Top Implementation Strategies

The top San Joaquin region implementation strategy is to develop a regional climate collaborative that meets regularly to coordinate and implement responses to climate change.

SJCOG and other stakeholders could develop a regional emergency response plan to evaluate existing evacuation and emergency response efforts and identify additional evacuation routes, emergency response strategies (e.g., setting up contraflow lanes), and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the San Joaquin region, including transit operators.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified the most critical and vulnerable assets around the county, including SR-4 from Stockton west to Contra Costa County. This section of SR-4 plays an important role for evacuating the San Joaquin Delta in the event of flooding. However, it operates at a deficient level of service, runs through a 100-year floodplain, and intersects tracts projected to be flooded under a one foot of sea level rise (plus storm) scenario. A more detailed assessment of this corridor is recommended to understand future flood risk and potential adaptation strategies. The assessment should also consider how a flood event might impact evacuation routing.

The Lower San Joaquin River Feasibility Study would identify flood protection needs for the lower San Joaquin River to protect the City of Stockton, where there is existing flood risk, which may be exacerbated with climate change. Score: 80% (out of 100%)

As an MPO, SJCOG is responsible for creating the San Joaquin Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)/Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), which includes a list of regional projects to advance the transportation network. As part of this strategy, SJCOG could incorporate a new measure for overall project resilience to climate change, so that adaptive and future-oriented projects would be prioritized. SJCOG has developed a few options for what these resilience metrics could be. See Appendix E for an analysis of resilience metrics options for the 2022 RTP/SCS.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified SR-99 through Lodi as a vulnerable, high-priority infrastructure asset because it is within the 500-year floodplain and serves as a key transportation corridor for the local community and the region. In addition to serving as a bus corridor between Lodi and Stockton, it serves as an evacuation route, which could easily be overwhelmed during an evacuation given already existing congestion during rush hour. A detailed assessment of flood risk is recommended for SR-99 to understand existing and future risks and identify adaptations. The assessment should also consider how a flood event might impact evacuation routing.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified this area as a vulnerable, high-priority location because it has a disproportionally high percentage of transportation-disadvantaged communities compared to the county as a whole and, therefore, impacts to the transit system would be more acutely felt in South Stockton. A detailed assessment of flood risk and potential evacuation impacts is recommended.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified this area as a vulnerable asset for adaptation action since it serves as an evacuation route. A detailed assessment of flood risk and potential evacuation impacts is recommended to better understand existing and future flood risk and plan flood mitigation and response.

This campaign could be used to define climate change terminology such as mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. This could also present an opportunity to share resources on emergency preparedness and evacuation, and to help the public prepare for and effectively respond to flood events and wildfires.

California has faced numerous natural disasters and emergency events in recent years, including devastating wildfires, landslides, floods, and related impacts such as infrastructure damage. This implementation strategy would involve reviewing the county's existing emergency alert systems and protocols to identify any gaps and ways in which communication could be improved.

Transitioning to all-electric buses could be challenging given more frequent power shutoffs; thus, transit providers will need to evaluate back-up power options, such as battery storage and microgrids.

The existing levees protecting the SJAFCA Mossdale Tract (Reclamation District 17) Area currently do not provide 200-year flood protection and are not in accordance with Senate Bill 5 and the Urban Level of Flood Protection. Implementing flood risk reduction measures provides necessary protection for new development and existing property that is currently located in the floodplain.

This strategy involves identifying additional back-up power options for the Port so that all areas and systems could remain operational during an outage.

Design criteria and guidance is based on historical climate conditions and events. Adjusting design criteria and guidance is a cost- and time-saving way to account for future climate projections in design and create more resilient infrastructure.

There may be additional flood mitigation measures that can be taken by the City and its Housing Division to ensure Stockton public housing is protected in the event of a flood. Implementing this strategy would involve reviewing the structures on the Restricted Income Housing List and identifying where additional protection may be needed.

A lack of funding was one of the most frequently cited barriers to climate adaptation that stakeholders shared. This implementation strategy could involve collecting all climate resilience competitive funding sources and evaluating opportunities for dedicated funding in San Joaquin County.

The Smith Canal Gate Project is currently under construction with an expected operations date of November 2022. This project includes a floodwall along the San Joaquin River and ties into the existing FEMA-accredited levee.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified this area as a priority vulnerability area since it serves as an important freight rail junction between Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF, and new projects are underway to grade-separate the tracks. Disruption to this intersection would have significant impacts on goods movements, including to and from the Port of Stockton, so further study is recommended to determine adaptation measures that could reduce the severity of these impacts.

The SJCOG Phase I Study identified the most critical and vulnerable assets around the county, including the BNSF Intermodal Railyard. Interruptions at this facility would have major economic consequences and disrupt critical supply chains. Further study is recommended to identify consequences and adaptation options.

One of the simplest ways to mitigate high temperatures and Urban Heat Island (UHI) is through planting shade trees. This strategy would involve creating a free shade tree program with dedicated funding through regional partnerships.