A piece of Silicon Valley iconography marks the entrance to Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park. The symbol that social media giants like Facebook use is a massive thumbs-up. It's taller than a person. It is not uncommon to see people taking photos in front of it.Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty ImagesThe campus's rest is surrounded by a less striking feature: a 9-foot tall earthen berm. It is the barrier that protects Facebook's east campus. 1 million square feet of office space, on land that extends into San Francisco Bay.They are sometimes called levees by some, but they really are just mounds dirt, according to Kevin Murray, senior project manager at the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority. This agency works in flood protection.JJ Harris/Techboogie/KQEDThe safety of Facebook's shoreline campus and surrounding roads, homes, businesses, and other people is dependent on levees that were not designed to protect them. Salt-making companies made large ponds from mud in the 1940s. This was where bay water evaporated and left behind crystal salt.The levees have been maintained by government agencies over the years. The whole area is now considered a flood zone as the levees were not built to safety standards. This was done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that the barriers can withstand severe storms.Murray states that we know that flood barriers are inadequate and susceptible to collapse in the event of a storm surge or big tide.This risk is only growing with climate change.The San Francisco Bay has seen an 8 inch increase in elevation over the past century. The bay will rise between 0.9 and 1.9 feet depending on how much greenhouse gas pollution is being emitted by 2050.If emissions don't fall, water levels could rise up to 5 feet by the end of this century.Coastal cities struggle with "fair share"Millions of dollars are being spent on new coastal development, much like Facebook's campus. This land will eventually become ocean in a warmer climate. These risks were not fully understood by many projects.Cities are considering installing multibillion-dollar defenses along their shorelines to stop water from rising. These plans are far more expensive than they can afford. Local governments are now trying to determine who is responsible for climate change.Because large numbers of infrastructure assets, including roads and wastewater treatment plants, are at risk, many cities turn to federal funding. However, there is increasing competition for these resources.According to Mark Lubell, a professor of environmental policy at the University of California in Davis, it will cost trillions of dollars. It doesn't even pay the price, no matter how much federal and state money is out there.Many cities are now considering raising their taxes. This is a significant step in many communities and raises questions about the contribution of residents to preventing sea level rise. All residents should pay. Should all residents pay? Or should the majority of the cost be borne by private landowners along the shoreline who would reap the greatest benefits and who also know they are at risk?These questions are important to consider when assessing local governments' climate change accountability. There are many different ideas about what is fair.A.R. asks: Is fair sharing determined by how much risk you face? Siders is an assistant professor at University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center. Does it depend on your ability pay? This is a problem, because there's no scientific solution. This is ethics. This is personal value.FacebookFlood risk was evident when Facebook began to move inFacebook purchased the Sun Microsystems buildings in Menlo Park, California, to build its east campus at the bay front. It offers all the amenities of a tech company, including a gym, dining and other perks. Frank Gehry designed the new building. It features a 9-acre green roof and full-grown trees.Facebook launched a second expansion in 2016, also designed by Gehry. It added two additional buildings covering almost 1,000,000 square feet. According to tax records, the property's total value is more than $2.5 Billion. The company continues to grow.Attracting Facebook meant jobs for Menlo Park. The agreement also included several million dollars in fees to local infrastructure and community benefits, as well as ongoing annual payments of $1 million to the city.Facebook required approval in 2011 and 2016 from the city to build both expansions. This required environmental analysis.Facebook paid for environmental assessments by consulting firms. They highlighted the risks of being on the waters.The entire site could be affected by tidal flooding from Bay, according to the 2011 report. This would increase the likelihood of flooding.JJ Harris/Techboogie/KQEDThe warnings were noticed by the community.In a letter to the public, Carlos Martinez, then-East Palo Alto Mayor, asked for clarification on how Facebook plans to increase existing flood protection systems and levees to reduce the risk of flooding from tidal flooding.Facebook proposed a solution. The first floor would be raised 12 feet to keep it dry during floods, at least until the sea level rises dramatically after midcentury. The environmental analysis found that this would not protect the surrounding areas as the roadways and parking areas, including underground, would be inundated.Facebook didn't have to prepare for sea level rise, as the environmental assessment stated. California has one the most stringent laws in the nation, requiring that environmental impacts be evaluated before any project is constructed. Recent court cases have shown that its scope is restricted to sea level rise. However, construction projects should be accountable for any damage they do to the environment.Cities are facing aging levees, sea level rise and a deteriorating infrastructureMenlo Park, along with neighboring cities, are defending their shoreline as they face billions in real estate and major roads and powerlines at risk.Already, work is underway. Some of the old salt ponds near Facebook's campus are still covered in a mineral crust and are being restored back to their former glory. The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project will restore 15,000 acres of wetlands by plantings and tidal channels.Another benefit of the marshes is their ability to protect the shoreline against flooding.JJ Harris/Techboogie/KQEDIt can be thought of as a sponge. Dave Halsing is the executive project manager for the restoration and he observes trucks bring dirt to the site. It absorbs much of that wave energy if there is a functioning marsh right in front of it. It slows down and diffuses the wave energy.The restoration project will cost hundreds of million of dollars. Federal, state, and local funding have all been used to fund the restoration effort. However, raising funds remains a challenge. The restoration project began conversations with tech companies near their doorsteps, like Facebook, many years ago.Lauren Sommer/NPRJohn Bourgeois who was the project leader at the time, said that we were always well received. The problem began when we tried to translate this into direct funding support or partnerships.Facebook declined to support the marsh restoration. The company has paid for several improvements to public trails in order to offset the negative impact of the footbridge it built on salt pond land.Another important and expensive effort is now underway: A 16-foot tall levee will surround the shoreline. The SAFER Bay Project is known for its ability to prevent 3 feet sea level rise.Facebook is not the only one who needs it.
