State continues environmental pursuits in the aftermath of drought

In the current aftermath of the five year long drought, California has witnessed floods and storms that has prompted local governments to respond. “California is coming off of the worst drought in 500 years, and this year is on track to be the rainiest year in its history. Extreme weather events are on the rise,” says AP Environmental Science teacher Megan Thaler.
The five-year drought has left California unprepared for the sudden onslaught of rain and water. Such was the case of the Oroville Dam, which sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Since January 2017, the Oroville Dam had been taking in increasing amounts of water, finally culminating to its maximum capacity on Feb. 11. On Feb. 12, the dam’s emergency spillway begins to see effects of erosion, and authorities ordered mandatory evacuation of 188,000 people in cities downstream. Although the dam was later stabilized and the evacuation order lifted, the case is a warning of California’s changing climate.
Although a flood or sea level rise has not directly impacted the Peninsula, coastal cities like Foster City are taking action to prevent floods from having much damaging impact. “To keep Foster City properties out of the flood zone, the city is working on the Levee Improvement Project, which will raise the levee up to 6 feet in certain areas. Foster City’s levee project, with City Council approval, can incorporate sea level rise and address climate change for the future years 2050 and 2100,” explains Foster City Public Works Director and City Engineer Jeff Moneda.
The San Mateo area is also readying infrastructure against floods. San Mateo City Council Member Joe Goethals says, “We are preparing for increasing floods by building up our levees and pump stations, and evaluating creek improvements.”
Not only does the flooding affect the transportation system, it also affects homeowners. “When a person’s home is in a flood zone, they are required to pay flood insurance. As the risk of flooding increases, the family pays more and more, and at some point owning the home is too great a cost,” comments Goethals, “Actual flooding is an even greater burden often destroying the only possession of value that a family has.” In order to combat the rise of water level and flooding, Bay Area cities are collaborating with each other, forming more cohesive strategies. “Redwood City must, and is, working together with our neighbors on a number of including sea level rise, and flooding at our Bayfront Canal neighborhood,” says Redwood City Council Member Jeffrey Gee. “The levees in Redwood Shores were raised several years ago. The city had to work closely and coordinate with the County of San Mateo to develop flood mitigation at the airport runways.”
Beyond addressing flooding, to combat the climate change issue at its roots, San Mateo has started two different initiatives for more clean energy and less gas. One idea is housing for workers in the city. “In order to reduce the effect of greenhouse gas emissions, the city works to facilitate the construction of affordable workforce housing here in San Mateo so that workers do not drive many miles from more affordable locations such as the East Bay. In the next two years, at least 900 new housing units will be built,” says San Mateo City Council Member Diane Papan.
Not only does the housing mitigate the effects of greenhouse emissions, it is also convenient for the public. Papan explains, “In order [to ensure that] these new developments also have a limited impact on traffic within San Mateo, most of them will be built along the transit corridors such as near Caltrain and El Camino so that the new residents can easily use public transportation.”
Local governments aren’t the only ones saving up for a rainy day. The California State Senate is working on infrastructure package to combat climate change. Most important would be SB1 by State Senator Jim Beall and coauthored by San Mateo State Senator Jerry Hill. The bill would raise around $5.1 billion in new transportation revenues annually.
Lisa Chung, a Senior District Representative in the office of Senator Hill, says, “These new funds would prioritize projects that make California’s roads smoother, safer, and provide stronger bridges and roads; a more reliable transportation system that can better withstand natural disasters and climate change.”
New projects implemented further aim to expand focus on climate change and global warming. “These projects would fund the preservation of lands, waterways, aquatic resources or fisheries that would measurably advance a conservation objective. By helping mitigate the transportation projects in particular areas, these projects can benefit cities.” Chung elaborates.
With these efforts, the state hopes to address current climate concerns and make beneficial environmental impacts.