Review the Draft Plan:

 

Download the draft Shoreline Adaptation Plan (updated 11/12/25)

Download the Appendix (updated 11/12/25)

 

Process Overview: 

As a community of 7,000 residents situated between Richardson Bay and the coastal mountains, Sausalito is vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. Water rising along our 2.5 miles of shoreline will affect a wide range of our physical assets, policy decisions and programs including infrastructure, housing, circulation/transportation, land uses, and economic growth. To meet these present and future challenges, the City of Sausalito is embarking on a community-informed Shoreline Adaptation Plan that aspires to protect our community from surface and groundwater flooding due to sea level rise, enhance shoreline recreation, maintain vital transportation and utility corridors, provide continued Bay access for water-related businesses, and enhance marshes and beaches with nature-based solutions. The plan will include an update of existing vulnerability assessments, documentation of community visions for the future, and a framework that identifies near-term, medium-term and long-term adaptation opportunities along the shoreline.  Our community is a vital part of this plan, and we are committed to a robust community engagement process. The process will include pop-up events, focus group meetings, an online survey and community-wide workshops starting in 2024 and continuing through 2025.   Stay tuned here for updates on the process and how to get involved! 

Upcoming Events:

• None scheduled. 

Past Events:

• City Council Meeting: March 9, 2021 - Formation of the Sea Level Rise Task Force
• City Council Meeting: June 27, 2023 - Project Request for Proposals and Scope of Work approved
• City Council Meeting: December 5, 2023 - Project Contract approved
• Focus Group Meetings: Spring 2024
• Community Pop-Ups: ongoing tabling events throughout the process. Past events include:
  • June 28, 2024 at Jazz and Blues by the Bay
  • July 19, 2024 at Jazz and Blues by the Bay
  • August 6, 2024 at Sausalito National Night Out
  • October 19, 2024 at the Toast to Sausalito
  • August 5, 2025 at Sausalito National Night Out
  • September 27, 2025 at the ICB's Artists Work Day
• Community Workshop #1: September 7, 2024
  • During Community Workshop #1, all were welcome to join the City of Sausalito as we explored projected flooding and sea level rise impacts across Sausalito. We spent the morning learning about coastal vulnerabilities and possible adaptation strategies. Guests were invited to speak with adaptation professionals and local leaders to gain a better understanding of sea level rise. Poster boards from the meeting will be up in City Hall from 9/9-23. 
  • Click here to access materials that were presented at the meeting.

• Community Online Survey: follow up from Community Workshop #1
  • Community Online Survey Results
• Updates to the City Council: ongoing throughout the process. Past events include:
  • October 15, 2024 -Special Presentation to the City Council
  • October 29, 2024 - Consent Calendar item to receive and file the first update to City Council.
  • May 20, 2025 - Consent Calendar item to receive and file the second update to City Council.
• Community Workshop #2: January 25, 2025
  • During Community Workshop #2, all were welcome to join the City of Sausalito as we explored community vulnerability to sea level rise and what that means for our roads, evacuation routes, and citywide community assets. We toured sea level rise adaptation strategies from around the world that align with community preferences we heard about in Workshop #1. And, guests were presented with conceptual drawings of what adaptation in Sausalito could look like in the future. Consider reviewing the documents presented:
  • Community Workshop #2 Presentation 
  • Discussion Boards
  • Draft Sausalito Vulnerability Summary
• Community Workshop #3: September 10, 2025
  • During Community Workshop #3, all were welcome to join the City of Sausalito as we unveiled the draft of the Shoreline Adaptation Plan. During the meeting, consultants walked through the draft plan, answered clarifying questions on the plan and data, and methodology used and the process to date. Guests were asked to review the draft plan and provide chapter-specific feedback through our public feedback form. 
  • Community Workshop #3 Presentation
• Public Comment on the Draft Shoreline Adaptation Plan: ended October 7, 2025
  • Review all public comments received here.
• Presentation of Draft Plan to City Council: November 18, 2025
  • On Tuesday, November 18, City Council heard a presentation from the project team on the draft Shoreline Adaptation Plan. City Council unanimously carried to acknowledge the threat of sea level rise, directed staff to continue the work through exploration of engineered infrastructure solutions to protect the City’s current shoreline, and directed the plan to include economic activity and financing options, cost estimates, and community engagement with specific waterfront business owners.  

Project Contact:

• Please email Alexandra Anderson, Resiliency & Sustainability Manager, City of Sausalito if you wish to be added to future email communications for this project. 
  • aanderson@sausalito.gov