Cindy and county staff told the Eastsound Planning Review Committee on Oct. 2 that San Juan County has published a sea level rise vulnerability assessment that includes interactive maps and neighborhood-level results.

“Yesterday was the ... county’s series of workshops ... presenting the results of the sea level rise vulnerability assessment,” Cindy said, and she urged wider public participation at upcoming neighborhood workshops that will focus on solutions and trade-offs for roads, utilities and property impacts.

County planner Sofia said the vulnerability assessment informs the development of the comprehensive plan’s climate element and that climate recommendations were used to identify policy options across multiple plan chapters. Sofia also clarified that the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is chapter 3 of the comp plan process but is governed by its own separate process.

Speakers said the assessment uses the latest science, includes mapping of armoring and erosion projections, and shows probable inundation scenarios for mid-century projections. Cindy and Sofia noted that some low-lying roads and utility corridors — such as sections of Deer Harbor Road and areas around West Sound and Crescent Beach — were identified as vulnerable and will require community discussion about priorities and funding. Sofia said FEMA is unlikely to fully underwrite solutions and that the county expects to rely on a mixture of grants and local decisions.

Ending: The county will run further neighborhood workshops in October (date to be published) and committee members were directed to the San Juan County website to view the published report and interactive maps.