Publication Date
2025
Publisher
Cal Poly Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute
Abstract
Executive Summary: 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 two productive academic years from Fall 2023 - Spring 2025 in service of this vision. Key accomplishments included: ● Participation - Over the course of the past two years, participation in the SLRI more nearly doubled from 48 in August 2023 to 84 in July 2025. ○ Participation includes representatives from academic institutions, Tribes, government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and civic and community groups in the region.
● Projects and Awards - Over the past two years, participants in the SLRI were a part of over eight funded projects which total over $13.8 million in awarded funds. ○ Grants and projects have been led by a variety of entities including: Blue Lake Rancheria, Humboldt County, City of Eureka, Cal Poly Humboldt, and the Wiyot Tribe. ○ SLRI members were also a part of an additional 10 on-going projects that started before this reporting period.
● Publications & Presentations - SLRI participants were authors of 11 publications and/reports and over 21 presentations related to SLR topics. ● Media - Work of the SLRI was mentioned in over 12 media pieces this year in venues including Politico, Yale Climate Connections, and EcoNews Report. ○ SLRI member Jennifer Kalt from Humboldt Waterkeeper developed and launched a podcast series about SLR in Humboldt Bay
● Programing and Events - The SLRI hosted 15 different meetings and five major events over the past two years including two SLRI annual gatherings, a day at the Humboldt Bay Symposium, and a public earthquake and tsunami panel discussion. ● Students - SLRI had involvement from 9 undergraduates including three employed student research assistants; had eight graduate student members two of whom completed master’s theses; led three SLR-related undergraduate capstone projects (in ESM and ERE); and collaborated with the Wiyot Tribe on the hosting of a summer ecocultural restoration program for five native students. ● Policy & Support - the SLRI developed two comment letters related to California coastal policy and wrote letters of support for six projects in the region. ● Honoring Members - SLRI co-founder Aldaron Laird received the Cal Poly Humboldt Distinguished Award in part due to his pioneering work related to SLR on Wigi. The SLRI was saddened by the passing of member Dr. Frank Shaughnessy and hopes to honor his legacy by continuing to focus on the environmental considerations related to SLR.