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Consultant presents climate vulnerability assessment: increased rainfall and sea-level rise raise flood and closure risk at Santa Barbara Airport
Summary
ESA presented a climate vulnerability assessment for the airport finding that projected precipitation increases and sea-level rise will raise the frequency of runway and apron flooding, increase closure risks and generate cumulative economic losses without adaptation. Staff outlined adaptation strategies and public comment opportunities.
A consultant from Environmental Science Associates (ESA) presented a climate vulnerability assessment and risk evaluation for the Santa Barbara Airport, concluding that projected increases in extreme precipitation combined with sea-level rise will materially increase the frequency and extent of flooding on airport property and raise the likelihood of runway closures and operational disruption.
Amber Ings, an engineer and hydrologist with ESA, told commissioners the analysis used California’s 2024 Ocean Protection Council (OPC) sea-level rise guidance and modeled three SLR scenarios: near term (about 0.8 ft, roughly by mid-century), midterm (about 2.5 ft) and long term (about 6.6 ft). ESA also modeled projected changes to precipitation extremes under regional climate scenarios. The consultant reported the following…
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