DATE: May 8, 2017
SUBJECT:
Title
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION FROM UC SAN DIEGO SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY'S NEWLY ESTABLISHED CENTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION, INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF ITS FUNCTION AND ROLE IN DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION, INCLUDING COASTAL RESILIENCY FOR SAN DIEGO BAY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography announced the establishment of the Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (CCCIA) in 2015. The new center will study the consequences of climate change and focus on strategies for adaptation. Dr. Mark Merrifield was recently hired as the Director of CCCIA. Dr. Merrifield will provide a presentation about CCCIA, discuss how the center can support the District’s efforts to better understand bay and coastal dynamics in regards to climate change and sea level rise, and enhance coordination amongst stakeholders.
As a reminder, the District is required to prepare and submit an assessment to address sea level rise to the State Lands Commission by July 1, 2019, and we welcome contributions that will be brought to regional work on sea level rise from CCCIA. Specifically, CCCIA may provide additional scientific expertise and analytics to assess various sea level rise scenarios in the San Diego coastal region.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive a presentation by Scripps Institution of Oceanography regarding the Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation and take no further action at this time.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
This agenda item has no fiscal impact.
Compass Strategic Goals:
Understanding the potential impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, will help the District meet regulatory requirements and develop adaptation strategies to protect operations and infrastructure, and promote environmental stewardship of the San Diego Bay tidelands. This agenda item supports the following Strategic Goal(s).
• A Port that the public understands and trusts.
• A thriving and modern maritime seaport.
• A Port with a healthy and sustainable bay and its environment.
• A Port with a comprehensive vision for Port land and water uses integrated to regional plans.
• A Port that is a safe place to visit, work and play.
• A financially sustainable Port that drives job creation and regional economic vitality.
DISCUSSION:
Scientists contend that the impacts of climate change are occurring and will continue to occur into the future. Across California, these impacts may include changes in air temperature and precipitation, water shortages and electricity disruptions, increases in wildfires, and sea level rise. These impacts may have a significant effect on the state’s economy, emergency services, energy sector, public health, and the environment.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the premier research institutes for studying climate change world-wide. During 2015, Scripps announced the establishment of the Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (CCCIA). The goal of CCCIA is to leverage the breadth of knowledge at Scripps as well as the University of California at San Diego to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the consequences of climate change and focus on strategies for adaptation.
Dr. Mark Merrifield was recently hired as the Director of CCCIA. Dr. Merrifield is an internationally recognized researcher in the areas of sea-level rise and climate variability, coastal oceanography, and nearshore processes. He received his Ph.D in Oceanography from Scripps in 1989 and then joined the faculty at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Ocean Engineering department, subsequently moving to the Oceanography department from 1997-2017. At the April 10, 2018 Board meeting, Dr. Mark Merrifield will provide a presentation about CCCIA and discuss how the center can support the District’s efforts to better understand bay and coastal dynamics in regards to climate change and sea level rise.
As a trustee of State tidelands, sea level rise poses a potentially significant impact to the District. Exacerbated by future storms and tidal fluctuations, sea level rise may erode beaches, inundate storm drains, and cause flooding. Assembly Bill No. 691 was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Brown in 2013 requiring that local trustees of state lands prepare and submit an assessment by July 1, 2019, of how they plan to address sea level rise (Attachment A). The assessment must include maps showing areas potentially affected by sea level rise and storm surge in years 2030, 2050, and 2100. Furthermore, the report shall describe how the trustee proposes to protect and preserve natural and human-made resources and facilities, and provide an estimate of the financial costs of the impacts of sea level rise. This assessment will also provide information as a part of to the environmental review process for the Port Master Plan Update.
The District is currently conducting the first phase of the AB 691 assessment, which includes a vulnerability assessment of projected sea level rise and storm surge on District tidelands. During the fall of 2017, District staff worked with a special Ad Hoc Committee of the Environmental Advisory Committee to review assumptions and methods to conduct the vulnerability assessment. The vulnerability assessment is expected to be completed during the summer of 2018.
In response to climate change impacts like sea level rise, the State of California has set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow the rate of climate change and has begun developing legislation and guidance to adapt to and prevent impacts of climate change. The following list summarizes recent sea level rise guidance produced by State agencies:
• California Coastal Commission: Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance Interpretive Guidelines for Addressing Sea Level Rise in Local Coastal Programs and Coastal Development Permits adopted in 2015
• California Natural Resources Agency: Safeguarding California Plan updated in January 2018
• California Ocean Protection Council: State of California Sea Level-Rise Guidance updated in March 2018
Having already adopted a Climate Action Plan to reduce GHG emissions on District tidelands, the District has been actively engaged with State agencies during the public review process of the documents mentioned above. The District’s comments have focused on the need to balance environmental protection and community needs with the importance of regional economic drivers such as ports. District staff have presented to the Ocean Protection Council, as well as the State Lands Commission regarding sea level rise and the unique characteristics of ports and harbors, water-dependent infrastructure, and the Public Trust uses. These comments have been well-received by State agencies and have been incorporated into the guidance documents mentioned above.
Staff recommends the Board receive a presentation by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation and take no further action at this time.
General Counsel’s Comments:
The Office of the General Counsel reviewed this agenda as to form and legality.
Environmental Review:
This informational presentation to the Board by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation regarding coastal resiliency in San Diego Bay does not constitute an “approval” or a “project” under the definitions set forth in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15352 and 15378 because no direct or indirect changes to the physical environment would occur. CEQA requires that the District adequately assess the environmental impacts of projects and reasonably foreseeable activities that may result from projects prior to the approval of the same. Any project developed as a result of Board’s action or direction that requires the District or the Board’s discretionary approval resulting in a physical change to the environment will be analyzed in accordance with CEQA prior to such approval. CEQA review may result in the District, in its sole and absolute discretion, requiring implementation of mitigation measures, adopting an alternative, including without limitation, a “no project alternative” or adopting a Statement of Overriding Consideration, if required. The current Board direction in no way limits the exercise of this discretion. Therefore, no further CEQA review is required.
The project complies with Section 87 of the Port Act, which allows for the construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of highways, streets, roadways, bridges, belt line railroads, parking facilities, power, telephone, telegraph or cable lines or landings, water and gas pipelines, and all other transportation and utility facilities or betterments incidental, necessary, or convenient for the promotion and accommodation of any of the uses set forth in this section. The Port Act was enacted by the California Legislature and is consistent with the Public Trust Doctrine. Consequently, the proposed project is consistent with the Public Trust Doctrine.
The informational presentation to the Board does not allow for “development,” as defined in Section 30106 of the California Coastal Act, or “new development,” pursuant to Section 1.a. of the District’s Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Regulations because they will not result in, without limitation, a physical change, change in use or increase the intensity of uses. Therefore, issuance of a Coastal Development Permit or exclusion is not required. However, development within the District requires processing under the District’s CDP Regulations. Future development, as defined in Section 30106 of the Coastal Act, will remain subject to its own independent review pursuant to the District’s certified CDP Regulations, PMP, and Chapters 3 and 8 of the Coastal Act. The Board’s direction or action in no way limits the exercise of the District’s discretion under the District’s CDP Regulations. Therefore, issuance of a CDP or exclusion is not required at this time.
Equal Opportunity Program:
The Office of the General Counsel reviewed this agenda as to form and legality.
PREPARED BY:
Philip Gibbons
Program Manager, Energy
Attachment(s):
Attachment A: Assembly Bill No. 691. Sea Level Rise.