Sea Level Rise

Flooding, coastal erosion, pollution and the threat of rising tides

A series presented by KALW Public Media in partnership with Local News Matters

From the San Diego-Tijuana border to Humboldt Bay, here are seven original audio stories that share the perspectives of people and communities dealing with flooding, coastal erosion, pollution and damage to their homes — all made worse by sea level rise. Covering locations across California, the stories offer a glimpse of how rising seas affect daily life.

This series was produced by KALW Public Media in San Francisco, which broadcasts on radio 91.7 FM in the Bay Area. It originally aired in July 2025.

PART 1
High tides and upstream battle on the Napa River

Residents of a riverside community in Napa County are being forced to confront sea level rise — and conflicts about how to build for the future.

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PART 2
How one Eureka restaurant rises to the challenge

King Salmon is an unincorporated community on the southern edge of Eureka. But three to four times a year “King Tides” roll in. And when those tides combine with the heavy rain, it’s not uncommon for buildings in King Salmon to flood with a foot or more of water.

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PART 3
Growing community from a flood plain

Residents of the agricultural town of Pescadero in San Mateo County have long dealt with the issue of flooding. But what happens when each solution spells an issue for their neighbors?

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PART 4
Erosion threatens Iconic Santa Cruz surf spots

Santa Cruz is famous for its surf breaks. But for the last three years, winter storms and massive waves have eroded the road and cliffs. The reverence for waves runs so deep that it’s helping shape local climate policy.

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PART 5
The environment sees no borders

Residents and environmental advocates confront a decades-in-the-making binational pollution crisis that continues to plague the U.S.-Mexico border.

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PART 6
Dune restoration at Ocean Beach

Part six of our series on sea level rise looks at a dune restabilization project at Ocean Beach, and a wastewater treatment plant that is being threatened by coastal erosion and rising tides.

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PART 7
Balancing awareness and hope at Ormond Beach

Ventura County’s Ormond Beach is a wetland home to wildlife and a potential refuge for the nearby community. But it’s coastline has been industrial for decades, and development and waste have left pollution behind. Now, as sea levels rise, advocates worry toxic chemicals could spread into surrounding neighborhoods if the beach remains an industrial zone.

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