Last month, the San Francisco Bay, Loma Prieta, and Redwood chapters of the Sierra Club joined together to present a three-day webinar series: Why We Need Nature-Based Adaptation to Sea Level Rise. Decision-makers, their staff, and the public learned from leading experts in their fields about nature-based adaptation to sea level rise, why it is critical for cities around the Bay, and how to plan for and fund them.
In case you missed it, you can watch video recordings of the webinar sessions and view the presenters' slides below. For links to resources mentioned by the panelists, click here. You can learn more about the experts here, and find a full webinar agenda here.
Day 1: What is Nature-Based Adaptation & Why Do We Need it (May 13th, 2021)
00:00 Welcome — James Eggers, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
3:16 Why We Need Nature-Based Adaptation — John Bourgeois (Valley Water, formerly with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project) [Slides]
20:48 Adapting to Rising Seas Using Nature's Jurisdictions — Julie Beagle (US Army Corps of Engineers, formerly with SF Estuary Institute) [Slides]
41:26 The Importance of the Bay's Habitats to Migratory and Resident Birds and its International Importance — Julian Wood (Point Blue Conservation Science) [Slides]
58:30 Panel Discussion and Q&A (Break)
00:00 Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Budgets in Restored Tidal Wetlands — Patty Oikawa (California State University, East Bay) [Slides]
19:15 Federally Listed Species: the Value of Marshes and Urgency of Partnerships — Valary Bloom (US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento) [Slides]
41:51 How Tidal Wetlands and Nature-Based Infrastructure Support a Clean, Healthy San Francisco Bay — Christina Toms (Regional Water Quality Control Board) [Slides]
58:19 Panel Discussion and Q&A
1:15:11 Closing Remarks — James Eggers, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Day 2: Where to Use Nature-Based Adaptations (May 20th, 2021)
00:00 Welcome — Virginia Reinhart, Executive Director of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter
2:47 “A levee is not always the answer" — Dave Pine (San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority) [Slides]
19:20 Ecology of the Bay Past and Future — Robin Grossinger (San Francisco Estuary Institute) [Slides]
35:21 Climate Change, Bay Wetlands, and Actions We Can Take — Letitia Grenier (San Francisco Estuary Institute) [Slides]
1:00:11 Panel Discussion and Q&A (Break)
00:00 Beaches as an Alternative to Riprap and Walls for Eroding Shorelines — Roger Leventhal (Marin County Public Works) [Slides]
26:54 Value of Oyster Beds and Eelgrass Meadows — Marilyn Latta (California State Coastal Conservancy) [Slides]
48:35 Funding Sources and Funding Requirements — Amy Hutzel (California State Coastal Conservancy) [Slides]
1:14:21 Panel Discussion and Q&A
1:30:38 Closing Remarks — Virginia Reinhart, Executive Director of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter
Day 3: Greening the Project: Funding & Case Studies (May 27, 2021)
00:00 Welcome — Jeff Morris, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter
1:33 Case Studies of Natural and Nature-Based Features in Adaptation Strategies — Jeremy Lowe (San Francisco Estuary Institute) [Slides]
38:07 North Richmond Shoreline Multi-Benefit Project — Josh Bradt (San Francisco Estuary Partnership) [Slides]
55:40 Summary of Sea Level Rise Adaptation Legislation — Hon. Kevin Mullin (Assembly Speaker Pro-Tem, District 22)
1:14:00 Panel Discussion and Q&A (Break)
00:00 San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund — Luisa Valiela (Environmental Protection Agency) [Slides]
19:29 Easing the Funding Challenge — James Muller (San Francisco Estuary Partnership) [Slides]
35:29 FEMA’s Funding and Requirements for Nature Based Adaptation Solutions — Alison Kearns (Federal Emergency Management Agency) [Slides]
55:39 Panel Discussion and Q&A
1:15:28 Closing Remarks — James Eggers, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter