Title
Sea Level Rise Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on progress and next steps to implement the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to Receive a briefing on progress and next steps to implement the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Staff Contact:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator, City Manager’s Office, Climate Program, 360.570.5828
Presenter(s):
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance established the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative (Collaborative) in 2021. The Collaborative is tasked with implementing the sea level rise adaptation strategies outlined in the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (Plan). The Plan provides science-based sea level rise projections, identifies key vulnerabilities, and offers high-level designs to mitigate future risks.
Since the Plan was published in 2019, the Collaborative has implemented adaptation strategies to manage up to six inches of sea level rise. These strategies include physical interventions to the stormwater system, informational studies, and operational improvements to respond to tidal flooding. In 2025, the Collaborative published a Five-Year Implementation Report that highlights the key achievements of the Collaborative.
The Collaborative is now moving forward with planning for increasing amounts of sea level rise (up to two feet) and public investment over the next 25 years. The City is beginning internal coordination between departments for planning, design, and engineering of adaptation strategies on City-owned properties and rights-of-way. In future work, we will also study funding and financing options for the interventions. The Collaborative is currently finalizing a 2025-2030 workplan, which will show the entire suite of City and partner-led sea level rise projects anticipated over the next 5 years.
At the study session, staff will present an overview of the key strategies and findings of the Plan, the work the Collaborative has accomplished to date, and anticipated future work to mitigate increasing levels of sea level rise.
Climate Analysis:
The briefing will provide an overview of the City’s planned adaptation strategies to sea level rise, a key climate challenge facing the City over the next decades. The work presented is necessary to prevent worst-case impacts of sea level rise to the community. This item is not expected to impact climate mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
The initiatives pursued by the Olympia Sea Level Rise Collaborative will provide additional data and guidance on how to fund and implement sea level rise response strategies. When appropriate, staff will consider how data collection and analysis for these work items can be designed to improve our understanding of who may benefit and who will be impacted by future projects and funding.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in sea level rise planning and implementation of flood protection measures in downtown Olympia.
Financial Impact:
The current annual budget for the Olympia Sea Level Rise Collaborative is $180,000. The costs are shared across partners. The City’s contribution is $90,000. Future costs to construct adaptation strategies are expected to be significant. The Plan estimated the cost for mid-term strategies along Percival Landing and the Isthmus to be $11M to $13.5M in 2018 dollars.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing on progress and next steps to implement the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
2. Do not receive a briefing on progress and next steps to implement the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Five-Year Implementation Report
Sea Level Rise Webpage