Sea Level Rise: Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies

Share Sea Level Rise: Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies on Facebook Share Sea Level Rise: Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies on Twitter Share Sea Level Rise: Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies on Linkedin Email Sea Level Rise: Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies link

Coastal communities, and especially those entirely surrounded by water such as San Juan County, are intimately familiar with coastal hazards such as waves, flooding, and erosion, among others. As the global climate continues to warm, causing sea-levels to rise, many of these hazards will be exacerbated, becoming both more frequent and more intense. Identifying, preparing for, and adapting to the threats posed by sea-level rise will be one of the defining challenges of the century.

Future sea-level rise is expected to accelerate and create a rise in ocean water levels that will continue for generations, shifting the water’s edge landward and exacerbate existing flooding. Higher sea levels will also increase erosion of beaches and bluffs and increase wave attack at the toe of coastal bluffs, resulting in narrower distances between assets and the water. Additionally, the combination of higher ocean water levels and erosion will mean that coastal storms will potentially cause greater flooding and damage, because a reduced beach width is less effective at reducing wave energy, and waves positioned at a higher elevation allow for a deeper reach landward.

San Juan County is taking steps to better understand and proactively address and mitigate for the future of sea level rise in the islands over the coming years and decades. Use this page to follow San Juan County’s research, projects, and policies related to sea level rise.

Coastal communities, and especially those entirely surrounded by water such as San Juan County, are intimately familiar with coastal hazards such as waves, flooding, and erosion, among others. As the global climate continues to warm, causing sea-levels to rise, many of these hazards will be exacerbated, becoming both more frequent and more intense. Identifying, preparing for, and adapting to the threats posed by sea-level rise will be one of the defining challenges of the century.

Future sea-level rise is expected to accelerate and create a rise in ocean water levels that will continue for generations, shifting the water’s edge landward and exacerbate existing flooding. Higher sea levels will also increase erosion of beaches and bluffs and increase wave attack at the toe of coastal bluffs, resulting in narrower distances between assets and the water. Additionally, the combination of higher ocean water levels and erosion will mean that coastal storms will potentially cause greater flooding and damage, because a reduced beach width is less effective at reducing wave energy, and waves positioned at a higher elevation allow for a deeper reach landward.

San Juan County is taking steps to better understand and proactively address and mitigate for the future of sea level rise in the islands over the coming years and decades. Use this page to follow San Juan County’s research, projects, and policies related to sea level rise.

  • SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise

    Share SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise on Facebook Share SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise on Twitter Share SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise on Linkedin Email SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise link

    SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. September 24, 2024 – San Juan County is working to develop a County-wide approach to addressing sea level rise and managing impacts to nearshore infrastructure and habitat. This work will align with the forthcoming updates to the SJC Comprehensive Plan and revisions to the County’s Unified Development Code.

    During the September 17 Council meeting, staff from the Department of Environmental Stewardship presented findings and work on the following: 1) Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Risk Assessment; 2) a framework for approaching sea level-related projects, and 3) a StoryMap to be used in educating the community on the real and potential implications of sea level rise in the islands.

    Sea Level Rise in San Juan County

    The County worked with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to publish a Sea-Level Rise Risk & Vulnerability Assessment for San Juan County, including county-wide sea level rise maps. You can access a summary of the report via an interactive StoryMap that guides readers through the science. The StoryMap includes sea level rise mapping, facts from the vulnerability assessment, a water level look-up table, and more.

    Developing a Framework

    The County is developing a framework to help guide future policy and projects related to sea level rise. This framework seeks to both gather and provide locally relevant information, engage and increase awareness among residents, and guide policy development for effective infrastructure and sensitive habitat management.

    Community Conversations

    The County plans to host community conversations with several neighborhoods to share case studies and discuss ways to manage the impacts of sea level rise in specific areas around the islands. Feedback from the community will help to inform potential policies and projects that will address community access and utility needs, as well as protections for the environment.

    The County expects to conduct community conversations in early 2025 and will reach out to property owners and neighborhoods directly with more information.

    Learn more about sea level rise in San Juan County at: https://engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/strategic-shoreline-adaptation

    ###

  • Watch the Sea Level Rise Presentations to County Council

    Share Watch the Sea Level Rise Presentations to County Council on Facebook Share Watch the Sea Level Rise Presentations to County Council on Twitter Share Watch the Sea Level Rise Presentations to County Council on Linkedin Email Watch the Sea Level Rise Presentations to County Council link

    San Juan County is proactively working on climate adaptation methods to protect the health and safety of county residents, the environment, and infrastructure.

    October 10, 2023: Part of the County's research on the impacts of sea level rise was presented to Council on October 10. Watch the recording beginning at time stamp 3:30:17: County Council Regular Session Meeting • San Juan County, WA - Agendas & Minutes • CivicClerk.

    September 17, 2024: Staff from the Department of Environmental Stewardship presented findings from a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, a framework for approaching sea level-related projects, and a StoryMap to help educate the community on sea level rise in the islands during the September 17 Council meeting. Watch the presentation (starting at time stamp 1:15:33): County Council Regular Session Meeting • San Juan County, WA - Agendas & Minutes • CivicClerk.

    The Sea-level Rise Risk & Vulnerability Assessment for San Juan County includes county-wide sea-level rise maps. This report identifies coastal areas of the County that may be most vulnerable to climate change driven sea-level rise impacts, such as flooding and erosion. The analysis relies on wave and water level modeling and an erosion analysis for a range of sea-level rise projections in order to develop hazard zones that show the potential future extent of flooding and erosion in San Juan County. These hazard zones can be viewed in the report, as can the detailed methods used to select the sea-level rise scenarios and events and conduct the modeling.