King County, WA Climate Change Adaptation Efforts

Transcription

1 King County, WA Climate Change Adaptation Efforts 2009 ACI-NA Environmental Affairs Conference April 6 th, 2009 Matt Kuharic King County Program Manager, Climate Change Initiatives Department of Natural Resources and Parks What is adaptive planning? Planning with the understanding that History may no longer be a guide to the future We must prepare for change in built, human and natural systems We must be smart about what we build and where The key is to listen to scientists, not politicians. King County (WA) Executive Ron Sims, US News and World Report, June 5,

2 Presentation Outline Climate Change Adaptation Guidebook Climate impacts in the northwest Overall King County approach Flood Control Vulnerable Facilities Assessment Tool Transportation infrastructure Resources Preparing for Climate Change Guidebook University of Washington Climate Impacts Group King County (WA) Published by ICLEI - USA Google: King County Climate Change Guidebook 2

3 Preparing for Climate Change Suggested Steps 1. Initiate a climate planning effort Listen to the science Scope the impacts to your sectors Build support and build a team Identify planning areas most affected by climate change 2. Conduct a climate resiliency study 3. Set goals and develop your plan 4. Implement your plan 5. Measure progress Drawn from Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments, by the Climate Impacts Group and King County, and published by ICLEI September 2007 PNW Impacts of Climate Change Climate changes in Temperature Precipitation Fire damage in the North Cascade Mountains could have impacts on Snowpack, streamflow and water supply Soil and water for agriculture Sea level Flooding Increased wildfire risk Hydropower Salmon and biodiversity with consequences to Public health Economic livelihoods Insurance industry Recreation Source: Climate Impacts Group 3

4 2007 King County Climate Plan Provides an overview of strategies in both emissions reduction and preparedness Sets a process in motion Builds on over 15 years of efforts King County Comprehensive Plan Assessment; Mitigation; Adaptation; Collaboration Collaborate with local governments in the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2007 levels by Reduce net carbon emissions from county operations by 6% below 2000 emissions by

5 Like Eating and Drinking Mitigation Stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases by reducing emissions across sectors Adaptation Ensuring the resilience of communities to the consequences of inevitable climate change In essence, mitigation is our number one preparedness strategy. If we do not stop the growth of eventually reverse greenhouse gas emissions, then our opportunity to adapt will be limited by the rapid pace of climate change. King County Executive Ron Sims The best mitigation strategies also result in sound adaptation Smart Growth Expanding public transit Opportunities for walking and biking Farmland protection 5

6 How is King County Adaptation Preparation and Planning Going? Example of King County s Efforts King County s Comprehensive Plan Flood Planning Wastewater Treatment Division asset management Transportation Infrastructure Reclaimed Water Efforts have been updated to build flexibility and resilience to climate change impacts Brightwater Treatment Plant construction West Point Treatment Plant Seattle, Washington 6

7 Flood Control Rather than wait for disaster to loom, Sims argued last week, "Let's make the investments and prevent it." That investment would amount to as much as... $30 a year on a $300,000 home. It would seem to be the cheapest insurance a homeowner could buy. Flood Plan Up to $335 million to improve King County s system of 500 levees County purchase of most susceptible lands 7

8 Vulnerability of Major Wastewater Facilities to Flooding from Sea-Level Rise West Point Treatment Plant - Seattle, Washington Adaptation and Planning Response Vulnerable Facilities Inventory Develop strategies to manage wet weather impacts of climate change to the sewer system Identify WTD facilities impacted by storm surge/sea level rise (above extreme high water) Develop and conduct GIS based methodology combining sea level rise projections + storm surge, compared to facility elevations Identify the impact threshold (problematic at what level) Characterize the impact (on-site flooding, hydraulic, operational) 8

9 Adaptation and Planning Response Vulnerable Facilities Inventory cont d. Identify adaptive strategies for affected facilities (i.e., protective berms, armoring, relocation, etc.) Include findings in routine asset management improvements, capacity planning and facility design Vulnerable Facilities Inventory Approach Used GIS to identify vulnerable areas along coast line (project area in white) Facilities subject to tidal and storm impacts 40 facilities included One Secondary TP, Three CSO TPs (red/orange) Pump stations (green) Regulator stations (blue) 9

10 Summary of Results Vulnerable Facilities Inventory Results and Recommendations Conduct terrain analysis of five lowest sites and West Point Treatment Plant. Raise elevation of Brightwater sampling facility and flow monitor vault sites. Raise weir height and install outfall flap gate for Barton Pump Station improvements. 10

11 Vulnerable Facilities Inventory Results and Recommendations Conduct analysis of sea-level rise impacts on system hydraulics. Include sea-level rise as a planning factor for future projects. Review sea-level rise literature every five years and address in five year updates to conveyance system plan. Vulnerable Facilities Assessment Tool Available: King County Transportation Infrastructure New $24 million Tolt Bridge spanning the Snoqualmie River has been built with longer spans than the previous bridge, increasing its capacity to withstand high flows and major flooding events More than 57 smaller "short span" bridges are planned to be replaced with wider span structures, allowing debris and floodwater to pass underneath without backing up river levels Culverts that will increasingly be at risk of chronic flooding and road failure, and would cause destruction of fish habitat during storm events will be replaced with larger systems not only to prevent roads from failing, but also to improve fish passage 11

12 Recent Storm Events January 2009 Snoqualmie Valley Farmland Hyak Ski Area Snoqualmie Falls Downtown Snoqualmie Conclusion We can and must plan with less than perfect information Focus on reducing vulnerabilities and risks Establish institutions and partnerships to deal with climate change impacts on an ongoing basis Remain flexible and expect surprises Mitigation and adaptation are urgently needed now 12

13 References King County Comprehensive Plan pplan/2008.aspx King County Climate Change Site (Including Vulnerable Facilities Assessment and Associated GIS Tool) climate-change-conference.aspx UW Climate Impacts Group - Matt Kuharic King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks matt.kuharic@kingcounty.gov 13