Sea-Level Rise: Re-imagining the Urban Edge A preliminary investigation of the effect of future sea-level rise on the design of our built environment. Olympia, Washington by Brenda Lorene Snyder This thesis is submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Urban Design, Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley. Committee in Charge: Peter Bosselmann, Chair Louise Mozingo Rob Thayer Fall 2010 The thesis of Brenda Lorene Snyder, titled Sea-level Rise: Re-imagining the Urban Edge, is approved: Chair Date Date Date University of California, Berkeley Contents 4. Natural History and Ecology of the Puget Sound Basin 28 List of Illustrations ii 4.1 Puget Sound Ecology 30 Dedication iv 4.2 Salt Marsh Ecology 32 Acknowledgements v 4.3 Budd Inlet Ecology 34 Preface vi 5. Physical Alterati ons of Shoreline 36 1. Introducti on 1 6. Precedents 40 1.1 Historic Deltas 2 6.1 Nati onal Water Plan : Room for the River Program 41 1.2 Sea-level Rise Predicti ons 4 6.2 Restorati on of Tidal Functi on : Nisqually 44 1.3 A City at Risk 5 6.3 Multi functi onal Dike Concept, Delta Dike 47 6.4 Surface Channel Storm Water Network 48 2. Site Selecti on and Analysis 8 6.5 Wetlands, Stormwater Management 51 2.1 Land Use 11 2.2 Port Property 14 7. Urban Form Urban Functi on 54 7.1 Depicti on of Zones 72 3. Social History and History of the Built Environment 21 7.2 Image of the City, Olympia 2100 86 3.1 American Migrati on 22 8. Conclusion 92 3.2 A Capitol City 26 References 94 i List of Illustrati ons Figure 1.1 Netherlands bellow sea-level 2 Figure 2.25 Looking north along Percival Landing Park 27 Figure 1.2 Historic map of Terpen 3 Figure 2.26 Looking south during high tide 27 Figure 1.3 SLR Urban Design Strategy Matrix 4 Figure 2.27 The same vantage point at low tide 16 Figure 1.4 City of Olympia at high tide 5 Figure 2.28 Edge condition along West Bay 16 Figure 1.5 Typical Natural Shoreline 6 Figure 2.29 Marinas along West Bay 16 Figure 1.6 Natural Shorelines SLR 6 Figure 2.30 Port property districts 17 Figure 1.7 Urban Edge Conventional 6 Figure 2.31 Diagram of remediation process 18 Figure 1.8 Urban Edge Alternate 6 Figure 2.32 Looking north across the East Bay 19 Figure 2.1 City of Olympia - greater Puget Sound 9 Figure 2.33 Moxlie Creek pipe outlet at low tide 19 Figure 2.2 City of Olympia - South Puget Sound 9 Figure 2.34 East Bay at low tide looking south east 19 Figure 2.3 City of Olympia areial view 9 Figure 2.35 Strip of marsh vegetation, East Bay 19 Figure 2.4 Aerial view of Downtown Olympia 10 Figure 2.36 North lookout across tidelands, Port Property 19 Figure 2.5 Olympia, 50” sea-level rise 11 Figure 3.1 Native residence of the Puget Sound 22 Figure 2.6 Evolution of Olympia’s shoreline 11 Figure 3.2 Approximate density of permanent native villages 22 Figure 2.7. The extent of fi ll 11 Figure 3.3 1853 Map of Olympia 23 Figure 2.8 Surface Parking diagram 11 Figure 3.4 1865 Map of Olympia 23 Figure 2.9 Historic district intersection 12 Figure 3.5 1876 Map of Olympia 23 Figure 2.10 Historic district character 12 Figure 3.6 Pacifi c Northwest native oyster bed The 24 Figure 2.11 Olympia National Bank 12 Figure 3.7 Shanty town coined ‘Little Hollywood’ 25 Figure 2.12 Historic district character 12 Figure 3.8 Carlyon Fill 26 Figure 2.13 Historic district character 12 Figure 4.1 Extent of Vashon Glacier 29 Figure 2.14 Signifi cant structures, streets and open spaces 13 Figure 4.2 Puget Sound Pollutants 31 Figure 2.15 Wastewater treatment plant outfall 14 Figure 4.3 High, mid and low marsh fl ora diagram 33 Figure 2.16 Port of Olympia, Port Plaza, looking south 15 Figure 6.1 Room for the River Strategy Diagrams 41 Figure 2.17 Port of Olympia, Farmers Market Facility 15 Figure 6.2 River Ijssel short term goals 42 Figure 2.18 Warehouse structures 15 Figure 6.3 River Ijssel long term vision 43 Figure 2.19 Warehouse structure 15 Figure 6.4 Nisqually Delta habitat context 44 Figure 2.20 Industrial area character 15 Figure 6.5 Nisqually Delta change in habitat type 45 Figure 2.21 Industrial area character 15 Figure 6.6 Nisqually Delta current habitat types 46 Figure 2.22 Industrial area character 15 Figure 6.7 Nisqually Delta educational center 46 Figure 2.23 Industrial area character 15 Figure 6.8 Nisqually Delta forested