Brisbane
The City of Brisbane is located on the western edge of San Francisco Bay with the ridgeline of San Bruno Mountain defining the city’s southerly and westerly limits. The city’s natural setting provides easy access to open space and recreational opportunities unique to the San Francisco Bay Area. Brisbane and the surrounding areas contain a number of parks and ecological reserves, including San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, Owl and Buckeye Canyons, Sierra Point, and Castanos Canyon. Much of the residential area in Brisbane is located near steep slopes containing grass, brush, and woodland vegetation. The City of Brisbane is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including extreme heat and wind events during the summer and fall and flooding in the winter months. Other concerns are extended periods of drought and wildfire in the mountain areas of the city.
The City of Brisbane is conducting a climate change vulnerability assessment and other technical studies to gain technical data and information for future planning work and forthcoming updates to its General Plan. The City of Brisbane is part of the PREP project, but is not comprehensively updating its Safety Element at this time and therefore is not participating in the public engagement process of the PREP study. For more information on the climate change vulnerability assessment process, see the FAQ.
Local Safety and Resilience Highlights
Seismic and Geologic Hazards
There are no active faults within the Brisbane city limits, although the San Andreas Fault is located approximately four miles to the west of the city boundary. This fault is the predominant fault system in California and has generated some of the largest and most destructive earthquakes in the state’s history. Ground shaking could bring widespread and serious damage to Brisbane. The city’s shoreline contains areas highly susceptible to liquefaction, which could be triggered by an earthquake.
Wildfire
Fires have periodically occurred in the Brisbane area, with the most recent major event occurring in 2006. The potential impact of fires originating in the wildland and impacting the urban area of Brisbane is an ongoing focus of concern. Most of the wildfire hazard risks are associated with the proximity of the State and County Park of San Bruno Mountain, and the 145-acre Guadalupe Valley Quarry area.
Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise resulting from global climate change has the potential to alter the frequency and magnitude of flooding in low-lying areas of Brisbane. Portions of Brisbane’s land mass known as “Sierra Point” could be inundated under certain sea level rise scenarios.
Flooding
FEMA and Department of Water Resources mapped flood zones occur in various parts of the city, including near the city’s major commercial area and along Bayshore Boulevard.