Shoreline Vulnerability Index (BCDC, 2021)

This San Francisco Bay Shoreline Vulnerability Index (Index) is a measure of shoreline vulnerability to erosion and/or overtopping due to extreme tides, waves, storm surges, and sea level rise. The Index gives a comprehensive look at how different sections of the Bay respond to storm surge, erosion from waves, and sea level rise. It ranks each shoreline segment’s vulnerability to impacts such as erosion and overtopping relative to other types of shoreline by by scoring characteristics that affect shoreline vulnerability. The Shoreline Vulnerability Index (SVI) uses the following 6 characteristics to determine shoreline vulnerability for the primary shoreline protection, which is the first elevated shoreline from the Bay. These characteristics are weighted in their importance towards shoreline vulnerability to flooding.

Shoreline Vulnerability Characteristics

1. Vulnerability of shoreline type to flooding and sea level rise
2. Adaptability to sea level rise by shoreline type
3. Presence of fortification
4. Presence of frontage and/or secondary shoreline protection
5. Elevation
6. Wave energy

For more information visit the following links:

ArcGIS Story Map: https://bcdc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=a90eb7b4eb7249809505e8d940bb2419

Methodology Document: https://www.adaptingtorisingtides.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ShorelineVulnerabilityIndex_Methodology_2021.pdf

GitHub: https://github.com/BCDC-GIS/shoreline-vulnerability-index

For more information, please contact GIS@bcdc.ca.gov.
Organization: State of California
Last updated: 2025-07-23T19:37:33.220322
Tags: adapting-to-rising-tides, art, bcdc, california-natural-resources-agency, caopendata, flood-hazards, san-francisco-bay-conservation-and-development-commission, sfbayconservationdevelopmentcommission, shoreline-vulnerability-index