The County of Humboldt (“County”), by and through its Department of Public Works – Environmental Services Division, is issuing this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to retain an experienced and qualified consulting firm to provide specified planning and technical support services (“Services”) needed to assist the County with the Humboldt Bay Living Shoreline Planning Project (“Project”). The Successful Proposer must have the ability to provide trained and experienced personnel and staff to perform the Services set forth in this RFP, which include, without limitation, undertaking technical analyses and completing preliminary design for a project to create salt marsh along a segment of the Humboldt Bay shoreline as a sea level rise adaptation measure. It should be noted that this RFP is a non-binding solicitation for such Services and may be canceled by the County at any time.

This planning project will develop an advanced feasibility study for salt marsh creation as a sea level rise adaptation measure along the Eureka-Arcata Highway 101 and Humboldt Bay Trail Corridor. The planning area is located along an approximate 1.25-mile section of the eastern shoreline of North Humboldt Bay (also known as Arcata Bay), situated between the Brainard mill site and Bracut Industrial Park. Prior to development, the project area included salt marsh associated with the Fay Slough complex. Construction of levees, railroad, and the state highway in the late 19th and early 20th century severely impacted the margins of the salt marsh plain and the associated tidal channel network. Currently, the shoreline adjacent to the railroad is primarily intertidal mudflat with only small, remnant salt marsh patches.

The planning area is situated within one of the most important transportation corridors in Humboldt County and represents one of the areas that is most vulnerable to sea level rise and continued coastal erosion and flood