Ecology helps communities plan for rising sea level

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - August 19, 2010

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OLYMPIA – For the next two years, coastal and Puget Sound communities in Washington will have help available to plan for the long-term effects of rising sea level.

Through a partnership of state and federal agencies, Kate Skaggs, a recipient of the prestigious National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Management Fellowship, is working for The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) shorelands and environmental assistance program as a resource for local governments wanting and needing help with coastal planning.

Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant said, “I’m very pleased that NOAA has offered this resource to Washington and our coastal communities. The addition of a NOAA Fellow to our staff will allow us to provide additional assistance to local governments as they work through the many important decisions that go into a smart, sustainable plan for being ready for rising sea level. We have 2,300 miles of marine coastline, and with state and local experts working together, these beautiful areas can be better prepared for climate change. This is good for our communities, businesses and families.”

Washington was one of five states and territories to land projects from NOAA's 2010 fellowship program. California, Maine, Puerto Rico, and Wisconsin are also hosting fellows this year. For more on Washington’s plan for the coastal fellowship program: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cms/fellows/pdfs/2010_WA.pdf .

Jena Carter, West Coast Regional Marine Director for The Nature Conservancy, said: “We applaud NOAA and the state for its leadership on this project. Kate’s work will assist coastal communities in identifying areas that are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and help develop proactive plans to adapt to changing conditions.”

Washington Sea Grant (WSG) Director Penny Dalton, whose organization was involved with NOAA in the Fellowship selection process, said: “Coastal zone issues are increasingly important to the state, given the potential effects of climate change and sea-level rise. We’re pleased that a Fellow will be here in Washington, and we’re prepared to provide expertise to support the state’s coastal planning work. WSG Coastal Resources Specialist Katrina Hoffman will be a member of the external team advising Ecology’s NOAA Fellow on her work.”

Scientists at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group project that sea level will rise in the Puget Sound region as a result of climate change. In a range of possible scenarios, the medium estimate is that the sea level will rise approximately six inches by 2050.

A six-inch rise can be expected to:

Intensify flooding in coastal areas, especially during high tides and major storms.
Shift coastal beaches inland.
Threaten structures, roads and utilities, and other near-shore land uses.
Increase coastal bluff erosion, endangering houses and other structures built near the bluff edges.
Expose coastal freshwater aquifers (underground water supplies) to increased salt water intrusion.

Preparing Washington communities for sea level rise and other effects of climate change is a priority for Gov. Chris Gregoire and Ecology. Ecology pursued this fellowship in response to the Governor’s Executive Order directing the agency to work with cities and counties to evaluate the potential impacts of sea level rise and to develop options to address those impacts.

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Media Contacts:
Curt Hart, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6990 (desk); 360-480-7908 (cell), curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov
Dr. Kathy Taylor, Ecology shorelands and environmental assistance program, 360-407-7125, kathy.taylor@ecy.wa.gov

For more information:
Shorelines: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html
Climate change: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm