Newark, CA

Sea level is rising.  As Newark is situated along the San Francisco Bay, this will affect the residents, businesses, and infrastructure in Newark. Figure 1 from the NASA website (climate.nasa.gov) shows the rise in sea level since 1900 based on tide gauges and more recently also upon satellite data. Average sea level has increased by about 200 mm or 0.65 feet since 1900 and has been increasing most rapidly over the past 20 years. This increase is due melting glaciers and ice sheets and thermal expansion of the oceans.

Figure 1

The city is developing a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategy (SLR Plan) to assess and plan for the potential impacts. The SLR Plan has several components including: (1) Developing a flood hazard model for the years 2050 and 2100 using assumptions based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report and the Ocean Protection Council State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance; (2) Conducting a vulnerability assessment and risk analysis; and (3) Develop concept-level adaptation solutions.

Table 1 illustrates the expected range of potential sea level rise from 2020 to 2100 relative to a 2000 baseline.

Table 1