Adapting to Rising Tides > Maps and Data

Maps and Data

The ART Program is working with local, state, regional and federal agencies and organizations to gather, develop and analyze the data needed to understand the impacts of a changing climate on Bay Area communities, infrastructure, services, and natural resources. Each ART Program project has a rich repository of data, maps and analysis about the many assets, asset categories and sectors evaluated. Below are the currently available geospatial data and mapping products created by the ART Program to support climate resilience planning at both local and regional scales.

Regional Maps and Data

Bay Area Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Analysis, and Consequence Maps

The ART Bay Area Shoreline Flood Explorer is a website designed to help Bay Area communities, local governments, and the general public understand current and future flooding risks due to sea level rise and storms. The website will help users learn flood concepts, explore interactive flood maps, and download GIS data. These maps also show the consequence of what could be at risk without adaptation and identify specific areas that face the greatest risk, helping Bay communities, governments, and businesses to drive strategic action.

East Contra Costa Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Analysis Maps

The East Contra Costa Shoreline Flood Explorer allows government organizations and communities in East Contra Costa County to access interactive, online maps of local flood risks due to rising sea levels and storm events. These maps complement the information in the Bay Shoreline Flood Explorer and highlight what East Contra Costa could look like without implementing local and regional adaptation plans to minimize flood risks. The site also helps inform and empower citizens to connect with ongoing efforts and community organizations working to minimize those impacts.

ART Bay Area Consequence Analysis 

ART Bay Area conducted an analysis based on factors that pointed to “regional significance” – impacts that would create rippling consequences that would be felt throughout the region. These factors – called Consequence Indicators – vary across each regional system but provide a measure of impact not captured by flood exposure alone. Thirty-two indicators across the four systems give a measure of impacts, or consequences, to people, the economy, and the environment that could happen as rising seas lead to shoreline flooding. The Bay Shoreline Flood Explorer visualizes only a few of the total indicators analyzed in ART Bay Area. 

Community Vulnerability Mapping 

The Adapting to Rising Tides Program developed data to better understand community vulnerability to current and future flooding due to sea level rise and storms based on the work of Stronger Housing Safer Communities. BCDC’s community vulnerability mapping is intended to support shoreline adaptation planning and be used by the public and project applicants to help implement BCDC’s Environmental Justice and Social Equity Bay Plan policies. To facilitate the implementation of these new policies, BCDC developed resources to support project applicants, BCDC staff, and interested stakeholders, such as residents and community-based organizations. 

Shoreline Vulnerability Index 

The Shoreline Vulnerability Index helps figure out how different shoreline types around the Bay may be vulnerable to erosion and flooding. Shoreline adaptation projects will involve both maintaining and strengthening existing shorelines, as well as realigning and redesigning areas of the Bay shoreline. Understanding where stretches of the Bay’s shoreline are highly vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise can inform the prioritization, planning, and construction of shoreline protection projects. This project builds upon the Bay Shore Inventory created by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), which inventoried 100 foot segments of elevated Bay shore features for all nine Bay Area counties. 

FEMA 100 and 500 Year Flood Zone Data 

For risk assessment and planning purposes, BCDC created a shapefile of the FEMA 100-year and 500-year flood zones in September 2017. At this time, the following geographies had preliminary status with FEMA: Bay adjacent areas in Alameda County, Bay adjacent areas in San Mateo County, Bay adjacent areas in Santa Clara County, and entire San Francisco County. This shapefile is not a reference for flood insurance. Flood Insurance Rate Maps should be obtained directly from FEMA. More information included in the metadata. 

Click here to download a zipped file of the FEMA Flood Zone data. 

King Tides Project High Tide Photo Viewer

Visualize rising sea levels by exploring the Bay Area’s highest tides of the year, documented through the King Tides Project. Every year, BCDC partners with California Coastal Commission to gather photos of king tides. These natural annual events give us a glimpse of our future with sea level rise. Help us document areas of flooding during King Tides using the Coastal Commission’s instructions here. Photos taken in the Bay will be added to our map. Explore past King Tides photos taken in the Bay!

Access BCDC’s King Tides Project High Tide Photo Viewer here.

Local Maps and Data

Project Specific ART Mapping Products 

ART Contra Costa County 

ART Oakland / Alameda Resilience Study 

ART Alameda County Asset Maps 

Creation of data and mapping products is on going. On this page you will find our currently available products, however the ART Program may have additional resources that can be shared on request. Email GIS@bcdc.ca.gov.