Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Restoration and Flood Management Project

This project consists of conducting feasibility studies and community engagement, developing designs, and preparing permit applications for tidal marsh restoration, public access, and nature-based flood management features at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland. The project plans will include restoring 25-28 acres of tidal marsh and other shoreline habitats, updating one mile of Bay Trail, and implementing nature-based flood management features, such as bioswales. In addition to community engagement with local residents intended to inform the designs, the grantee will also engage students from the Oakland Unified School District to bring them to the project site and hear their visions for the stretch of shoreline.   

The project’s feasibility studies will assess opportunities for tidal wetland restoration, nature-based flood management through bioswales, and public access features. The project’s designs will be based on results of the feasibility studies as well as on community engagement that will be conducted during the design process. The project is expected to design restored wetlands, improved flood protection for the adjacent uplands, and updated public access improvements, all of which will support biodiversity and community wellness and align with regional climate adaptation strategies and habitat restoration goals.  

The project is anticipated to design 16 acres of tidal marsh restoration, 3 acres of seasonal wetland enhancement, 1 mile of Bay Trail improvements, 4 acres of transition zone, and 5 acres of upland enhanced with nature-based flood management features, such as bioswales, for frequently flooded upland areas near the road. This project prioritizes community access to the Bay's natural environment, aligning with Oakland’s 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan and East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)’s mission to enhance water infrastructure and ecological health.