Mission Creek Sea Level Rise Adaptation Study

Waterfront strategies for long-term urban resiliency

Research

Located on San Francisco’s eastern waterfront, Mission Creek is one of the city’s lowest lying areas. That means it's potentially vulnerable to storm surges, flooding and future sea level rise. This study considers different design concepts to “hold the line” on sea level rise at Mission Creek and weighs the pros and cons of each. Concepts include raising seawalls, filling and creating tidal basins through an outboard levee and building a tidal gate that could be closed during extreme high tides.

The result of a unique collaboration between the Dutch government and City of San Francisco, this study is a first step toward imagining what a future with sea level rise could look like for the city. What opportunities are there to increase flood protection while maintaining the waterfront as an attractive place for people to visit and enjoy?