As sea levels rise and storms grow stronger, Albany is doing its part in preparing for a wetter future. At an Albany Climate Action Committee meeting, special speakers David Lam, Camila Correa, and Dr. Kealie Pretzlav presented the city’s new watershed management plan.

A watershed is an area of land where rainfall and snowmelt flow toward an outlet, such as a river or bay. Think of it like a roof: rain slides off and runs downhill into the gutters and drains. For cities, a watershed might include pipes, storm drains, streets, and hillsides to move around rainwater. In Albany, that water is carried through drainage systems that connect to the Bay, helping to prevent widespread neighborhood flooding.

Lam, with the City of Albany Public Works, began by explaining the plan’s goals. Albany’s Watershed Management Plan, created in 2024, evaluates the city’s drainage system and recommends improvements for the future. The team conducted a comprehensive capacity assessment of city drainage infrastructure, along with condition assessments of stormwater assets. Furthermore, they coordinated with neighboring agencies and completed a climate change adaptation analysis to ensure long-term adaptability. The thorough plan also includes strategies for meeting updated regulatory requirements, as well as a detailed financial analysis and a full draft expected this fall.

In their capacity assessment, the team built a detailed model of Albany’s current drainage system. For this model to be as realistic as possible, three gauges were installed around the watershed, as well as some added in Berkeley to achieve calibration. The team looked at flow and depth data from the gauges, and used anecdotal data from places that flood often, as well as some data from residents to get the full picture. The model also takes into account tree canopy and groundwater infiltration and inflow.

The watershed plan addresses several growing risks. For starters, the threat of sea level rise can impact outfalls and reduce storm drain capacity. In simpler terms, stormwater may not be able to travel through the designed pipes due to blockages or an excess of sediment. This can threaten the natural water cycle, harm ecosystems, and cause severe water pollution. Infrastructure can also be destroyed by the overflow, which would create costly damage to roads and buildings. Even existing capacity-limited storm drains can get damaged and become useless.

In the model that was created, the team used different climate scenarios over the next 30 and 60 years. The results projected sea levels to rise between 1 and 7 feet, posing a serious threat to Albany’s current drainage system. Additionally, precipitation depth is expected to increase in the future. It will fall in shorter, more intense bursts that is due to the rising temperatures the world is experiencing.

In Albany’s existing floodplain, the team found that flooding is common, and often due to heavy rainfall. However, due to our geographical situation, high tide conditions are also linked to this occurrence. Because the two situations often coincide, it is likely a combination of the two. This greatly limits how quickly stormwater can drain, and with worsening climate projections, those flood risks are only expected to grow.

Councilmember Bierce offered ways to turn this issue into a resource. To those who may be wondering what they could do to help, she suggested investing in rain barrels, which are water conservation tools that homeowners can use to catch rainfall that can be used to water plants. Furthermore, she talked about reducing hardscape where you can. Hardscape is essentially non-permeable surfaces (concrete, asphalt, etc.) that cause water to collect and form as runoff. Reducing this material allows a more permeable surface (soil, mulch, etc.) to trap the water and store it underground in our groundwater reserves. Not only does this reduce flooding and prevent runoff polluting water sources, but it also promotes the natural water cycle. Some ways to do this include adding garden beds to patios or replacing unnecessary concrete with vegetation. 

The meeting also served as a reminder that climate action does not rest solely with city leaders. Together, residents can help make our community more resilient–one yard at a time.

–Sophia Lara