Port Braces for El Niño With Up to $6M in Flood Barriers

The Port of San Francisco is spending up to $6M of its own money to shield the waterfront from El Niño, with no state or federal funding identified so far. At its Nov. 10, 2026 meeting, the Port Commission heard staff briefings on flood barriers and on accelerating sediment buildup. Together, the two reports showed how climate pressure is landing directly on the Port's balance sheet.

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• Up to $6M in Port funds for seasonal flood barriers, with installation targeted by Nov. 21
• No state or federal dollars identified yet; the Executive Director warned an annual repeat is unaffordable
• Sedimentation at Piers 27 and 35 is the highest in a decade, putting over $32M in Port revenue at stake
• New dredging contract RFP expected Feb.–March 2027 as deeper-draft cruise ships call

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Port Pays Its Own Way on El Niño

Why it matters: The Port is covering storm defenses from its Harbor Fund reserves. If strong El Niño winters become routine, that spending could become a recurring hit to the budget.

Where things stand: Port staff briefed commissioners on seasonal flood barriers at four sites, including Pier 45, the Ferry Building area and Pier 80. The briefing included Matthew Bell, Chief Harbor Engineer, and Meghan Wallace, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration. Installation is targeted for Nov. 21.

The state supplied HESCO barriers, which are modular flood barriers, at no cost. Staff said no state or federal funding has been identified for the rest of the response. The Port will cover up to $6M from its own funds, and staff expect to bring a supplemental appropriation early next year to formalize the spending.

Commissioners press on the details: Commissioners asked how staff are reaching waterfront businesses during installation. They also asked whether the barriers would protect the integrity of the Promenade, what limits apply to private funding and whether public financing is an option.

The other side: Executive Director Michael Martin drew a line between this season and the long term. “What I’m not calm about is if this is the new normal, if we have to do this every year,” said Michael Martin, Executive Director.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was an informational item, and no vote was taken.

• Waterfront tenants and businesses near the barrier sites face disruption during installation, which is why commissioners pushed staff on outreach.
• The Port absorbs the cost from reserves rather than outside grants.
• A related consent item, a no-cost agreement to stage debris boxes at Pier 94, supports storm response.

What's next:

• Barrier installation is targeted by Nov. 21.
• A supplemental appropriation is expected early next year.
• Watch for any state or federal funding the Port is able to secure.

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Rising Sediment Threatens Cruise Revenue

Why it matters: More than $32M in Port revenue, mostly from cruise, depends on keeping berths dredged deep enough for ships.

Where things stand: Zach Adamey, Maritime Dredge Program Manager, told commissioners that sedimentation at Piers 27 and 35 is the highest in a decade. Dredging now runs on seven- to 10-month cycles. Deeper-draft ships are driving demand, and the Port has secured a permitted depth increase to 37 feet.

The basics: Dredging permits move through the Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO). The Long Term Management Strategy (LTMS) sets limits on how much dredged material can be disposed of and where.

Contract and costs: The Port's current dredging contract is as-needed and runs through 2030. Staff expect to issue a new request for proposals in Feb.–March 2027. Staff identified two asks for the program:

• Multiple sites where dredged material can be put to beneficial reuse
• Grant funding to support that reuse

The other side: Commissioners questioned whether enough contractors are competing for the work. They also asked how beneficial reuse would be funded and what the program costs overall.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was informational, and no vote was taken. Cruise operations and the revenue they generate depend most directly on dredging keeping pace with sedimentation. Contractor competition will be tested when the RFP goes out.

What's next: The RFP is expected in Feb.–March 2027.

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Director Touts Parade, Eateries; Commission Eyes New Officials

Where things stand: Michael Martin's report covered a wide range of waterfront activity:

• The Golden State Valkyries parade, which drew an estimated 400,000 people
• New restaurants: Everett and Jones Barbecue at 300 Jefferson and Il Porto Cafe at Pier 31
• An El Niño education event
• The Embarcadero Connectivity Plan
• Fisherman's Wharf Forward engagement, which topped 550
• A resilience engineering RFP
• Bayview Gateway art

In discussion, staff cited a target of 35% design by 2028 for the Army Corps process.

Why it matters: Commissioners urged staff to meet with incoming federal and state officials, setting advocacy priorities for 2027 funding. Staff recorded those outreach recommendations under New Business.

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Minor Items

• Leadership: Commissioners reported approving Chrisia Tano-Lee as Assistant Port Director and Chief Operating Officer after closed session.
• Consent calendar: Resolutions 2654–2657 passed unanimously by voice vote. They accept a $235,813 grant, with a $78,605 match, for Cruise Terminal CCTV and screening equipment. They also grant a six-month Pier 70 extension, approve a Pier 94 debris staging agreement and authorize the commission president's travel to the California Ocean Summit.
• Parking rates: Resolution 2658, adopted unanimously, adds parking stall rates omitted from the 2026–2028 schedule, with a 3% increase in July 2027.
• Pier 68: Rebecca Groves, public commenter and founder of Swimmable San Francisco Bay, urged the Port to include Crane Cove Park Phase 2 in any Pier 68 solicitation. She also cited unfinished Phase 1 benefits and a $2.7M sediment cap estimate. The chair said staff would return with recommendations.
• Adjournment: The commission adjourned in memory of veterans.