Thurston Region to Develop a Climate Adaptation Plan

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Submitted by the Thurston Regional Planning Council

Photo credit: jennlvs2smile
Photo credit: jennlvs2smile

How will the Thurston Region prepare for possible changes to the magnitude or frequency of climate-related events such as drought, flooding, sea-level rise, or wildfire?

Over the next few years, local and Tribal government organizations, non-profits, and educational institutions will work together to develop a Climate Adaptation Plan for the Thurston Region.  We will explore questions such as:

  • What roads will be most vulnerable to flooding under changing climate conditions, and what steps can we take now to lower the risks?
  • Are there areas of the county where there might not be enough water to maintain stream flows to support fish and other aquatic species, farming, and household and business water uses under changing climate conditions?
  • What are the economic implications – to the natural and the built environment – of a changing climate?

In short, how can we adapt to climate-induced changes, yet continue to thrive ecologically, socially, and economically?

The National Estuary Program (NEP) Watershed Protection and Restoration Program – which focuses on improving watershed management and land use decisions in the Puget Sound Region – will fund the $250,000 planning effort.

The Thurston Regional Planning Council – a 21-member intergovernmental board comprised of local government jurisdictions within Thurston County – will facilitate plan development.  The Regional Council will convene a wide range of partners, including Thurston County, local cities, Tribes, Nisqually River Council, LOTT Cleanwater Alliance, Port of Olympia, The Evergreen State College, Olympia School District, Earth Economics, Thurston Conservation District, Thurston Economic Development Council, Thurston Climate Action Team, Puget Sound Energy and emergency service providers. Work will begin in September 2015, with plenty of opportunities for the public and other partners to participate.

The Regional Council determined this project’s importance as a follow-up action of the Sustainable Thurston project. For more information, visit www.trpc.org/ClimateAdaptationPlan.

 

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