The Sea Level Rise Collaborative Team is eyeing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant, potentially providing the region with $15 million to $75 million to bolster Olympia’s resilience against extreme weather.
The NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge is a federal funding opportunity with $575 million available in funds. The grant program focuses on collaborative approaches that address risk reduction, regional collaboration, and equity and building enduring capacity for adaptation.
At the Sea Level Rise Collaborative-Executive Committee Meeting on Friday, September 1, Olympia Climate Program Manager Dr. Pamela Braff said they already submitted a letter of intent and hoped to be invited to submit a full grant application. The Sea Level Rise Collaborative includes Olympia, Port of Olympia and LOTT Clean Water Alliance.
Braff explained that financial support under NOAA’s Track Two Pathway would be utilized to implement various adaptation actions. These actions may include acquiring vulnerable land; building natural infrastructure; hybrid green (natural) and gray (structural construction activities; strengthening or protecting public access to coastal natural resources; building the region's capacity for ongoing actions that increase resilience; planning and preparing for community-led relocation and updating state and local codes and policies.
Olympia’s climate director mentioned they held discussions with collaborative members, as well as the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and the Squaxin Island Tribe. They decided all five entities would submit a joint letter of intent, Braff said.
In the letter of intent, Braff said they proposed the implementation of some of the midterm strategies from the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan and Deschutes Estuary Restoration. "These two projects are very much dependent on each other and intertwined."
The proposed activities they include in the letter of intent are the following:
Support essential steps towards restoring Deschutes Estuary.
Implement mid-term adaptation strategies from the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan to reduce flood risk and improve waterfront access in downtown Olympia.
Investigate feasibility of constructing stormwater peak flow management measures.
Sustain and build enduring capacity for long-term coordination and ongoing adaptation.
Braff said they also included an estimated budget for these initiatives, which would cost $74.7 million.
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Chappellg
This is an exciting article. Dr. Braff and all 5 agencies are to be commended for a thorough and comprehensive preliminary proposal. I am so glad all 5 agencies are willing to collaborate to propose solutions for coping with what is a regional threat. Good luck on NOAA inviting you all to submit a formal proposal or RFP.
George Chappell
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Report this
TonyW33
This a great move toward solutions to issues that can no longer be ignored. One does wonder why the City of Lacy and Thurston County aren't included here. Both will be similarly challenged by the impending seal level rise.
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Report this
olyhiker
Did it not occur to anyone to stop building in places that will be underwater?
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Report this
MrMonk
Not sure why so many scientists are unable to accurately define climate.
Sad that NOAA has jumbled its definition of climate into a circular argument.
The reality as any physicist can affirm is that any system of heating/cooling is governed by the laws of thermodynamics. And in climate, the atmosphere does not have the mass needed for long-term thermal content.
Until science correctly defines climate, any attenuation activities are as likely to be harmful as they are to be helpful. Kind of like flipping a coin - 50-50 chance. And these "scientists" are willing to bet trillions of dollars of OPM (Other People's Money) on the flip of that coin.
For the taxpayer, it is lose-lose.
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Report this
1Cochamamba9
Can a newly elected City Council ... or whomever is really in charge, claw back some of the outrageous tax incentives that were provided to developers to build in flood zones? Or will the taxpayer, once again, be liable for bailing "them" out with increased taxes?
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Report this
Southsoundguy
I think this article is relevant: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/prominent-scientist-admits-pushing-preapproved-climate-change-narrative-get-papers
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Report this