Marin County is spending $250,000 to prepare for what federal forecasters say has an 81% chance of becoming a very strong El Niño winter, months after king tides and storm surge flooded eastern San Rafael streets, homes and businesses.
The Flood Zone 9 Advisory Board unanimously approved the allocation from its operating budget at its June 25 meeting, directing the money toward the flood-prone Ross Valley watershed. The county plans to inspect pumps and floodgates, stockpile sandbags and sand, and line up contractors who can respond when storms hit.
Robin Bartlett, Marin County's public works engineering manager, told the board the work would focus on king tide vulnerabilities exposed in January. "The items that have been most dramatically been brought to our attention are related to king tides, so that would be given extra attention based on our recent lessons learned," Bartlett said at the June 25 meeting.
The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center reported an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño this October through December that would rank among the largest events in the historical record going back to 1950. The center also reported a 97% chance the pattern will persist through early spring.
The next king tide is predicted for December 10.
January's flooding hit San Rafael hard
On January 3, bay water mixed with storm surge spilled onto eastern San Rafael roads, flooded homes, damaged vehicles and businesses, and closed stretches of U.S. Highway 101. Whole neighborhoods became stranded islands, according to NorCal Public Media reporting at the time.
Kate Hagemann, San Rafael's adaptation planner, told the City Council on June 1 that many city streets sit below bay level. A feasibility study presented that day estimated defending San Rafael against rising seas would cost $720 million to nearly $2 billion over 25 years, with the Canal neighborhood identified as one of Marin's most vulnerable communities.
Vice Mayor Rachel Kertz said at the June 1 meeting that even tripling the city's budget would not be enough to address sea-level rise alone, and called for regional coordination and a lead agency.
The City Council is scheduled to hold a longer discussion on sea-level rise and next steps at a meeting in August.
What San Rafael residents can do
Free sandbags are available at four San Rafael locations during weather emergencies on a first-come, first-served basis: Terra Linda Community Center (670 Del Ganado Road), Menzies Parking Lot (1428 Mission Ave.), Peacock Gap Park (599 Biscayne Drive) and Boro Community Center Parking Lot (50 Canal Street). The county advises residents to buy sandbags before storms hit, as supplies may run out.
Residents can sign up for emergency alerts at alertmarin.org and find storm preparation resources at cityofsanrafael.org/storms.
