Sea-Level Rise & Climate Assessment

Overview

The City is proud to announce it has been awarded a $60,000 San Mateo County grant to study the risks of sea level rise in Millbrae's downtown. The main goals of the Sea-Level Rise Assessment are to identify and understand the risks of climate change to key assets within the City of Millbrae and to identify actions the City can incorporate into regional and local planning efforts. Once the City better understands the risks of climate change, concrete steps can be taken to mitigate them. This project builds on regional planning efforts to provide more specific information within the City.

In June 2019, the City held a special community meeting to show Millbrae residents some of the challenges the City is facing when addressing climate change and sea-level rise. View the City of Millbrae Sea Level Rise Adaptation Assessment presentation (PDF) from that meeting.

Prior to the June 2019 meeting, a community survey was sent out to better understand your thoughts and concerns regarding climate change and sea-level rise. That survey is still open and we encourage all Millbrae residents to complete it.

Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Assessment - July 11, 2020 Update

The Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Assessment (Assessment) was prepared by the City of Millbrae and its partners. This Assessment seeks to expand the understanding of sea-level rise risks to the City, communicate these risks to the community, and plan for sea level rise by identifying potential mitigations, adaptation, and hazard mitigation strategies.

This Assessment builds on the County's Assessment and therefore uses the same estimates of future sea-level rise. The baseline scenario shows the possible extent of offloading with a 1% annual chance storm. The City's Assessment has provided a better knowledge of local assets at risk that will help the City prepare for the future. The Assessment identified key assets (such as communication towers, gas stations, and electric substations) and up to 9.5 miles of key linear assets (such as gas lines) than the County's previous Assessment.

Better data and a better understanding of potential inundation risk from remapped FEMA floodplains contributed to the ability to better understand local risks. The Assessment has identified numerous opportunities for the City to prepare for future sea-level rise. By understanding the threats, the City and the region can collectively begin to take action to reduce risk. Actions may include local improvements to the City's drainage infrastructure, implementing a seawall or levee along the shoreline, and continuing to engage in coordination and collaboration to position for funding opportunities.

An informational report on the Assessment will be presented to the Millbrae City Council on July 14, 2020.

• View the entire Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Assessment (PDF)

Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Assessment - May 15, 2019

As part of a special grant from San Mateo County, the City needs the help of local residents.

On Thursday, June 13, 2019, the City of Millbrae will host a special community meeting to explain the challenges the City is facing when addressing climate change and sea-level rise.

Topics of discussion will include:

• How sea-level rise and climate change are impacting Millbrae
• What is being done to mitigate sea-level rise
• Understanding our local vulnerability

A major part of this meeting includes a better understanding of residents' concerns and what they see as vulnerable infrastructure in the City. The meeting will start at 7 pm in the Chetcuti Community Room. We hope you will be able to attend to share your thoughts and concerns.

Help us understand your thoughts and concerns. Take the community survey.