The fiscal impact of participating in the extension of the Adapting to Rising Tides study to eastern Contra Costa County will be zero or minimal as a grant from the Delta Stewardship Council would include $10,000 to cover time for County staff. Costs involved with pursuing implementation of concepts addressed by ART would depend upon the actions selected to be taken and the County's role in them.
Early in 2015, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) convened and staffed a planning process, Adapting to Rising Tides (ART), to understand how current and future coastal and river flooding may affect communities and shoreline in Contra Costa County from Richmond to Bay Point. The project investigated how flooding may impact transportation and utility networks, industrial facilities and employment sites, residential neighborhoods and community facilities, and shoreline park and recreation facilities. The project considered the consequences of flooding, both within and beyond the project area, and in particular the potential for disproportionate impacts on certain community members. Data from the study will inform the upcoming update of the County's General Plan, particularly the safety element, and may be used by the County and other jurisdictions and organizations in the study area to help guide a number of long range planning and investment decisions.
County staff from several departments participated in ART, including staff from the Departments of Conservation and Development (DCD), Public Works, Health Services, and the Office of Emergency Services. Staff from the Cities of El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Martinez, Concord, and San Pablo participated, as well as affected water districts, sanitary districts, the East Bay Regional Park District, Mosquito and Vector Control, the Resource Conservation District, transit providers, regional agencies, State agencies, federal agencies, railroads, PG&E, refineries, other large industrial facilities, and community organizations.
The ART planning process concluded in November 2016. BCDC staff will present to the Board of Supervisors the study results. In addition to summarizing results of the ART process, the presentation will also discuss potential next steps. There may be a further role for the County in participating in or helping coordinate interagency adaptation to rising sea levels, but what this role is, who would perform it, and how this would be paid for have yet to be determined.
The ART study area did not include the eastern part of Contra Costa County. That region is not in BCDC's jurisdiction, even though it will likely experience rising tides due to climate change. The Delta Stewardship Council has approached County staff and BCDC about extending the study to the eastern part of the County, and has funding for this purpose. Staff finds this to be an exceptional opportunity to extend the study at little or no cost to the County. This will assist the cities in eastern Contra Costa County as well as the County and other stakeholders. Although this area is not in BCDC's jurisdiction, BCDC is best positioned to continue the work it started with the western part of the County. When performing studies outside of its geographical boundaries, BCDC requests that affected cities and counties request BCDC's involvement. This opportunity was discussed with the Ad Hoc Committee on the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative. That Committee recommends that the Board of Supervisors invite BCDC to extend the ART planning process to eastern Contra Costa County.
Failure to take action would result in the ART study not being extended to eastern Contra Costa County and the County and BCDC losing access to funding from the Delta Stewardship Council for this work.