With the Tonga tsunami surge coming, Berkeley moved fast to alert the city
Berkeley’s decision to evacuate the marina followed the data, a state expert told Berkeleyside: “That’s a good thing. Especially in this particular event.”
Berkeley Marina
Top Stories
The ‘probabilities and uncertainties’ of forecasting tsunami damage in Berkeley
The odds of a worst-case tsunami hitting Berkeley in the next 50 years are 1 in 20, experts say. Such an event could cause up to 10-15 feet of flooding.
How far do you live from Berkeley’s tsunami zone? See the hazard map.
Because they are so rare, it’s hard to predict how much damage a tsunami might cause in Berkeley. But it can be significant.
Berkeley Marina boat dwellers evacuated due to tsunami advisory
The order came after an underwater volcano erupted near Tonga.
UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Network of pipes and blowers tames toxic gas below Cesar Chavez Park
The flow of methane gas through the decomposing landfill beneath the park has dropped over the years, but it still requires continual maintenance.
Berkeley Marina hotel workers seek union contract
Hospitality workers at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the marina have been working without a contract since 2018.
Brickyard construction plan raises questions about Seabreeze diner’s future
Seabreeze Market and Deli has been serving its loyal fans for decades, but a multimillion-dollar park improvement project could close it for good.
Berkeley Marina’s last full-time salmon fisherman plans to abandon the sea
With the drought and other factors placing Chinook salmon populations in peril, Mike Hudson is quitting the commercial fishing business after 25 years.
City budget
Berkeley ponders paid parking to aid cash-strapped Marina Fund
One council member called paid parking “a no-brainer” and others said it would align with the city’s climate goals.
Council seeks $15M state earmark to help revive Berkeley Marina
The marina has $113 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
Ferry service, new hotel, pier rebuild among ideas to revive Berkeley Marina
Large-scale ferry service could begin in 2026 under the current timeline. A community survey about the future of the marina runs through March 12.
Pickleball, bird habitat, better streets and toilets among T1 asks at the marina
You have until Tuesday to tell the city what improvements you’d like to see with Berkeley’s parks, streets and other infrastructure.
City
Why some boat owners consider leaving the Berkeley Marina
“Berkeley is a good marina. They just don’t have the funding to keep it up,” said Andy Newell, who moved his sailboat to Richmond.
‘All aboard for the sword’: Officials voice support for new Berkeley pier design
“Sometimes it takes something huge to spark a hard or necessary change,” city staff said.
University Avenue route to Berkeley Marina slated to be smooth by spring
The roadway, which was built on a causeway, has deteriorated so much that it has been reviled as one of the worst in the city.
Community workshop on proposed pier, ferry service comes Wednesday
The Berkeley City Council is slated receive an update on ferry plans in December. This week’s Zoom session provides another chance to weigh in.
Berkeley Pier
Part 2: Your favorite places, inspired by Berkeley Rep’s Place/Settings
They include the once bustling scene on Telegraph Avenue, a sign in a pool hall, Totland, Berkeley Iceland, Lake Anza and, of course, the Codornices slide.
Your favorite places, inspired by Berkeley Rep’s Place/Settings
They include the now-closed pier, the UC Berkeley eucalyptus grove and the tunnel between Codornices Park and the Rose Garden.
North Berkeley Senior Center, rose garden among first 45 T1 projects
Part of Adeline Street has been completely repaved and improvements are planned on University Avenue at the marina. Live Oak Park’s community center is being rebuilt. It’s all part of T1 bond measure work underway now.
Berkeley votes to investigate expanded ferry service, reopening of pier
The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night in favor of a public planning process that could one day bring San Francisco Bay Ferry service to Berkeley.
In debt and in urgent need of investment, Berkeley waterfront is at a ‘crisis point’
Marina funding is at a breaking point and, unless investment is made soon, facilities and infrastructure will either require more costly emergency funding or be closed, as was the Berkeley Pier.
Nature
Supervised swims in the bay are popular and safe — just don’t stare at Homer the seal
Attendance at a local company’s chaperoned Sunday swim from the Berkeley Marina has quadrupled since 2018. And while Homer might chase you, he probably won’t bite.
Dog owners join birders in pushing for leash enforcement to protect burrowing owls at Berkeley park
The burrowing owls that make Cesar Chavez Park their winter home are bringing together dog owners and bird fans to enforce leash laws to protect the rare birds.
Construction begins to close gap in the Bay Trail between Berkeley, Albany
When construction is completed in 15 months, people will be able to walk or bike all the way from Oakland to Richmond.
Local Christmas bird count turns up rarities in Berkeley
Over 320 people signed up for the 77th annual Oakland Christmas Bird Count which uncovered some species in Berkeley that are rare in the Bay Area.
Nosh
It’s Dungeness crab season! Here’s a list of East Bay restaurants serving local crab
This year’s Dungeness crab season will be short, so get crackin’.
Hs Lordships closing July 1 after nearly 50 years in Berkeley
Berkeleyans went there for views and for banquets, but the restaurant by the bay will shut its doors soon.
Low tide prompts clam bake on Berkeley bay
How exclusive is this? A clam bake that happens but once a year when there’s a particularly low tide.
Nosh on the Town: HS Lordships in Berkeley
At HS Lordships at the Berkeley marina, $35 gets you all-you-can-eat of a vast array of food.
Berkeley Fire Department
Berkeley firefighters extinguish 2-acre fire near the marina
The fire appears likely to have been caused by someone at a homeless encampment, the East Bay parks fire chief said.
In dramatic rescue, man overboard in the bay near Berkeley Marina is saved just in time
Four sailboats and the Coast Guard came to the aid of a 32-year-old German sailor who floated in the cold waters of the bay for 45 minutes.
Police: Man arrested after standoff at Berkeley Marina
Police arrested a man they say ran under a pedestrian bridge armed with two knives, then jumped into the bay and refused to be rescued.
Berkeley Fire Department rescue swimmers pull woman from bay
Rescue swimmers from the Berkeley Fire Department pulled a 35-year-old woman from the San Francisco Bay on Thursday night, authorities report.
Mysterious boat runs aground at Berkeley Marina
The abandoned boat that drew the attention of waterfront visitors and graffiti artists could finally be cleaned up next week.
41 people, 1 dog, rescued from stranded birding tour boat stalled on shoal
A birdwatching tour boat ran aground just after leaving the Berkeley Marina on Saturday afternoon, stranding 43 people and a dog on board, authorities report.
Related stories
Update: Man who died in marina crash ID’d as James Israel of San Anselmo
“We hope the coroner’s investigation and autopsy may reveal more,” police said Thursday.
