Hayward adopts plan to protect shoreline from rising sea levels
On February 16, 2021, the Hayward City Council adopted the Hayward Regional Shoreline Adaptation Master Plan – a comprehensive set of strategies to prepare the Hayward shoreline for rising sea levels. The Plan was prepared by the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA), a partnership between the City, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. Over the last century, San Francisco Bay sea levels have increased by eight inches according to the California Coastal Commission, and they will continue to rise due to global warming effects such as expanding ocean water molecules and the addition of freshwater to oceans from melting ice sheets and glaciers.
The Master Plan, developed with the support of a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in climate adaptation, envisions a range of nature-based and engineered solutions along the shoreline that will host recreational opportunities, facilitate educational programming, and support the continued operation of critical urban infrastructure. As sea levels rise, a suite of design strategies and projects will be implemented to make the shoreline more resilient to climate change and more accessible to all. The complete Plan and supporting documents are available now on the project webpage.
The two-year planning effort was made possible due to the extensive stakeholder and public engagement that occurred at every stage of its development. Community members attended shore tours, workshops, and participated in online public comment forums, and the feedback they provided over the course of these efforts played a critical role in shaping the adopted Plan.
Community members are encouraged to stay involved by attending the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA) quarterly Board meetings. HASPA is currently seeking funding to begin implementing strategies identified in the Plan. For more information regarding meeting schedules and agendas, please visit https://www.hayward-ca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/HASPA.
