Flood Resilience Programmatic Strategies

These strategies provide resources to property owners to protect their properties and reduce their risk of flood damage, and also require flood resilience to be integrated in through City approval processes when properties are built, renovated, or sold. These programs are geared toward the San Francisco Community at-large, and specifically those property owners located in geographies which have historically been subject to flooding. Greeley and Hansen worked with SFPUC to identify non-capital flood resilience strategies and leveraging the project team’s experience working on large urban areas with combined collection systems throughout the country.  

The purpose of the study was to engage stakeholders within the City to determine potential additional programmatic strategies for flood resilience. Specifically, the utilization of property modifications and other related programs that provide alternatives for private property owners was considered. Key decisions and development of consensus was determined through a facilitated workshop process. As these and additional programmatic strategies were developed, the following long-term challenges facing the San Francisco area are considered: the effects of climate change and new storm patterns as it relates to precipitation intensity and duration; reasonable expectations of the public regarding flooding; and the highest return on investment for expenditures. 

Project Highlights: 

• Stakeholder engagement with City Departments and Regulatory Agencies 
• Non-capital strategies to address climate change and increased stormwater events 
• Flood resilience alternatives in combined sewer systems