Preparing for the Storm

Climate change models forecast that California’s fluctuations between dry and wet years will grow more intense as the globe warms. So when Zone 7 Water Agency’s territory sustained severe damage in the storms of 2017 following the drought of 2012-2016, it catalyzed increased preparation for a future of greater climate extremes.

With funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Improvement Fund, Zone 7 teamed up with San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), H. T. Harvey & Associates, and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture for Preparing for the Storm. The team developed a set of multi-benefit approaches to improve the health and flood resilience in the East Bay’s Tri-Valley region in the Alameda Creek watershed.

Rather than turning to the usual grey infrastructure for flood control, the team investigated multi-benefit opportunities to re-establish floodplain and riparian habitat, advance green stormwater infrastructure planning, beneficially reuse sediment, and resolve hotspots of water quality pollution and sediment erosion.

In the urban core, SFEI used the planning tool GreenPlan-IT to assess the optimal placement of green stormwater infrastructure to balance goals of reducing water pollution, slowing runoff from urban areas that exacerbates flooding, and keeping project costs low.

In urban stretches of streams, flood control agencies like Zone 7 regularly remove sediment so the channels can convey large amounts of water during storms. This sediment once would have reached San Francisco Bay and fed mudflats and marshes; without it, baylands won’t be able to keep up with sea level rise. SFEI brought together interested parties to make twelve recommendations on how to facilitate the transfer of this all-important dirt to where it’s most needed.

In agricultural and rural areas, the team explored opportunities to restore rare sycamore alluvial woodland. Sycamore alluvial woodland is well-adapted to seasonal dry periods and provides a valuable habitat for native fish and birds. Learning to restore it could prove useful as the state’s droughts become more frequent and severe.

These are just three examples of the innovative approaches applied and projects implemented in Preparing for the Storm. The effort shows how SFEI can work with partners to apply visionary ideas on urban greening, habitat restoration, and climate resilience at the watershed level, transforming the state one region at a time.