Governor Brown Signs Bill to Preserve the Sea Level Rise Database

Governor Brown recently signed a bill by Assemblymember Berman (D-Palo Alto) that reaffirms California’s commitment to preparing for and adapting to sea level rise. Assembly Bill 184 extends the Planning for Sea Level Rise Database to January 1, 2023.

“Two-thirds of Californians inhabit coastal regions, which means sea level rise will have a catastrophic impact on coastal communities, infrastructure, and the economy if left unaddressed,” said Berman. “In San Mateo County alone, nearly $40 billion worth of land is at risk of long-term flooding and erosion caused by sea level rise. AB 184 preserves a critical tool that is needed to provide an educated, coordinated, and effective response to sea level rise.”

Under the law, several state agencies as well as ports, airports, and utilities located along the coast and in the San Francisco Bay Area are required to report sea level rise planning information to the Natural Resources Agency biannually, including studies, models, maps, cost-benefit analyses, vulnerability assessments, and updates regarding adaptation projects. Collecting and making this data available is vital to our state’s ability to overcome challenges presented by sea level rise.

“When we see the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma we know that we must plan for more intense storm events and sea level rise in response to climate change,” said Jay Ziegler, Policy Director for The Nature Conservancy. “The Nature Conservancy supports Assemblymember Berman’s leadership – and AB 184 – with an eye to more effective solutions to rising sea levels that protect both people and our environment.”

The Planning for Sea Level Rise database was established by AB 2516 in 2014. Without this legislation, the database would have been repealed on January 1, 2018.

Assemblymembers Chiu, Cunningham, Mullin, Stone, Ting, and Gonzalez Fletcher as well as Senators Hertzberg and Hill are co-authors of AB 184.

Assemblymember Marc Berman represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Website of Assemblymember Marc Berman: www.assembly.ca.gov/Berman. Assemblymember Marc Berman’s official headshot is available here.