Title
Climate and Olympia Sea Level Rise Collaborative Briefing
Recommended Action
No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Briefing on recent climate programs and Olympia sea level rise projects
Staff Contact:
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator, (360) 570-5828
Presenter(s):
Natalie Weiss
Background and Analysis:
Over the past year, the City of Olympia’s Climate Programs and the Olympia Sea Level Rise Collaborative work with our public utilities staff to make Olympia’s utility systems better prepared for future climate conditions. During this briefing, we will give an update on projects related to the comprehensive plan, sea level rise planning, and capital project development. This includes:
1. Climate Element Implementation Plan: The Climate Programs staff developed an implementation plan for the goals and policies included in the Climate chapter of the Olympia2045 Comprehensive Plan. These actions will guide future climate-related work within the utilities.
2. Updated Sea Level Rise Projections: The Sea Level Rise Collaborative contracted with AECOM to assess rates of vertical land motion (i.e. subsidence) in downtown Olympia and update Olympia’s sea level rise projections based on the best available science and adjusted for local vertical land motion results.
3. Long-Term Monitoring for Adaptive Management: Under the same contract as #2, AECOM is developing a long-term monitoring strategy for sea level rise. The strategy will allow the Collaborative to track sea level rise progression, enumerate local trends and impacts, and know when to initiate specific adaptation strategies.
4. Sea Level Rise and Capital Projects Planning: The City is developing design guidelines and checklists to standardize how climate projections are incorporated into the design and engineering of public works. This work will ensure that our public investments are built for the future.
5. Funding and Financing for Sea Level Rise Adaptation Measures: The Collaborative contracted a study for different funding and financing mechanisms for mid-term sea level rise strategies in 2024. We will present the status of that work and next steps.
Climate Analysis:
The proposed projects presented in the briefing support the City’s climate goals and policies by implementing Comprehensive Plan Climate Policy PC1.2 and PC2.2, focused on regional coordination for and implementation of sea level rise adaptation. Sea level rise will threaten critical infrastructure, services, transportation corridors, and local businesses over the next decades. Active coordination and work will mitigate the risks to Olympia from sea level rise.
Equity Analysis:
Climate change affects everyone. However, some people and communities in Olympia (sometimes referred to as frontline communities) will experience greater impacts due to their age, race, gender, health, where they live, or what they do for work. The initiatives presented in the briefing provide additional data and guidance on how to implement sea level rise response strategies to protect critical services and infrastructure.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in sea level rise planning and implementation of flood protection measures in downtown Olympia.
Options:
None - No action requested.
Attachments:
None