San Francisco International Airport, the Bay Bridge, Highways 101, 1 and 37 and other critical California infrastructure are vulnerable to “exceptional” flooding and erosion this winter, according to a report published Monday by UC Davis.
The report highlights low-lying coasts of Central and Northern California at high risk of a combination of freshwater and seawater flooding during this year’s historic El Niño. Humboldt Bay, San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay stand out as the most at risk to flooding.
Places listed include:
- Pismo and Avila beaches in San Luis Obispo County
- The Elkhorn Slough area, including Moss Landing, in Monterey County
- The Santa Cruz shoreline, including San Lorenzo River
- Oakland International Airport and West Oakland
- San Francisco International Airport
- Westbound Interstate 80 at the Bay Bridge toll plaza
- Highway 101 in Corte Madera
- The canal area of San Rafael
- Highway 37 near Novato Creek, east of Petaluma River
- Stinson Beach
- Highway 101 near Humboldt Bay
A combination of high tides — already running a foot or more above normal — and repeated heavy rain would be the most damaging, said report author Fraser Shilling, director of the UC Davis Road Ecology Center…