Climate Resilience and Shoreline Management
Climate change is impacting shorelines throughout Washington. For example, sea level rise is shifting the shoreline inland, and natural hazards like flooding and wildfire are becoming more frequent and severe. These impacts are disproportionately felt by those who are most vulnerable and facing systemic inequities. Assessing the impacts of climate change and determining how to adapt are central questions for shoreline management. The decisions we make now will determine how resilient shorelines and the communities that rely on them are in the future.
How do we support climate-resilient shoreline planning?
- Planning guidance
- Shoreline planning grants
- Technical assistance
- Climate resilience at Ecology
Climate resilience planning guidance
The goals, policies, and regulations that local governments establish in comprehensive plans and shoreline master programs are important tools for adapting to climate change.
- Interim Climate Resilience Planning Guidance for Shoreline Master Programs provides recommendations for aligning plans as local governments develop the new climate element for their comprensive plans, and outlines suggestions for planning for sea level rise under the current shoreline master program guidelines. The interim guidance will be replaced after new requirements for sea level rise planning are established.
- Appendix A: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments provides recommendations for this important step in the climate resilience planning process.
- The Department of Commerce's Climate Program provides guidance and resources for local governments that are developing a climate element for their comprehensive plans.
Shoreline planning grants
We provided funding to local governments to support shoreline planning. During the 2021-2023 and 2023-2025 biennia, we ran a competitive grant program to support locally initiated projects. Several of these projects focused on climate resilience, including sea level rise vulnerability assessments, channel migration studies, and adaptation planning. Learn more about this program here.
Technical assistance
Our staff is available to assist with climate resilience questions as well as shoreline planning and permitting. Please contact shoreline management headquarters staff or the regional planner serving your city of county government.
Climate resilience at Ecology
Responding to climate change is a priority for our agency, and shoreline management is just one area of focus. We work in partnership with communities, local and Tribal governments, and state and federal agencies to enhance resilience to natural hazards that impact people and ecosystems. We are currently updating the state's Climate Resilience Strategy, which will guide state agency actions in the coming years. We are working to build our capacity to provide direct support to communities, develop and invest in partnerships, monitor shoreline change, and secure funding to implement resilience projects statewide.
Resources for learning more
Our partners provide many helpful resources for learning more about climate change, sea level rise, and climate hazards:
- Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network (CHRN)
- University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (UW CIG)
- NOAA's Office for Coastal Management (NOAA OCM)