News and Media Coverage

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Attention Humboldt and Siskiyou County residents: Caltrans District 1 and Caltrans District 2 are working on a plan to improve evacuation preparedness on State Routes 96 and 169, which are crucial for wildfire safety and climate resilience. This proposed project will focus on vegetation management, erosion control, rockfall mitigation, and enhanced traffic systems, such as electronic signage and emergency communication devices, to better protect us from extreme weather and wildfires.

Pending funding, we're aiming to begin construction in 2030, but before that, we want to hear from you. The survey linked below asks about your experiences with these routes, your concerns, and any improvements you'd like to see. Your feedback is essential to shaping a safer and more resilient transportation system.

Take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/northcoastwildfireevacuation.

Transforming Sea Level Rise Into An Opportunity

October 2023

When Jason Patton bikes from his home in Manila, California, to the nearby town of Arcata, he rides along a peninsula at the edge of Humboldt Bay. His travels lead past levees that were built in the late 1880s to protect this narrow slip of land from the sea. But lately, their protection has started to feel precarious.

Cal Poly Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute Annual Report - 2022-2023

August 2023

As a core vision, the Cal Poly Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute (SLRI) “envisions a diverse network of collaborators working together across disciplines, sectors, and ways of knowing to develop sea-level rise research and planning that informs equitable, sustainable, and community-centered local climate action.” The SLRI had a productive academic year from 2022 - 2023 in service of this vision.

Transformative Sea-Level Rise Research and Planning

July 2023

Sea-level rise (SLR) is and will continue to be a pressing issue in the rural, North Coast region of California, especially since nearby Wigi (or Humboldt Bay) is experiencing one of the fastest rates of relative SLR on the U.S. West Coast. In this paper, we argue that SLR presents a transformative opportunity to rekindle environmental relationships and reshape the future of the California North Coast and beyond.

Caltrans mulls hybrid approach to adapt Eureka-Arcata corridor to sea level rise

July 15, 2022

Caltrans is continuing to evaluate its options for mitigating the effects of sea level rise on the Arcata-Eureka corridor on the way to developing an overall adaptation plan. The agency’s representatives say it’s likely to take a hybrid approach.

Coastal Commission Reviews Sea Level Mitigation Measures for Arcata-Eureka Highway 101 Corridor

July 15, 2022

Local coastal experts expect Humboldt Bay’s shoreline to rise by as much as three feet in the next 40 years. One area of particular concern in the Humboldt Bay region is the Highway 101 corridor between Arcata and Eureka

Caltrans Considers Alternatives to 'Armoring' 101 Against Sea Level Rise

November 11, 2021

Caltrans is considering a “living shoreline” along U.S. 101 to protect against the tides.

Coastal Commission Approves Eureka-Arcata Highway 101 Corridor Improvement Project

August 7, 2021

Long-planned renovation project for the six-mile stretch of Highway 101 between Eureka and Arcata has been approved

Caltrans Exploring Adaptations for Sea Level Rise

January 15, 2021

Caltrans delivers update on long-term plans to deal with sea level rise on the U.S. 101 corridor between Eureka and Arcata

NCJ Preview: 101 Underwater, Watching Cops and Raising Turkeys

November 13, 2021

North Coast Journal editors talk about the impact of sea level rise on Humboldt’s main transportation artery, and the options and obstacles for keeping the roadway above water.