As a result of sea level rise, many coastal Puget Sound communities will face increases in the frequency and magnitude of shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, infrastructure damage, habitat loss, and other impacts. The Town of Coupeville is developing a Coastal Adaptation Strategy that, once implemented, will help mitigate the risk that sea level rise poses to the things that our community cares about. This effort is funded by the Department of Ecology’s Shorelines Competitive Grant Program. The Town has hired a consultant team led by led by Natural Systems Design + Coastal Geologic Services and supported by Peak Sustainability Group and BHC Consultants to conduct the technical analysis and assist with community engagement. The project began in spring 2024 and is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
What is the Coastal Adaptation Strategy?
The Coastal Adaptation Strategy will set goals and identify priority actions to improve the resilience of our community to sea level rise and other coastal hazards. It will build on the findings from Coupeville’s 2023 Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment which identified the areas and assets within the town most vulnerable to sea level rise-related hazards.
Throughout the project, the Town will engage with a Climate Action Committee and community members to create a Strategy that represents the priorities of our community and addresses the greatest near-term and long-term adaptation needs and opportunities.
Project Schedule
| Date | Activity |
| May 2024 | Project commenced |
| September 11, 2024 6:00pm – 7:30pm | Community Open House #1 – Thank you for Attending! – Open House Presentation (click: here) and Recording (click: here) – Open House Notes (click: here) |
| February 21 – March 21 2025 | Coastal Adaptation Survey Closed Thank you for your participation! |
| April 2025 | Draft Strategy Available (click: here) |
| April 23, 2025 6:00pm – 7:30pm | Community Open House #2 – Location: Coupeville Rec Hall (901 NW Alexander St.) Thank you for coming! |
| June 2025 | Final Strategy Available (click: here) |
If you have questions about this project, please contact:
Joshua Engelbrecht, Community Planning Director
(360) 678-4461 ext. 103
planner@townofcoupeville.org
Additional Coastal Adaptation Resources
- Coupeville Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (2023): https://townofcoupeville.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CoupevilleSLRVA-FinalReport-1.pdf
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Sea Level Rise: https://www.epa.gov/cre/sea-level-rise
- Miller et al. (2018). “Sea Level Rise Projections for Washington.”: https://wacoastalnetwork.com/research-and-tools/slr-projections/
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Sea Level Rise Viewer: https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/
- US Climate Resilience Toolkit – Sea Level Rise: https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/coastal/sea-level-rise
- WA Department of Ecology – Sea Level Rise in Washington: https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Climate-change/Climate-change-the-environment/Sea-level-rise
