Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696591162542.pdf (United States)
Climate Adaptation and Seashore Conservation Area Update Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission - Work Session - July 12, 2023 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 1 Ryan Karlson Climate and Sustainability Coordinator Matt Niles Seashore Conservation Area Manager Today’s Objectives To provide staff updates on: • Initial outcomes of a sea level rise and coastal hazard vulnerability assessment • Recent work to enhance Parks’ management of the Seashore Conservation Area WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 2 Climate Resiliency Framework 1 Authorization 2 Adaptation 3 Mitigation 4 Education Mainstream climate resiliency into existing policies & practices Prepare parks for current and future climate change conditions Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption Foster climate change awareness and culture of inclusion Building capacity to prepare for, adapting to, and recover from current and future climate-related impacts WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 3 Climate Adaptation Timeline 2015 Commission Resolution to evaluate climate change 2019 Climate Adaptation Framework Prioritize implementation actions into project/budget scoping 2017 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 2022 Initiate Park-Level Vulnerability Assessments WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 4 Washington State Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy HB1170 - Effective date 7/23/23 State Parks Climate Adaptation Framework Vulnerability Assessment Elements Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazards Natural Resources Cultural Resources Park Access and Revenue WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 5 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 6 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazard Assessment 93 park properties with marine shoreline access 74 park properties with coastal facilities vulnerable to sea level rise 52 park properties received on-site facility inventory and assessment in FY2023 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 7 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazard Assessment Seashore Conservation Area 25 Ocean Beach Approaches (OBAs) • North Beach Area (12) • South Beach Area (6) • Long Beach Area (7) WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 8 Coastal Facilities
 Vulnerability Assessment WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 9 Coastal Facilities Survey (52 park properties + 25 OBAs) WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 10 Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessment WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 11 Sea level rise doesn't act alone WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 12 Source: J. Custer Cama Beach at King Tide – February 2012 Compound Flooding at Dosewallips – December 2022 Storm Surge at Cape Disappointment – December 2022 Wave Runup at Camano Island – December 2022 Bluff Erosion at Camano Island – March 2023 Dune Erosion at Cape Disappointment – March 2023 Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessment WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 19 Sensitivity Varies Birch Bay State Park Dosewallips State Park WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 20 Dosewallips State Park Potlatch State Park – December 2022 Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessment WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 22 Coastal Facility Vulnerability Assessment – Initial Findings Existing Conditions Near Term Projections (2050) • Many coastal facilities are already exposed to impacts of inundation and erosion • Erosion is the most common threat to coastal facilities, including shoreline armor • • Inundation will become the most common impact to facilities in their current location There is increased near-term (20-30 years) threat to circulation and utilities WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 23 Coastal Facilities Vulnerability Assessment WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 24 Coastal Hazard Planning Tool WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 25 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 26 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 27 Adaptation Pathways for Coastal Facilities A key consideration when evaluating adaptation options is to determine the design life of the asset versus the design life of the adaptation approach.
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 28 2025-27 Climate Commitment Act (CCA) Funding 2023-25 Operating Budget Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Electrical Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Renewable Energy Feasibility Assessment Climate Change Outreach and Education Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessments Sustainability Specialist 2023-25 Transportation Budget Vehicle and Equipment Electrification Allocation $50,000 $325,000 $175,000 $200,000 $350,000 1.0 FTE Allocation $2,000,000 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 29 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy Roadmap # FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 Coastal Facility Vulnerability Assessment Additional Vulnerability Assessments Develop Long Range SLR Strategy Adopt Long Range SLR Strategy Ongoing Implementation • Establish Coastal Hazard Planning Tool • Develop facility monitoring priorities • • Identify priority needs for 2025-27 budget scoping • Complete resource • Complete SEPA vulnerability assessments process Initiate cultural, natural and park access vulnerability assessments • Public outreach • Establish 10+Year Capital Project Plan WASHINGTON STATE PARKS Template modified from Bryanna Osmonson 30 Today’s Objectives To provide staff updates on: • Initial outcomes of a sea level rise and coastal hazard vulnerability assessment • Recent work to enhance Parks’ management of the Seashore Conservation Area WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 31 Seashore Conservation Area • New SCA Manager project position • New SCA planning tools • What’s next with SCA management WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 32 Why are we doing this now?
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS • Bring needed resources to responsibly manage the SCA.

• More actively manage the SCA to respond to changing needs.

• Address current and future management challenges.

33 What is the SCA?

• Established in 1967.

• Placed under State Parks’ jurisdiction.

• Extreme low tide to ordinary high tide, more on that later… WASHINGTON STATE PARKS SCA Declaration of Principles RCW 79A.05.600 WASHINGTON STATE PARKS • Some of nation’s last unspoiled seashores.
• Provide public with diverse recreational opportunities.

• Visitor numbers increasing, creating need to dedicate beaches to public recreation and provide sanitary facilities.

• Nonrecreational use must be strictly limited.

• Recreational uses must be regulated “in order that Washington's unrivaled seashore may be saved for our children in much the same form as we know it today.” 35 New SCA Survey • Technical survey including air photos and topographic survey to establish Ordinary High Tide Line.
• Establish location of Seashore Conservation Line.

• Title research and review as needed to complete survey work.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 36 Ordinary High Tide Surveyed for the first time using LIDAR data and published elevations established by NOAA.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 37 Ordinary High Tide • Upper limit of the SCA (usually…).

• Has not always been well- understood, including by State Parks.

• New GIS tools will help.


WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 38 New GIS tools WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 39 SCA Literature review • Comprehensive review of available • science on SCA resources and impacts from visitor use.

Interviews with subject matter experts in coastal processes, ecology, and management.

• Will inform future management planning efforts.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 40 Next steps • Continue working through management issues with local partners.

• Updates to Recreation Management Plans.


• Adopted by local governments and approved by Commission.

• Plans must set aside 40% of beach for pedestrian use April 15 to Labor Day.

• Had to be adopted by Sept. 1, 1989.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 41 Questions?

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS 42