District of Ucluelet Climate Change Adaptation Plan
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District of Ucluelet Climate Change ADAPTATION PLAN JANUARY 2021 Acknowledgements The District of Ucluelet would like to thank the following stakeholders for their contributions in making this an impactful and community-focused action plan: Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Parks Canada Alberni Clayoquot Health Network Tourism Ucluelet Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce District of Ucluelet Staff and Council Project Staff Mark Boysen, Chief Administrative Officer, District of Ucluelet Bruce Greg, Manager of Community Planning Abby Fortune, Manager of Parks and Recreation Warren Cannon, Manager of Public Works Summer Goulden, Climate Change Planner and BC Lead, ICLEI Canada Land Acknowledgement The District of Ucluelet acknowledges that we are located on the traditional territory (ḥaaḥuułi) of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation). We are neighbouring communities who share interests in the Ucluth Peninsula and surrounding area. Our long-standing relationship is built upon mutual respect and many individual, personal ties. © 2020, District of Ucluelet. All Rights Reserved. The preparation of this plan was carried out with assistance from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Notwithstanding this support, the views expressed are the personal views of the authors, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada accept no responsibility for them. Photo credit on front cover: Barbara Schramm Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Adaptation Changemakers ......................................................................................................................... 7 ICLEI Canada’s Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities Framework ............................................ 8 Adaptation vs. Mitigation ........................................................................................................................... 9 Global and National Climate Change ....................................................................................................... 10 Federal Policy Direction on Climate Adaptation..................................................................................... 11 Provincial Policy Direction on Climate Adaptation ................................................................................ 11 Climate Science .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Climate Change Projections for Ucluelet ................................................................................................. 13 Impacts and Issues ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Vulnerability and Risk Assessment .......................................................................................................... 19 Future Directions ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Objectives and Actions .............................................................................................................................. 21 Implementation Schedules ....................................................................................................................... 22 Implementation and Governance ............................................................................................................ 26 Monitoring and Review ............................................................................................................................ 27 Next Steps ........................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. APPENDIX A – Climate Action Implementation Tables .......................................................................... 28 APPENDIX B – Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................. 46 APPENDIX C – Acronyms .......................................................................................................................... 48 References .................................................................................................................................................. 49 2 Executive Summary The District of Ucluelet is committed to further educate and implement climate taking meaningful action on climate change change adaptation measures in the broader while including the community in this community. process every step of the way. The District has already developed a 100% Renewable Throughout this adaptation planning Energy Plan that carves out a path towards a process, a community stakeholder group low carbon future and has signed on to the came together over a two-year period to BC Climate Action Charter. This Adaptation learn about the projected impacts of climate Plan builds upon existing actions taken by change on the region, to assess and prioritize the District to address climate change and Ucluelet’s top risks from a changing climate, allows the District to proactively identify and to identify actions that both the District opportunities for action that advance the and community can take to improve community further toward climate resilience resiliency in Ucluelet and the region. of its social, economic, built and natural systems. The top risks include impacts to infrastructure, utilities, and the The intent of this plan is to help transportation network from more extreme organizations, institutions, businesses, and weather events, impacts to water supply and individuals of all ages adapt to current and storage from rising annual temperatures and future climate-related risks and hotter, drier summers, impacts to the marine opportunities. Although the District has a environment including aquatic species, and primary role for most actions outlined in the impacts to both native and invasive species. Plan, they look to various stakeholders to The adaptation actions identified to address Ucluelet’s priority risks were divided into the following four overarching objectives: 1. Strengthen Infrastructure Resilience and Reduce Risk to Buildings and Property 2. Enhance Resilience of Ecosystems and Protect Natural Areas 3. Improve Public Safety and Preparedness to Climate-related Events 4. Think Regionally, Act Locally 3 Summary of Objectives and Adaptation Actions. Objective 1: Strengthen Infrastructure Resilience and Reduce Risk to Buildings and Property Action 1.1: Address vulnerabilities to electrical distribution infrastructure. Action 1.2: Conduct flood risk mapping for sea level rise and use results to communicate and manage risks. Action 1.3: Assess vulnerabilities of Highway 4 transportation link. Objective 2: Enhance Resilience of Ecosystems and Protect Natural Areas Action 2.1: Study current water systems and explore resiliency measures to make the existing water system more resilient. Action 2.2: Create an Invasive Species Action Plan. Action 2.3: Support local activities to maintain wild fish stocks and habitat. Action 2.4: Develop a Biodiversity Network Plan to ensure priority ecosystems are protected in municipal land-use planning bylaws. Action 2.5: Through the Integrated Stormwater Management Plan, create bylaws, policies or plans to protect habitats. Objective 3: Improve Public Safety and Preparedness to Climate-related Events Action 3.1: Complete Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) training and update EOC to continue to be prepared for extreme events. Objective 4: Think Regionally, Act Locally Action 4.1: Participate in a region-wide climate change dialogue and planning process with municipalities, First Nations, Parks Canada and BC Parks to expand and integrate the Ucluelet Climate Change Adaptation Plan into future projects. 4 Introduction Scientific evidence continues to show that Our future is not what we planned it to be human actions are having a significant and therefore, we must plan to adapt. The impact on the natural and anthropogenic risk is that the changes are unprecedented, systems of our planet. These impacts will and we may not be equipped. If we wait to have long-lasting effects in the region, see what impacts are going to materialize, we materializing as climatic changes such as risk being unable to effectively respond to increased summer and winter temperatures, manage the consequences that will result. In increased frequency and intensity of wind waiting, we also miss out on the opportunity and storm events, and sea level rise. to reduce the impacts and even capitalize on some of the positive benefits that could arise. Our natural environments and our cities are especially at risk to these changes. The To prepare, we must first continue forward sensitivity of ecosystems to change may with our long-term strategy to reduce mean a dramatic shift to existing habitats and greenhouse gases by implementing to our natural environments as we know it. mitigation actions that address the root For communities with