Washington State Developing Best Practices to Address Sea-Level Rise

Acknowledging that rising sea levels are a major concern for waterfront cities in Washington, the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) non-profit put together a review of the current policy and planning efforts to meet the challenge.

2 minute read

May 2, 2014, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"In Washington State, sea level projections estimate a middle range rise of about 2.6 inches by 2030, about 6.5 inches by 2050, and about 24 inches by 2100," reports Carol Tobin. In response to the expected impacts of the rising water level along the state's Pacific Ocean coastline and around Puget Sound, many communities have already begun planning for the inevitable.

A few examples of the Washington communities that have begun to factor sea level change into their comprehensive planning and public works programming, as shared by Tobin:

  • "Olympia has studied the impacts of sea level rise on the downtown and infrastructure and has been working to address inundation of Budd Inlet and Capitol Lake shorelines and pipe backflow flooding. Sea level rise is addressed in the city’s recently adopted shoreline master program and in the current comprehensive plan update."
  • "Seattle has mapped areas that are most vulnerable to sea level rise. King County has assessed the vulnerability of major wastewater facilities to flooding from sea level rise and has included adaptation policies in its Strategic Climate Action Plan (2012)."
  • "The Gorst Watershed Subarea Plan, prepared by Bremerton and Kitsap County, recommends adaptation measures to account for sea level rise in the design of buildings and impervious areas, as well as roadway, flood management, and utility facilities."

Before concluding with a call to action, the article also lists planning tools, regulatory approaches, spending ideas, and leadership opportunities for how communities can begin preparing for sea level rise.

Monday, April 28, 2014 in MRSC Insight

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Two Rivian trucks charging at Rivian branded charging ports.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate

The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

45 minutes ago - CALmatters

Metal U.S. Geodetic Survey marker in stone in Arizona.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency

The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

1 hour ago - Wired

Close-up of 10 mph speed limit sign.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law

Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.

2 hours ago - The Urbanist