Between July 2022 and April 2023, the Town of Coupeville conducted a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment to understand the potential risk that sea level rise poses to the things that they care about and taking steps to mitigate those risks. Over the course of the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment project, it became clear that the assessment was only the first step in the Town’s sea level rise adaptation and mitigation journey.

The second step is the Town of Coupeville’s Coastal Adaptation Strategy. In August of 2023, the Town of Coupeville submitted a Grant proposal to the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Shoreline Competitive Grant Program to obtain funding to develop a “coastal adaptation strategy” that provides a blue print to adapt to sea level rise and climate change.  The project will provide short and long-term strategies to advance climate resilience in Coupeville and meet a broad policy of the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) to protect shoreline habitats and processes while protecting critical infrastructure such as the wastewater treatment plant, roads, utility lines, public recreation facilities, and numerous buildings (many historic). Guiding principles and core values will be established early to provide the framework for prioritizing adaptation measures to reduce exposure to coastal hazards. Measures will also ensure that capital investments can withstand future climate change, protect our shoreline habitats, build economic resilience, and support a diverse community.