Transforming Urban Water Initiative
From Gray to Green Shorelines
Transforming Shorelines Collaborative
A nature-based solutions community of practice for the San Francisco Bay. Get engaged – sign up for updates.
News and Updates
Join the next Transforming Shorelines Collaborative Meeting: Behind the Scenes Tour of Palo Alto Horizontal Levee
Please join us at an upcoming in-person site visit hosted by the Transforming Shorelines Collaborative for a Behind-The-Scenes Construction Tour of the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee. The Palo Alto Horizontal Levee is the first horizontal levee to be connected directly to San Francisco Bay. Construction of this multi-benefit shoreline adaptation project began in September 2025, after a lengthy design, engineering permitting process that began in 2018. The City of Palo Alto and San Francisco Partnership have partnered on design, construction and monitoring of the project. Additional close partners include Lead Designers, Environmental Science Associates and HDR, Construction Management by Zoon Engineering and Construction Services by Corcus Construction. This site visit will be geared towards participants with interest in the technical aspects of building a horizontal levee, and will highlight how the project ties into the wastewater treatment plant (the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other infrastructure), what kind of earthmoving is happening, and how the site interfaces with other properties / public access nearby.
When: December 5, 2025 1:30-3pm at the Palo Alto Horizontal Levee, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94303.
Registration is limited. Please reach out to Natalie (natalie.rossi@sfestuary.org) for the registration link.
About
The Transforming Shorelines Collaborative (TSC) is a community of practice organized by the Estuary Partnership and our many regional partners on nature-based shoreline adaptation solutions in the San Francisco Bay. The TSC comprises practitioners and experts on nature-based solutions, shoreline adaptation, habitat restoration, community partnerships, water management, resiliency, and nutrient management. The TSC meets 3-4 times per year for interactive in-person meetings as well as hybrid meetings and informational webinars. Everyone is welcome to join!
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Subscribe for updates or to learn about a future TSC meeting.
Who We Are
The TSC is guided by a Leadership Team representing a broad range of partners from across the Estuary:
- Carlos Diaz, Engineer (formerly with ESA and designer of the Oro Loma Horizontal Levee)
- Dr. David Sedlak, UC Berkeley
- Anthony DeSalvo, UC Berkeley
- Jonathan Uhler, UC Berkeley
- Jackie Zipkin, East Bay Dischargers Authority
- Jeremy Lowe, San Francisco Estuary Institute
- Luisa Valiela, EPA Region 9
- Medi Sinaki, Valley Water
- Nastaran Basiri, Valley Water
- Lorien Fono, Bay Area Clean Waters Agencies
- Samantha Engelage, City of Palo Alto
Past Meeting Summaries
Community Engagement for Nature Based Solutions – October 1, 2025
Meeting Materials:
- Meeting Summary & Presentations – coming soon
Operations and Maintenance of Horizontal Levees: Lessons from the Oro Loma Pilot Project – July 23, 2025
Meeting Materials:
Managing Nutrient Loads with Nature-Based Solutions – April 10, 2025
Meeting Materials:
Mitigation Needs on NBS Projects – March 27, 2023
Meeting Materials:
- Meeting Summary & Presentations
- Meeting Recording (Passcode: 89Gy.!zc)
EBDA First Mile Horizontal Levee – October 19, 2022
Meeting Materials:
Reverse Osmosis Concentrate – October 7, 2021
Meeting Materials:
San Leandro Treatment Wetland Project – December 1, 2020
Meeting Materials:
Oro Loma Horizontal Levee – March 2, 2020
Meeting Materials