Marine and Coastal Planning

Economic convergence in coastal Washington: How COVID-19 changed regional unemployment

October 13, 2025

By Kevin Decker, WSG Coastal Economist

For a long time, Washington’s rural coastal counties – such as Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties – had higher unemployment than the state average. This was largely due to their reliance on a few industries and their distance from the I-5 corridor. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, new data indicate that these counties are now more aligned with state and national economic trends. When this occurs, economists refer to it as convergence.

What ...

13
OCT

0

coastal counties, covid-19, development, economist, economy, Kevin Decker, pandemic, rural, trends

Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Jessika Tantisook helps to shape a resilient ocean economy on Washington’s Pacific coast

March 28, 2025

By Maddie Gard, WSG Science Communications Fellow

Washington’s maritime industries have long shaped our coastal communities, economies and cultures. Today, the maritime sector is facing complex regulatory frameworks, the consolidation of industries, the graying of the fleet, and changing climate conditions, which are presenting economic challenges for coastal communities at large. In response, industry and community leaders are seeking to bolster marine-based economies through prioritizing thriving working waterfronts and workforce development as well as sustainable commercial fishing, ...

28
MAR

0

New modeling tool shows impacts of sea level rise, coastal flooding to Whatcom County

February 27, 2024

Created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and supported by Washington Sea Grant, the Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) will soon be available for use across Washington state

From rising seas to eroding shorelines and more frequent, intense storms, the hazards faced by coastal communities are only projected to grow. Recognizing these threats, planners and managers around Washington are assessing the vulnerability of their communities and planning for impacts – in particular, the impacts ...

27
FEB

0

Sea Levels are Rising in Washington. What will the Shorelines of the Future be like?

July 22, 2022

A new report from the Washington Coastal Resilience Project evaluates the trade-offs between various strategies to manage the impacts of sea level rise

As sea levels continue to rise, coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion will become increasingly common. According to recent assessments, over 14,000 homes and structures in Washington State — representing a current value of over 8 billion dollars ...

22
JUL

0

How can we better prepare for natural hazards on our coasts? Inter-organizational collaboration to assist local efforts may be key

March 24, 2022

A newly completed project lays the foundation for a team to help Washington’s coastal communities be better prepared for floods, erosion and other coastal hazards

Floods. Erosion. Sea level rise. Tsunamis. All of these hazards threaten Washington State’s coasts — with potentially dire consequences. Although there have been many efforts and investments to respond to disaster events, geographically isolated communities on the state’s Pacific coast often lack sufficient capacity to undertake comprehensive planning efforts to ...

24
MAR

0

WSG Receives Funding to Build Coastal Resilience in the Columbia River Estuary

November 29, 2021

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $259,888 from the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) to the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and partners, including Washington Sea Grant, for a project to develop community-based hazards and habitat resilience planning in the Columbia River Estuary.

With this funding, WSG will conduct outreach and adaptation planning workshops to identify and prioritize site-specific project concepts to strengthen ecological and community resilience. The project ...

29
NOV

0

Remembering Crystal Dingler, Mayor of Ocean Shores

November 15, 2021

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Crystal Dingler, who was mayor of Ocean Shores, Washington. Dingler partnered with Washington Sea Grant on many projects, especially on initiatives geared toward building greater economic resilience in Grays Harbor County.

Read more about Mayor Dingler in The Daily World and KXRO.

15
NOV

0

Celebrating 50 Years of Brokering Lane Agreements Between Crabbers and Towboat Operators

November 8, 2021

Coastal Washington — This year marks the 50th anniversary of a little-known, but highly successful mariner’s agreement known as the “Crabber/Towboat Lane Agreement,” providing a positive example of what can be accomplished between disparate groups when both parties are committed to finding common ground.

In the 1970s, conflicts between ...

9
NOV

0

Head Outdoors This Holiday Season to Help Build a Picture of the Future by Witnessing Local King Tides!

October 30, 2021

Instantly share photos of this season’s biggest tides with researchers and your community using the MyCoast app

Ocean Shores, WA; Photo Credit: Joelle Daily

Ocean Shores, WA; Photo Credit: Joelle Daily

Climate Change, King Tides, WSG News blog

Pointing the Data Toward Prosperity

10
JAN

0

Washington Sea Grant Received Four Grants from the Habitat Strategic Initiative in 2020

December 10, 2020

WSG awarded grants for Green Shores for Homes, Sea Level Rise Exposure, Shoreline Monitoring Toolbox, and Green Crab Projects for a total of $1.15 million.

The National Estuary Program (NEP) is a place-based initiative to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Earlier this year, the Puget Sound NEP Habitat Strategic Initiative Read More

9
DEC

0

How COVID-19 is Impacting Washington Sea Grant Research Efforts

July 20, 2020

By James Lee, Science Communications Fellow

As Washington State slowly reopens, the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact people in nearly every line of work. Washington Sea Grant has been responding with support to communities and industries around the state. But what about the community of researchers whose ...

20
JUL

0

New guide from the Washington Coastal Resilience Project helps coastal planners use the latest sea level rise data

July 9, 2020

IN BRIEF:

The Washington Coastal Resilience Project team – a collaboration between the state’s Department of Ecology, the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and Washington Sea Grant – are releasing How to Choose, a guide to support the use of available sea level rise data in coastal planning and decision making.
The authors of this guide will lead a webinar on ...

9
JUL

0

Director’s Note: The Pull of King Tides

16
JAN

0

Joint WSG, CIG and ESS Team Recognized for Outstanding Community Impact

May 8, 2019

The joint team from Washington Sea Grant (WSG), Climate Impacts Group (CIG) and Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) that released a report containing the best sea level rise projections yet for Washington’s coasts last summer received the UW College of the Environment Award for Outstanding Community Impact. The report is part of the Washington Coastal Resilience Project, a three-year effort funded in 2016 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“The team has been instrumental in helping ...

8
MAY

0

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