Title
a.Consider oral presentations and information on Climate Change Hazards (e.g., Sea Level Rise), including presentations from the Coastal Commission, Central Coast Wetlands Group, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments staff and
b. Provide direction for staff to seek funding to prepare a detailed climate hazards risk assessment and a resiliency plan.
Project Location: Unincorporated County (Coastal Zone only)
Proposed CEQA action: Statutorily Exempt per CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Find this presentation qualifies for a Statutory Exemption per Section 15262 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
b. Receive a presentation on Climate Change Hazards, including presentations from the Coastal Commission, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments staff; and
c. Provide direction for County staff to seek outside funding to prepare a detailed climate hazards risk assessment and a resiliency plan.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Planning File Number: REF200014 (Climate Change Hazards)
Project Location: County-wide - Coastal Zone Only
Planning Areas: North County Coastal Land Use Plan, Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan, Carmel Area Land Use Plan, and Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan
SUMMARY:
Resource Management Agency (RMA) Planning staff is currently updating the Moss Landing Community Plan (MLCP), which is Chapter 5 of the North County Land Use Plan (NCLUP). Due to its geographic location, Moss Landing is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, specifically, sea level rise and storm surge along the coast, coastal erosion changes, and potential changes in flooding patterns from rainfall variability. Several efforts addressing climate change are being pursued at the local and state level and will be used to inform the direction of the Moss Landing Community Plan update and its implementing ordinances, including other susceptible areas and infrastructure outside the Moss Landing Community. The state and local efforts taken to address climate change are listed below:
Ø As part of the Moss Landing Community Plan update, the County obtained a grant to study climate change effects. The grant funded a 2017 Coastal Climate Vulnerability Report related to climate change effects along the Monterey Bay with a specific focus on North Monterey County. This report is the first comprehensive look at this section of the Monterey coast related to climate change and identifies potential impacts it could have on private property and on public infrastructure. (Exhibit D).
Ø The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG) is currently leading an effort to study climate change risks to Highway 1 infrastructure in northern Monterey County. (Exhibit H).
Ø The California Coastal Commission is currently working on providing comprehensive climate change policy guidance for local governments to include within its Local Coastal Program. (Exhibit F).
Ø The Monterey County’s Office of Emergency Services currently implements the County’s adopted 2016 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan that addresses the types of hazards that could occur from climate change. Risks associated with climate change include sea level rise, storm surge along the coast, coastal erosion changes, and potential changes in flooding patterns from rainfall variability. This plan is currently being updated over the next year. (Exhibit B).
Ø The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, as part of its 2008 Final Management Plan to protect the Sanctuary’s resources, developed a Coastal Armoring Action Plan with a goal of reducing expansion of hard coastal armoring development utilizing preventive measures and other coastal armoring alternatives. The Final Management Plan is in the process of being updated, with expected plan adoption in summer 2020. (Exhibit J.1).
Ø The State of California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report (December 2019) describing state and local government’s role in addressing climate change (Exhibit J.2).
For this presentation, staff has coordinated a presentation on climate change hazards including presenters from the California Coastal Commission, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory/Central Coast Wetlands Group, and AMBAG. The presentations provided for this meeting will touch on just a few of the efforts that are happening at the state and local level. Staff will also demonstrate an on-line sea level rise calculator available for general informational purposes.
Staff is recommending that the Board of Supervisors provide direction to staff to pursue funding to identify and study areas and infrastructure at risk from climate change. Staff also recommends that the effort include seeking funding to prepare a resiliency plan that would address protecting or relocating critical infrastructure, managed retreat of areas at risk, and other measures that will make private and public areas resilient to climate change hazards.
DISCUSSION:
See Exhibit A for a detailed discussion of the most current local efforts taken to address climate change.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff has been conferring with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (WRA) regarding flood zones and with the Coastal Commission related to protection of the Moss Landing Community and policies related to the Moss Landing Community Plan Update. County Staff is involved with the AMBAG Steering Committee for the Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency Study. These conversations are assisting staff in developing policies and eventual regulations relating to climate change effects.
FINANCING:
Funding for staff time associated with this presentation is included in the FY19-20 Adopted Budget for RMA-Planning. There is no fiscal impact associated with the presentation. Staff will be looking for outside funding sources to prepare the climate hazards risk assessment and resiliency plan if directed by the Board of Supervisors.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action represents implementation of a General Plan Land Use Policy, which provides the County accountability for proper management of County land resources.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__ Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Mike Novo, Management Specialist
Anna Quenga, Senior Planner
Shelley Glennon, Senior Planner
Reviewed by: Brandon Swanson, Interim Chief of Planning
Approved by: John M. Dugan, FAICP, Deputy Director of Land Use and Community Development
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Exhibit A - Discussion
Exhibit B - 2016 Monterey County Hazard Mitigation Plan Excerpts; full plan at
<https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=13709>)
Exhibit C - Update Executive Summary; full plan at <http://www.opc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/agenda_items/20180314/Item3_Exhibit-A_OPC_SLR_Guidance-rd3.pdf>
Exhibit D - Vulnerability Report; Appendices found at <https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=57558>
Exhibit E - Projected Sea Level Rise Scenarios (Excerpts from Exhibit D)
Exhibit F - Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance; full plan at <https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/assets/slr/guidance/2018/0_Full_2018AdoptedSLRGuidanceUpdate.pdf>
Exhibit G - Draft Policies (2019) presented to Moss Landing Community
Exhibit H - Central Coast Highway 1 Climate Resiliency Study
Exhibit I - High Tide Tax
Exhibit J - Miscellaneous documents:
1. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary - Final Management Plan, Section II, Coastal Development, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (<https://montereybay.noaa.gov/intro/mp/mp.html> for full Management Plan)
2. Preparing for Rising Seas: How the State Can Help Support Local Coastal Adaptation Efforts, State of California Legislative Analyst’s Office (<https://lao.ca.gov/Publications?Year=&CategoryID=&Type=&phrase=Preparing+for+Rising+Seas> for full report)
3. Storm Water Resource Plan for the Greater Monterey County Integrated Regional Water Management Region, Coastal Conservation and Research, Inc. (<http://www.greatermontereyirwmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Greater-Monterey-County-SWRP_Final-Plan_2019_06_27-v2-Aug-2019.pdf> for full Plan)
4. Salinas River State Beach Dune Restoration Project Brochure. Salinas River State Beach Dune Restoration and Management Plan, January 2016, Central Coast Wetlands Group and Coastal Conservation and Research in partnership with California State Parks (<https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4qUY-zc8V-WMXhFSi1SaGh5Wlk/view> for full Plan)
5. AB 691 Sea-Level Rise Assessment, Moss Landing Harbor Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategy Report, June 2019, prepared by the Central Coast Wetlands Group for the Moss Landing Harbor District (<https://www.mlml.calstate.edu/ccwg/wpcontent/uploads/sites/23/2020/01/MossLanding-Harbor-AB-691-Report_1.16.2020.pdf>)