Primary Contact Email: sdraper@co.whatcom.wa.us <mailto:sdraper@co.whatcom.wa.us>
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
TITLE
Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a Interagency agreement between Whatcom County and the State of Washington Department of Ecology for Whatcom Compound Flood Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
BODY
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
This grant agreement will be used to assess sea level rise impacts along the Whatcom County coastal shorelines to inform land use and preparedness planning efforts. Whatcom County was selected for funding to convene a multi-jurisdictional team (Lummi Nation, Port of Bellingham, USGS, Washington SeaGrant, and the Cities of Bellingham, Ferndale, and Blaine) to develop a vulnerability & risk assessment for Whatcom County marine and lower Nooksack riverine shorelines using compound flood models. These models use sea level rise, tidal, wave, storm surge, and stream discharge data to assess vulnerability and risks exacerbated by climate change to public infrastructure and private development (assets), ecosystem functions/values (systems), and populations. Grant funds will allow for hiring a consultant to support the work under a separate contract that will be presented to Council at a later date