The City of Santa Barbara Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

Climate change is beginning to pose many problems for many California coastal communities and will continue to do so in the coming decades. With increases in sea level and storm frequency, communities such as Santa Barbara will be at greater risk to temporary flooding, permanent inundation, and increased cliff, bluff, dune, and shoreline erosion. Protecting Santa Barbara's beautiful coastal resources necessitates understanding the vulnerability of this community to sea level rise and prioritizing adaptation strategies. This project conducted a vulnerability assessment to determine the impacts of sea level rise on: human impacts, critical infrastructure, recreation and public access, and ecological resources. It also identified preliminary adaptation policies that address the impacts of sea level rise hazards.