Nature-Based Solutions

What are nature-based solutions? These include a variety of approaches, such as marsh restoration, living levees, or peat-building wetlands, that can address flood risk. As part of our work focused on community engagement around nature-based solutions funded through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation support through Bay Area Climate Adaptation Network and Coastal Quest, we explored nature-based solutions with community members.

This work builds upon previous community engagement Sustainable Solano led with our data partners, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s Adapting to Rising Tides program, and the local government of the City of Suisun, that brought community members into conversation around flood risk and led to the creation of a Community Resilience Building Workshop Summary.

It will continue to inform our work as part of the Solano Bayshore Resiliency project as communities discuss sea level rise projections and possible solutions.

Suisun City

Rain Gardens

Sustainable Solano was able to work in partnership with the city to create two community-built rain gardens, one at City Hall and one at the Joseph Nelson A. Community Center.

The City Hall garden was installed by community members as part of the nature-based solutions program. The community center garden was installed as part of the Resilient Roots climate action fellowship for Fairfield and Suisun City residents offered in partnership with Greenbelt Alliance, and expanded in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Both gardens have informative signs to educate people on the value of rain gardens, which can be installed in your own home.

A Resilience Hotspot

Flood Futures walk in partnership between Sustainable Solano and Greenbelt Alliance

Suisun City is a Greenbelt Alliance Resilience Hotspot. The Bay Area Resilience Hotspots initiative is a blueprint for where to protect communities that stand to lose the most in the face of climate change in ways that co-benefit habitats, open spaces, biodiversity, recreation, and more. Learn more about Suisun City and the Bay Area Resilience Hotspots initiative at greenbelt.org/suisun-city.

Resilient Neighborhood

Suisun City was one of Sustainable Solano’s first resilient neighborhoods. Resilient neighborhoods bring together neighbors in addressing environmental and climate challenges through community-level action, including the creation of resilient landscapes within their neighborhoods.

This part of our work encompassed raising awareness and educating the public on the impacts of flooding for the residents and stakeholders of Suisun City while also building out a resilient neighborhood in a socially vulnerable community subject to flooding in downtown Suisun. We installed two flood-resilient gardens, kicked off an annual climate event, led high school internship programs, took residents on Flood Walk tours, and empowered the community to tackle flooding.

Vallejo

Vallejo community members gather to discuss flood resilience

Sustainable Solano has also committed to two Environmental Leadership Fellowships for Vallejo high school students that will include developing outreach and education on flood risk and solutions.

Resilient Neighborhood

Vallejo has the first two resilient neighborhoods created by community members with support from Sustainable Solano. Resilient neighborhoods bring together neighbors in addressing environmental and climate challenges through community-level action, including the creation of resilient landscapes within their neighborhoods. In Vallejo, the focus was on ways to address the heat-island effect through greening spaces, with the added benefits of increasing food access through establishing sustainable gardens.

Resources & Ways to Get Involved

Resiliency News and Updates