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 08/15/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Ryan Hernandez, 925-655-2919

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 15, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2023/530 to approve and authorize the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant of up to a maximum of $1,000,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Planning Grant for the preparation of the Contra Costa County Sea Level Rise Resilience and Adaptation Plan that would create focused adaptation strategies and implementation actions for the communities along Contra Costa County's shoreline.

FISCAL IMPACT:

If awarded, the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) Planning Grant funds will be distributed among the lead applicant (County) and any co-applicants. Currently the City of Pinole, West County Waste Water District, The Watershed Project, and Greenbelt Alliance have indicated interest in becoming a co-applicant. This partnership will improve capacity and develop priorities that address sea level rise adaption within our respective jurisdictions. Measure X funds for climate equity and resilience support the work of the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) staff who will be administering the grant. The CRRC program does not require a County match.

BACKGROUND:

Sea Level Rise (SLR) is altering the physical environment and is a continual challenge to the 1.16 million people of Contra Costa County. With warmer temperatures and more extreme weather, SLR modeling indicates we can expect the County’s shoreline, comprised of built and natural infrastructure, to be subject to more severe and frequent flooding. The assets at risk include homes and businesses, shoreline disadvantaged/impacted communities adjacent to industrial sites, hazardous materials sites, brownfields, the US Navy’s Military Ocean Terminal at Concord, railroads, wastewater treatment facilities, electrical substations, natural gas and crude oil pipelines, prime agricultural resources, and in-Delta Legacy Communities. The Contra Costa County shoreline is also home to four refineries, two of which are in the process of converting their operations to process renewable fuel.

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has been leading the Bay Area’s planning response to sea level rise and has conducted numerous studies and reports on the impacts of sea level rise in the region. The County has participated in these regional efforts - BCDC Contra Costa Adapting to Rising Tides study, BCDC East Contra Costa Adapting to Rising Tides study, and Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Adapts Vulnerability Assessment - that broadly characterize sea level rise risks to subregions of Contra Costa County.

According to the April 2023 joint presentation by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission to BCDC, the cost to adapt to sea level rise in the Bay Area is estimated to be approximately $110 billion. Of the $110 billion, it is estimated that $13 billion is needed to pay for adaptation in Contra Costa County alone. Contra Costa County was identified as one of three Bay Area counties with significant adaptation implementation gaps.

In May 2023, the Board established the "Contra Costa Resilient Shoreline Ad Hoc Committee" (Committee) to address sea level adaptation and resilience composed of two County Supervisors with staff support by the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD). The Committee will lead the effort to prepare the Contra Costa County Sea Level Rise Resilience and Adaptation Plan (Plan). The Plan would be developed and guided by community input with the goal to build capacity to prepare for, and recover from, the disruptions of sea level rise.

The costs in staff time and materials for DCD work activities associated with the Committee will be funded by the Measure X – Climate Equity and Resilience Investment allocation administered by the department. However, additional funding will be necessary to develop a robust sea level rise adaptation plan.

The Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) operates through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via the Inflation Reduction Act. CRRC will support collaborative approaches to achieving resilience in coastal regions with an emphasis on risk reduction, regional collaboration, equity, and building enduring capacity. Track One of the CRRC, Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development supports building capacity for, development of, and collaboration on transformational resilience and adaptation strategies for coastal communities. The CRRC will award funds based on regional coordination, engagement, planning, advancement of equitable outcomes, and capacity building for resilience and adaptation.

DCD has started outreach to our shoreline cities, special districts, and community-based organizations to gauge interest in being a co-applicant on this grant. So far, the City of Pinole, West County Wastewater District, The Watershed Project, and Greenbelt Alliance are interested in partnering. Outreach and meetings will continue until all shoreline cities and other shoreline stakeholders are briefed about this grant opportunity.

Staff recommends the Board approve the submittal of the CRRC planning grant application to develop the Contra Costa County Sea Level Rise Resilience and Adaptation Plan.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Should the Board not approve the grant application, the County would miss an opportunity to leverage federal funds for the development of a sea level rise resilience and adaptation plan.