Title
Sea Level Rise Response Plan Implementation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss sea level rise response planning an adaption efforts.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss sea level rise response planning and adaptation efforts.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.570.3741
Presenter:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director
Background and Analysis:
Downtown Olympia has always been vulnerable to flooding. The confluence of high water levels in Capitol Lake and high tides in Budd Inlet can cause water to overtop the shoreline and spill into downtown streets and low-lying areas. Even with minimal amounts of sea level rise, the risk to our downtown’s built environment and its many community services increases quickly and substantially. Downtown flooding is anticipated to become more frequent and severe in the future.
The City’s awareness of and work related to climate change and sea level rise dates to the early 1990s. Olympia was one of the first cities in the nation to begin planning for climate change. Several studies have been completed since the early 1990s. Most recently, in early 2017, the City, the Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance entered into an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to jointly fund and participate in a formal sea level rise planning process for downtown Olympia, the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant and the Port peninsula. The Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (Plan) resulted from the collaboration.
In February 2020, the Partners entered into a second ILA, that in April 2021 established the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative (Collaborative). The Collaborative is tasked with taking action on sea level rise adaptation and supporting regional climate change mitigation efforts, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for all Thurston County residents.
Staff will provide the LUEC with a discussion of ongoing sea level adaptation work and the Collaborative’s proposed work.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Various community groups and other agencies are engaged in climate change and sea level rise issues. The City of Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Strategy support implementing the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (Plan). Citizens voiced their support for the sea level response planning process during the development of the Plan.
Options:
1. Discuss sea level rise response planning an adaption efforts.
2. Do not discuss sea level rise response planning an adaption efforts.
3. Discuss sea level rise response planning an adaption efforts at another time.
Financial Impact:
Chapter 8 (Cost of Adaptation) of the Plan includes high level costs for the physical strategies by focus area. Estimated total costs range from $190M to $350M. Costs will be spread out over decades and shared by the Project Partners and the community. In the near team, Storm and Surface Water capital budgets include $125,000 for continued planning and technical work associated with Plan implementation.
Attachments:
Sea Level Rise webpage
Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative 2021-2025 Work Plan
Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (2019)
Olympia Blog Article: It's the water (level). Sea level rise and what we're doing about it
MRSC Article: Responding to Sea Level Rise: A Multijurisdictional Approach to Protecting Downtown Olympia
LTA Productions Documentary Video Series: Sea Level Rise Flooding