People, property, and nature all exist in the vulnerable zone of shoreline around the San Francisco Estuary that will soon be flooded by sea level rise. In this interview Julie Beagle, a lead climate scientist with the San Francisco Estuary Institute, discusses ways of defending our shores including several kinds of “nature-based” treatments that can delay and soften the onslaught, wave-absorbing “coarse beaches,” and adaptation planning focused on “operational landscape units.” Along the way, Beagle also describes how her own focus widened from natural systems alone to the people likely to be displaced by rising tides and other effects of climate change. “These are wicked scary problems,” she says.
As of February, Julie Beagle is no longer employed by the SF Estuary Institute and is now working for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
SCIENCE IN SHORT is co-produced by Maven’s Notebook and Estuary News, with support from the Delta Stewardship Council. The opinions expressed do not reflect those of our funders, employers, or supporters. Delta Stewardship Council. The opinions expressed do not reflect those of our funders, employers, or supporters.