freshwater wetland 46 Figure 2.24 Looking south across Capitol Lake 16 Figure 6.9 Low Impact Development Pier 46 ii Figure 6.10 Delta Dike strategy conceptual section 47 Figure 7.32 View west along Capitol Crest Ave. E 73 Figure 6.9 Low Impact Development Pier 58 Figure 7.33 Zone 4 plan with section cuts 74 Figure 6.10 Delta Dike strategy conceptual section 59 Figure 7.34 Zone 4 Section F 75 Figure 6.11 Bo01 courtyard and Aqua-point network diagram 49 Figure 7.35 Zone 4 Section G 76 Figure 6.12 Bo01 birds-eye view 49 Figure 7.36 Zone 4 Section H 76 Figure 6.13 Bo01 plaza with Aqua-point feature 49 Figure 7.37 Aqua Block alleyway stormwater channel 78 Figure 6.14 Palo Alto Flood Basin / Wetland Aerial 51 Figure 6.15 Palo Alto Baylands (Flood Basin) Map 52 Figure 7.38 Zone 5 plan 79 Figure 6.16 Palo Alto Baylands (Flood Basin) 52 Figure 7.39 Zone 5 plan in detail 80 Figure 6.17 Palo Alto Baylands (Flood Basin) 52 Figure 7.40 Creek St. schematic plan 81 Figure 6.18 Palo Alto Baylands (Flood Basin) 52 Figure 7.41 Creek St. schematic section 81 Figure 6.19 Palo Alto Baylands 52 Figure 7.42 Aqua Blocks conceptual plan and cross section 82 Figure 7.1 Underutilized Parcels and Open Space 55 Figure 7.43 Conceptual phasing diagrams 83 Figure 7.2 With Historic Structures 56 Figure 7.44 Conceptual phasing section 1 85 Figure 7.3 Proposed Line of Protection 56 Figure 7.45 Conceptual phasing section 2 85 Figure 7.4 Proposed Zones 57 Figure 7.46 Conceptual phasing section 3 85 Figure 7.5 Proposed Habitat Areas 57 Figure 7.47 Walking rout of Olympia visitor 87 Figure 7.6 Proposed Intertidal Zone 58 Figure 7.7 Proposed storm surge inundation 58 Figure 7.8 Proposed cut and fi ll 59 Figure 7.9 Master plan 59 Figure 7.20 View from proposed marina pier 61 Figure 7.21 Zone 1 with section cuts 62 Figure 7.22 Zone 1 Section B 63 Figure 7.23 Zone 1 Section C 63 Figure 7.24 Zone 1 roadway options 64 Figure 7.25 Zone 1 Section A 64 Figure 7.26 Zone 1 Structure options 65 Figure 7.27 Zone 1 Structure re-use 65 Figure 7.28 View south along Capitol Crest Promenade 67 Figure 7.29 Zone 2 and 3 with section cuts 68 Figure 7.30 Zone 2 and 3 Section D 69 Figure 7.31 Zone 2 and 3 Section E 70 iii Dedicated to: The Muddie Buddies, offi cial and honorary: Annaroo, Edo, Jeff, Mish Mash, D$, Cliff, Lisa, Hugo and Alexis. I’ve cherished all of our autrageous moments together, every last one. The ASUC Pottery Studio - for providing a very worthwhile distraction and the best ceramic education yet. The City of Olympia – a jewel. iv Acknowledgements I am sincerely greatful to all of those who helped this thesis ma- terialize: Committee members Louise Mozingo, Rob Thayer and Peter Bosselmann for their invaluable insight and gentle guidance; Andy Haub of the City of Olympia’s Public Works Department for taking the time to share his perspective and feedback on the matter; Whitney Bowerman of the City of Olympia for providing much needed GIS data - more than once; Kari Qvigstad of the Port of Olympia for offering an essential view - and as family friends, she and husband Jeff Fishal, son and daughter Gabe and Annaliese for providing a warm welcome to the City of Olympia; John Kriken of SOM, whose tales of the world of Urban Design had me spellbound, thank you for your reassuring enthusiasm early on in the process; Karl Kullmann, whose fi fteen minutes of insight had a lasting impression; Jeff Haltiner of Philip Wil- liams & Associates for going above and beyond the Hydrology for Planners course, sharing his knowledge every step of the way. Last but not least a warm thanks to Stefan Pellegrini, for herding cats through the summer months, your patience and insight were endless. v Preface The following thesis study explores alternative urban design strategies for urban areas facing inundation by sea water within the coming century due to sea-level rise (SLR). The effect of SLR on the vitality of shoreline built environments, the health of the intertidal zone, estuary habitats and accompanying natural processes were of primary concern, framing the problem as well as the solutions explored. Design solutions explored are contex- tually based. The thesis site, located within the city of Olympia, Washington, encompasses the area expected to be inundated with 50” of SLR.