Climate Adaptation Plan Funded for Santa Barbara Airport Flooding Risk
What happened
The California Coastal Commission and local partners in Santa Barbara jointly funded a climate adaptation plan. The plan addresses the vulnerability of Santa Barbara Airport to flooding due to its low-lying location near the Goleta Slough. The airport and the city are currently seeking public feedback on strategies to protect aviation infrastructure and surrounding coastal wetlands.
From ksby.com
Why it matters
The plan is necessary because Santa Barbara Airport currently faces a 20% annual risk of flood-related closure, a risk that could increase to 60% by 2076 without intervention. The strategies being evaluated include traditional infrastructure improvements and nature-based solutions.
From ksby.com
Who's involved
- California Coastal CommissionJointly funded the Climate Adaptation Plan and expanded its regulatory role in coastal resilience
- Santa BarbaraJointly funded the Climate Adaptation Plan to protect local critical aviation infrastructure
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- Santa BarbaraSpeculative
Airport operations might face reduced supply or increased costs related to flood protection measures
Possible ripples
Who this could reach next, traced step by step from the reporting. Possibilities worth considering, not forecasts.- Santa Barbara city council may update land use policies for climate adaptationCity council may need to update land use policies for climate adaptationLikely
- How could the climate adaptation plan in Santa Barbara affect the State of California?Santa Barbara's climate plan may test state coastal resilience policiesPossible
- Climate adaptation plan may impose new constraints on Goleta wetlandsGoleta's coastal wetlands may face new protection requirements from adaptation planPossible
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The entities involved
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California Coastal Commission
California government agency