Eel River Estuary Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

November 7, 2025

Project Overview

The Eel River Estuary is California’s third largest estuary and supports a diverse range of fish, wildlife, agricultural operations, and coastal communities. The Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) is leading a collaborative effort with landowners, Tribes, and partner agencies to understand and plan for the impacts of sea level rise in this region.

This project, supported by SB1 funding through the California Ocean Protection Council, focuses on engaging community members through a visioning process and conducting a sea level rise vulnerability assessment to guide future resilience planning in the Eel River Estuary. This project is anticipated to span from 2025-2027.

Share Your Input

Community input is a key part of this effort. We are collecting feedback to better understand local experiences with flooding, values related to the estuary, and priorities for the future. We encourage anyone with a connection to the area to participate.

Take the Survey →

Project Background

The Eel River Estuary and surrounding agricultural lands are protected by a system of levees and tide gates that are aging and increasingly at risk from sea level rise and flooding. These working lands, wetlands, and nearby communities depend on coordinated action to plan for changing coastal conditions. This project directly supports Humboldt County’s long-term adaptation planning and will help protect coastal ecosystems, agricultural livelihoods, and community infrastructure.

Through this project, HCRCD will:

  • Conduct a Community Visioning Process to identify local priorities, values, and adaptation goals
  • Develop a Vulnerability Assessment evaluating tidal, fluvial, and groundwater flood risks under future sea level rise scenarios
  • Compile and integrate existing data from regional restoration efforts, hydrodynamic models, and shoreline studies to inform planning
  • Support equitable engagement of Environmental Justice communities and Tribes, ensuring that local voices inform future adaptation strategies

Project Map

PROJECT DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES

Available Documents:

Major Milestones: 

  • Community Outreach – 2025 to 2026 
  • Data Collection and Modeling – 2025 to 2026 
  • Final Report – May 2027 

Community meeting

Community Meeting – Lower Eel River Sea Level Rise Assessment 

The Humboldt County Resource Conservation District is hosting a community meeting to gather input on the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment for the Lower Eel River Estuary. 

Monday, March 2, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 PM 
Loleta Fireman’s Pavilion 
824 Loleta Dr, Loleta, CA 95551 

The project evaluates flooding, sea level rise, groundwater, and levee risks that may affect local communities, agriculture, infrastructure, and natural resources. Community and Tribal input will help inform the assessment and future planning efforts. 

All residents, Tribal members, agricultural operators, and interested community members are encouraged to attend. 

Community Meeting Presentation (Download PDF)

Contact Information: 

Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) 
For more information, contact: 
eelsealevelrise@googlegroups.com