Beyond 2050
Foster City
Foster City is better prepared for floods and rising seas now that the levee improvements are done, but there’s still more to do. Regular monitoring and maintenance of the levee are important, along with planning for challenges beyond 2050. Keeping residents in the loop and working with nearby communities is crucial, as is looking into natural solutions like wetland restoration. Staying updated on climate risks and finding new funding sources will also help. By staying proactive, Foster City can protect its community and maintain a good quality of life despite environmental challenges.
Foster City has made several moves to tackle flooding and rising sea levels, especially considering its location on former marshlands by the San Francisco Bay. Back in 2014, FEMA flagged the city’s levee system for not meeting the minimum flood protection standards. This prompted Foster City to kick off a major levee improvement project. In 2018, the community petitioned to enhance the levee system. This initiative was aimed towards keeping Foster City off the flood zone map and saving residents from hefty flood insurance costs. Construction started in October 2020 and wrapped up in February 2024. Key accomplishments included upgrading 6.5 miles of flood protection along the levee, installing over 22,000 feet of steel sheet pile floodwall, and building more than 4,000 feet of concrete floodwalls.