The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in collaboration with the City of San Francisco, have conducted a Flood Study to analyze the coastal flood risk and effects of sea level rise for the 7.5 miles of waterfront within the Port of San Francisco's jurisdiction, from Aquatic Park to Heron's Head Park.
In August 2026, the Flood Study was finalized with the release of a Recommended Plan, achieving a major milestone in a nearly eight-year partnership. The Recommended Plan evolved from the best ideas, technical approaches, and public input from the Draft Plan, released for public review in 2024.
The Recommended Plan supports both the development of a long-term strategy for a safer and more resilient waterfront and the delivery of near-term improvements to defend the city and its waterfront from earthquakes, flooding, and sea level rise. San Francisco now has a clear framework for advancing efforts while continuing to shape how resilience improvements look and function. Read more in the Recommended Plan Highlights Document.
About the Flood Study
The San Francisco Waterfront Flood Study is one of several coordinated waterfront resilience activities undertaken in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies to plan for anticipated seismic activity, flooding, and sea level rise.
The study focused on identifying vulnerabilities and recommending strategies to reduce current and future flood risks for consideration for federal investment and implementation along the Port's entire 7.5 mile jurisdiction.
San Francisco Waterfront Flood Study Goals
- Better understand current and future flood risk along San Francisco's bayside shoreline
- Identify alternatives to reduce flood risk
- Engage the public and stakeholders to identify priorities for the Flood Study
- Create opportunities for funding for flood risk reduction projects
San Francisco Waterfront Flood Study - Recommended Plan
The Recommended Plan builds on more than six years of community engagement and public input. The Recommended Plan proposes actions to defend the shoreline against rising sea levels and presents an environmental analysis of those actions.
The Recommended Plan indicates where to build coastal flood defenses and how much sea level rise future coastal flood defenses will manage before they need to be adapted to higher water levels.
View and download the full list of documents from the Final Integrated Feasibility Report (IFR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Learn more about different ways to defend San Francisco's waterfront from flood risks and the adaptation strategies that informed the Recommended Plan.