Action 14: Track Climate Change Impacts over Time to Inform Policy, Programs and Investments
Monitoring, assessing and adapting to these changing environmental conditions will help plants and animals, support healthy habitat, create improvements for public infrastructure and help communities withstand the adverse effects of climate change.
Outcome 31: Establish one ocean acidification monitoring station in the Snohomish nearshore by 2024.
Outcome 32: Conduct climate change impacts monitoring for 100% of relevant watershed actions by 2025.
Outcome 33: Protect shoreline habitat by ensuring 100% of aquatic leaseholds at high risk of sea level rise include environmentally friendly mitigation strategies by 2031.
0-3 Year Actions
Action 14.1 ACIDIFICATION NEARSHORE MONITORING NETWORK (ANeMoNe)
Establish an Acidification Nearshore Monitoring Network (ANeMoNe) station in the Snohomish nearshore. Work with partners on planning and siting. Collaborate to ensure monitoring efforts are conducted regularly and contribute to outdoor education outcomes as well as climate impacts assessments.
Action 14.2 Lidar Mapping II
Collect, use and share LiDAR and geologic data to inform forest habitat and riparian efforts. Seek funding to implement statewide LiDAR Acquisition and Refresh plan, which will provide stable funding for statewide LiDAR coverage on a 10-year refresh rate. Use data for outputs such as hazard mapping analyses including climate-related hazards. Pursue possible collaborative opportunities using LiDAR to reduce hazard risks, such as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding or related funding sources.
Action 14.3 Hydrologic Data
Improve hydrologic data accuracy and access. Assess options for moving DNR’s hydro layer to the National Hydrography Dataset. Ensure climate impacts are included in assessments of changing hydrologic systems. Pilot completed; full transition proposals under development.
Action 14.4 Climate Resilience Projects
Work with WRIA 7 partners to improve climate resilience considerations in project development and selection. Work to ensure that planning includes both appropriate climate resilience provisions, and that climate impacts modeling is included in implementation.
Action 14.5 Sea Level Rise Impacts
Work with partners to develop sea level rise projections and assess expected impacts in the Snohomish Watershed. Use projections to help identify lands with greatest potential to become inundated. Evaluate protections needed as land use and cover changes over time, including changes to DNR aquatic leases.
Action 14.6 Ecological Integrity Assessments
Conduct Ecological Integrity Assessments to understand upland and wetland ecosystem health in Puget Sound, including climate impacts. DNR Natural Heritage Program will review datasets and determine regions where watershed ecosystem health is intact or in need of restoration or management actions. Maps and recommendations will be created and should be shared with partners.
4-10 Year Actions
Action 14.7 Climate Impacts Monitoring
Establish processes collaboratively with WRIA 7 partners to ensure 100% of projects include climate impacts monitoring. Use findings to inform future planning and project selection.
Action 14.8 Sea Level Rise Impacts II
Amend aquatic lease provisions to ensure that all leaseholds at risk of inundation from sea level rise include relevant protections by 2031. Engage collaboratively with partners to provide education and ensure enforcement of these provisions to support nearshore habitat.
