Title
Sea Level Rise Plan Implementation Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on implementation of the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a Briefing on implementation of the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs, Office of Community Vitality, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
Pamela Braff, Director of Climate Programs
Background and Analysis:
Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan
The Sea Level Rise (SLR) Response Plan was developed in 2018-2019 through a joint planning effort between the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance. The Plan provides a coordinated strategy to protect downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula from the impacts of sea level rise. The plan identifies adaptation actions, estimated costs, implementation schedules, and partner responsibilities.
In 2021, the City of Olympia, Port, and LOTT established the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Collaborative (Collaborative) to guide and support long-term implementation of the SLR Response Plan. The SLR Collaborative is made up of an executive committee of elected officials representing the member organizations and a staff-level technical work group. Thurston County, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and Washington State Department of Enterprise Services have also joined the Collaborative as non-voting, ex-officio members.
Implementation of Near-term Strategies
The SLR Response Plan identifies near-term (2019-2024), mid-term (2025-2050), and long-term (beyond 2050) response actions to be implemented over time. Many of the near-term actions assigned to the City of Olympia have already been implemented by the Public Works Department. This includes installing tide gates on stormwater outfalls and other key pipes, coordinating emergency response to flood events, and formalizing the Olympia Sea Lev...
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