'Living' levee in Palo Alto Baylands aims to solve multiple problems with one-of-a-kind solution

"A first of its kind project in Palo Alto is nearing completion, and it's building a better Bay Area for our environment in a unique way. A new horizontal living levee will protect from sea-level rise in an environmentally friendly way, while also maintaining habitats naturally using wastewater. Construction continues, but you'll see no trucks or cranes. Instead, there are shovels and plants."

""We really want to respond to communities that want to see more nature-based solutions and see more innovative projects within our region," said Heidi Nutters with the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. "This is a huge step forward for us in that regard. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see folks out here planting today. It feels like we're putting the frosting on the cake." It's a project a long time coming that's finally nearing the finish line."

"A traditional levee with a concrete wall and boulders is a 'one solution, one benefit' approach. But the natural, 315-foot long horizontal levee is a multi-beneficial solution to our region's biggest problems. 'It protects habitat, polishes wastewater and protects critical infrastructure from sea-level rise in the future,' Karin North said, city of Palo Alto's asst. Public Works director overseeing the environmental works division."

A 315-foot horizontal living levee along the Palo Alto Baylands combines native plantings and tidal marsh design to protect shoreline and habitats while adapting to sea-level rise. Treated wastewater from peninsula facilities is routed through the levee to replenish wetlands and polish water, enhancing habitat quality. Construction uses hand-planting and ecological assembly rather than heavy machinery, emphasizing nature-based solutions. The design simultaneously protects baylands habitat, improves water quality, and defends critical infrastructure. The project involves local community participation and multiple agency partnerships to implement a multi-benefit shoreline resilience approach.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco