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California Mansions Face Sea Rise Threat
26 Jan
Summary
- A half-mile road in Stinson Beach, California, faces regular flooding due to climate change.
- Wealthy residents demand county fund repairs or face billions in liability for lost real estate.
- An estimated $22.8 million is needed to raise Calle del Arroyo and its utilities.
In California's affluent Stinson Beach, a half-mile road named Calle del Arroyo is under severe threat from climate change and rising sea levels. This critical access point for around 500 properties, many valued at over $5.3 million, already experiences regular flooding during king tides.
Marin County officials project that by 2050, major storms will flood the road, and by 2060-2075, high tides will render it frequently inaccessible. Residents are demanding the county invest an estimated $22.8 million to raise the road and its connected utilities. Failure to do so, they warn, could result in billions of dollars in liability for lost real estate value.
Beyond Calle del Arroyo, the county estimates an additional $53 million is needed for other Stinson Beach roads to combat rising sea levels. Projections indicate sea levels could rise by 10 inches by 2050, with a staggering 3.3 feet increase by 2085, potentially causing up to $1.3 billion in property damage during severe storms.
