At the May 28, 2026 Board Meeting, the SFCJPA Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and approved the SAFER Bay Project. These actions mark a major milestone in advancing one of the Bay Area's most significant shoreline resilience and habitat restoration projects. Certification of the Final EIR and approval of the SAFER Bay Project represents over a decade of technical analysis, environmental review, and community engagement.

The SAFER Bay Project is a multi-benefit, multi-jurisdictional collaboration to reduce flood risks from current tidal flooding and future sea level rise along seven miles of shoreline in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Through a combination of engineered flood protection features and nature-based solutions, the project will protect homes, businesses, schools, and critical infrastructure while restoring and enhancing shoreline habitat, improving regional trail connections, and expanding public access to the Bay.

Margaret Bruce, SFCJPA Executive Director, comments: "I want to thank all of the people who have been involved in this EIR. Reaching this milestone represents an immense amount of work. The community and the environment will benefit from the SAFER Bay Project.”

“I was on East Palo Alto City Council in 2012, so this has been a long time coming talking about SAFER Bay and the work that it’s going to do is important,” said SFCJPA Board Vice Chair Lisa Gauthier and San Mateo County District 4 Supervisor. “I’m just really proud to be where we are today and to be able to move the project forward.”

“Advancing the EIR for the SAFER Bay Project is a major milestone toward delivering improved flood protection and recreation. I commend the project team for their hard work in achieving this critical step. As an East Palo Alto resident living immediately adjacent to the project site, I know firsthand how vital this infrastructure will be for our community,” said Mark Dinan, SFCJPA Board member and City of East Palo Alto Councilmember.

Work on the SAFER Bay Project has included extensive coordination with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, tribal representatives, community-based organizations, environmental stakeholders, and members of the public. Community outreach efforts included public meetings, surveys, Advisory Group meetings, and targeted engagement within the shoreline communities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

Project approval authorizes the City of East Palo Alto and the City of Menlo Park, two of the SFCJPA’s member agencies, to move forward with the next phases of project development, including permitting, final design, and construction.

The Final EIR and additional information about the SAFER Bay Project are available on the SFCJPA website: https://www.sfcjpa.org/safer-bay-project.