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13h ago

Marin Confronts $17 Billion Sea-Rise Defense After King-Tide Floods

Federal cancellations leave funding gaps, steering leaders toward state aid plus local taxes.

A car drives through floodwaters caused by the king tide along Harbor Drive in Sausalito on Jan. 2.
Streets are flooded by king tides on Jan. 3, near Corte Madera. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The Canal District in San Rafael, seen here in November 2025, is sinking at a rate of .4 inches a year, which makes it one of the Bay Area's most vulnerable communities when it comes to sea level rise. 
Janet Bamberger walks down the Mill Valley-Sausalito bike path amid floodwaters caused by the king tide on Jan. 2.

Overview

  • Crews continue pumping and repairs after king-tide storms flooded low-lying areas, closed Highway 101 at Lucky Drive, and breached the Santa Venetia levee.
  • A recent study pegs roughly $17 billion to defend Marin against about 2 feet of sea-level rise, with tides already about 3 inches higher than 30 years ago.
  • The Trump administration canceled climate infrastructure grants, including $13.5 million for Marin City’s 101 interchange and $18 million for San Rafael’s levee, prompting Rep. Jared Huffman to seek restorations.
  • County proposals include a $25 million flood wall for Santa Venetia, incremental road elevation at vulnerable corridors, and work on a shared shoreline governance model.
  • Funding prospects shift to California’s Prop. 4 and equity mandates, prioritizing high-risk areas such as the Canal District and Marin City while private efforts like Waldo Point Harbor’s elevation offer interim examples.