The Port of Oakland, in partnership with the City of Oakland, has received a $3 million grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for Sustainable Transportation Planning and Climate Adaptation. This grant aims to address potential flooding caused by sea level rise (SLR) and groundwater intrusion (GWI).

Colleen Liang, Director of Environmental Programs and Planning, emphasized the significance of the funding: “Sea level rise and groundwater intrusion pose an existential threat to the port and city. We are thankful to Caltrans for the award. We’ll use the funding to provide adaptation strategies for the port and the City of Oakland’s vulnerable communities.”

The initiative, titled “Rising Seas and Oakland’s Infrastructure and Frontline Communities: Climate Adaptation Planning for Neighborhood-led Resiliency Project,” includes conducting an asset inventory and vulnerability assessment. This project will focus on the anticipated SLR and GWI impacts on the port and nearby Oakland neighborhoods.

In addition to the grant, the Port of Oakland will contribute $1.5 million towards the $4.5 million project. The port oversees approximately 20 miles of San Francisco Bay coastal property, which includes vital transportation infrastructure such as the Oakland International Airport and the Oakland Seaport.

The project aims to model the effects of SLR, GWI, and liquefaction in the near and distant future (2030, 2050, 2100) and will explore adaptive measures to address identified vulnerabilities. Community involvement will be integral to the project’s planning and implementation phases.

Recently, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners approved a $19.3 million agreement to secure solar power for the next 20 years, further emphasizing the port’s commitment to sustainability and resilience.