Title
Sea Level Rise Response Planning - Update
Recommended Action
Briefing only. No action required.
Report
Issue:
Receive briefing on sea level rise planning work initiated by the City of Olympia (City), the Port of Olympia (Port) and LOTT Clean Water Alliance (LOTT).
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, 360.573.8475
Presenter(s):
Andy Haub
Background and Analysis:
The City, the Port and LOTT have entered into an Interlocal Agreement to jointly fund and participate in a formal sea level rise planning process for downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula. A consulting firm, AECOM Technical Services, has been hired to help lead the planning effort. The City, Port and LOTT share common concerns regarding sea level rise, yet also have unique individual vulnerabilities.
The tasks to be completed by AECOM and the City, Port and LOTT for this project include:
• Evaluate the best available science
• Develop a sea level rise planning framework
• Conduct a vulnerability and risk assessment of downtown assets
• Develop three or four sea level rise adaptation strategies
• Complete a Sea Level Response Plan
In October, 2017 the Science Review and the Planning Framework were available on the Sea Level Rise webpage and a project update ENewsletter was released.
AECOM is now working with staff from the City, Port, LOTT, Puget Sound Energy, Intercity Transit, Olympia School District and the State departments of Enterprise Services and Natural Resources to identify Downtown’s critical assets. This work effort includes evaluating vulnerability and risk to those assets from sea level rise flooding.
An Open House and Community Workshop originally scheduled for December 2, 2017 is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the Olympia Center. The purpose of the Workshop is to share the results of the vulnerability and risk assessment and to solicit input to help guide the next phase of planning work. Preliminary response strategies will also be presented.
An online Sea Level Rise survey is available on the sea level rise webpage as of December 2, 2017. This survey requests input on flooding consequences and adaptation strategy selection criteria. More than 100 responses have been received and the survey will remain available until after the January 18, 2018 Community Workshop.
The focus of the planning effort turns to development of draft adaptation strategies after the vulnerability and risk assessment is complete.
The planning process will culminate with elected official consideration of the plan and its implementation.
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 developing a sea level response plan. Citizens voiced their support for the sea level response planning process at a February 8, 2017 and a June 27, 2017 sea level rise community informational meeting. Coordination with regional climate change mitigation planning is occurring.
Options:
Information only.
Financial Impact:
None at this time. However, potential long-term private and public impacts are appreciable.
Attachments:
None