Title
Update on Sea Level Rise Planning in Olympia
Recommended Action
Information only. No action required.
Report
Issue:
Receive briefing on sea level rise planning work initiated by the City of Olympia, the Port of Olympia and LOTT Clean Water Alliance.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, P.E., Water Resources Director, Public Works/Water Resources, 360.573.8475
Presenter:
Andy Haub
Background and Analysis:
Project Background
In early 2017, the City, the Port and LOTT 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. The City, Port and LOTT share common concerns regarding sea level rise, yet have unique individual vulnerabilities. A consulting firm, AECOM Technical Services, is assisting with the planning effort.
The tasks to be completed by AECOM and the City, Port and LOTT for this project include:
1. Evaluate the best available science regarding potential sea rise.
2. Develop a sea level rise planning framework incorporating community input.
3. Conduct a vulnerability and risk assessment of downtown assets.
4. Develop specific strategies for protecting downtown for approximately 100 years. As a component of this task, conceptual drawings for three physical adaptation strategies (Capitol Lake, Percival Landing and Billy Frank Jr. Trail) will be developed.
5. Complete a formal sea level rise response plan including governance needs, implementation schedules, and financing considerations.
The first four steps in the planning process are completed.
Since September 1, the potential adaptation strategies that could be used to protect downtown have been available for community review, including on the sea level rise project webpage and through three sea level rise events.
The proposed physical adaptation strategies offer conceptual, cost-effective and feasible solutions from an engineering perspective. They can be tailored to the downtown landscape. However, we expect refinements and other options to evolve in the years to come, while keeping in mind that construction should begin within 15-20 years.
The current schedule anticipates the SLR Response Plan will be available for community review in December and/or January.
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 during the September 19, 2018 strategies community meeting, at a February 8, 2018 vulnerability and risk assessment community workshop, and at a June 27, 2017 sea level rise planning process 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. The estimated costs for sea level rise adaptation are being developed and are anticipated to be substantial. How adaptation will be paid for will be determined with future work efforts. Percival Landing will play an important role in protecting downtown and sea level rise will need to be taken into account with future improvements.
Attachments:
• Percival Landing Physical Adaptation Strategies
• Evaluation Criteria for SLR Strategies
• Link to sea level rise webpage