CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 77Introduced by Assembly Member BennettApril 26, 2021 Relative to Sea Level Rise Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 77, as introduced, Bennett. Sea Level Rise Awareness Month.This measure would proclaim May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes that sea level rise will continue to threaten coastal communities and infrastructure through more frequent flooding and inundation, as well as increased cliff, bluff, dune, and beach erosion; andWHEREAS, Human development and pressures from a rising sea threaten the already diminished coastal wetlands along the California coast. Hundreds of miles of roads and railways, harbors and airports, and power plants and wastewater treatment facilities, in addition to thousands of businesses and homes, are at risk from future flooding, inundation, and coastal retreat. The total potential impact of such coastal risks is significantly larger. Not only are economic assets and households in flood zones increasingly exposed, but also peoples safety could be threatened and lives could be disrupted; andWHEREAS, California also has the nations largest ocean economy, valued at over $44,000,000,000 per year, with the great majority of Californias ocean economy connected to coastal recreation and tourism, as well as ports and shipping. Many of the facilities and much of the infrastructure that support this ocean economy, as well as the states many miles of public beaches, lie within a few feet of present high tide; andWHEREAS, Sea level rise is a slow-moving threat, but it demands immediate action. Global warming creates extreme hazards that cause significant harm to people, homes, infrastructure, and the environment. Thus, various cities and counties have taken steps to address global warming, including preventing sea level rise; andWHEREAS, Released in March 2016, the City and County of San Franciscos Sea Level Rise Action Plan defines an overarching vision and set of objectives for future sea level rise and coastal flooding planning and mitigation. Through proactive, thoughtful adaptation planning, the City and County of San Francisco intends to minimize risks and meet the challenges posed by rising seas; andWHEREAS, The San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District gives the county and its cities the opportunity to coordinate across jurisdictional lines, avoid duplication of efforts, build expertise, and create a unified voice to obtain state and federal funds to address flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and stormwater infrastructure improvements; andWHEREAS, The City of San Diegos landmark Climate Action Plan leads in efforts to mitigate climate change through programs and policies that aim to eliminate one-half of the citys greenhouse gas emissions by 2035; andWHEREAS, The Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency, a joint powers agency consisting of the City of Hayward, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and the East Bay Regional Park District, has greatly served its community by conducting two vulnerability assessments for the Hayward Shoreline and is currently producing a long-range Shoreline Master Plan that will outline adaptation measures to mitigate against sea level rise in order to protect the citys critical infrastructure, natural resources, recreational features, businesses, and residential neighborhoods; andWHEREAS, To combat the effects of climate change, the Orange County Coastkeeper partnered with Coastal Resources Management, Inc. and the Back Bay Science Center to undertake innovative projects such as the eelgrass restoration project and the oyster habitats and, with the help of volunteers, the Orange County Coastkeeper is able to protect the shoreline from erosion and sea level rise; andWHEREAS, The Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment, a joint powers agency spanning the Counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura, has conducted coastal erosion studies and restoration projects within its jurisdiction in coordination with the parks, planning, and public works departments of its member agencies to address sea level rise and coastal erosion; andWHEREAS, It is the obligation of the Legislature to encourage local governments to form coalitions to counter sea level rise and beach erosion and preserve marine life; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 77Introduced by Assembly Member BennettApril 26, 2021 Relative to Sea Level Rise Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 77, as introduced, Bennett. Sea Level Rise Awareness Month.This measure would proclaim May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 77
Introduced by Assembly Member BennettApril 26, 2021
Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett
April 26, 2021
Relative to Sea Level Rise Awareness Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 77, as introduced, Bennett. Sea Level Rise Awareness Month.
This measure would proclaim May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action.
This measure would proclaim May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes that sea level rise will continue to threaten coastal communities and infrastructure through more frequent flooding and inundation, as well as increased cliff, bluff, dune, and beach erosion; and
WHEREAS, Human development and pressures from a rising sea threaten the already diminished coastal wetlands along the California coast. Hundreds of miles of roads and railways, harbors and airports, and power plants and wastewater treatment facilities, in addition to thousands of businesses and homes, are at risk from future flooding, inundation, and coastal retreat. The total potential impact of such coastal risks is significantly larger. Not only are economic assets and households in flood zones increasingly exposed, but also peoples safety could be threatened and lives could be disrupted; and
WHEREAS, California also has the nations largest ocean economy, valued at over $44,000,000,000 per year, with the great majority of Californias ocean economy connected to coastal recreation and tourism, as well as ports and shipping. Many of the facilities and much of the infrastructure that support this ocean economy, as well as the states many miles of public beaches, lie within a few feet of present high tide; and
WHEREAS, Sea level rise is a slow-moving threat, but it demands immediate action. Global warming creates extreme hazards that cause significant harm to people, homes, infrastructure, and the environment. Thus, various cities and counties have taken steps to address global warming, including preventing sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, Released in March 2016, the City and County of San Franciscos Sea Level Rise Action Plan defines an overarching vision and set of objectives for future sea level rise and coastal flooding planning and mitigation. Through proactive, thoughtful adaptation planning, the City and County of San Francisco intends to minimize risks and meet the challenges posed by rising seas; and
WHEREAS, The San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District gives the county and its cities the opportunity to coordinate across jurisdictional lines, avoid duplication of efforts, build expertise, and create a unified voice to obtain state and federal funds to address flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and stormwater infrastructure improvements; and
WHEREAS, The City of San Diegos landmark Climate Action Plan leads in efforts to mitigate climate change through programs and policies that aim to eliminate one-half of the citys greenhouse gas emissions by 2035; and
WHEREAS, The Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency, a joint powers agency consisting of the City of Hayward, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and the East Bay Regional Park District, has greatly served its community by conducting two vulnerability assessments for the Hayward Shoreline and is currently producing a long-range Shoreline Master Plan that will outline adaptation measures to mitigate against sea level rise in order to protect the citys critical infrastructure, natural resources, recreational features, businesses, and residential neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, To combat the effects of climate change, the Orange County Coastkeeper partnered with Coastal Resources Management, Inc. and the Back Bay Science Center to undertake innovative projects such as the eelgrass restoration project and the oyster habitats and, with the help of volunteers, the Orange County Coastkeeper is able to protect the shoreline from erosion and sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, The Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment, a joint powers agency spanning the Counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura, has conducted coastal erosion studies and restoration projects within its jurisdiction in coordination with the parks, planning, and public works departments of its member agencies to address sea level rise and coastal erosion; and
WHEREAS, It is the obligation of the Legislature to encourage local governments to form coalitions to counter sea level rise and beach erosion and preserve marine life; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims May 2021 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Month in California in order to recognize the devastating effects of climate change and encourage local governments to take action; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.