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Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network 

Co-managed by the Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington Sea Grant, the Washington Coastal Hazards Resilience Network (CHRN) includes over 100 members of coastal hazards and climate change practitioners from federal and state government agencies, tribes, academic institutions, consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations.   ​

This network seeks to improve regional coordination and collaboration in statewide efforts that address the impacts of coastal hazards and climate change while increasing the resilience of Washington's shoreline.

Background
Washington communities have experience the impacts associated with coastal erosion, flooding, landslides, and the loom threat of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami for decades. While risk assessment has improved with science and technology, local emergency managers and planners have been overwhelmed by:

• Uncoordinated, inconsistent and confusing, and occasionally contradictory information about their risk and mitigation approaches;
• ​The litany of separate, but related planning processes to help address impacts on their communities.

There has been general recognition among agencies that in order to provide helpful assistance to local governments, a coordinated approach is needed. Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington Sea Grant responded by establishing the CHRN in 2013. With seed funding from NOAA, the agencies have partnered to create a structured mechanisms to share resources, best available science, tools, best practices, and lessons learned among researchers, government agencies, academic institutions and end users.

The CHRN has grown significantly since its inception. Members are now involved with the development and participation in an annual meeting; blog about current events and best practices; distribute opportunities for learning and skill development on the listserv; and use the CHRN website for coordinating and disseminating products of multi-partner projects. More importantly, by maintaining a community of practice, Washington State is moving in a cohesive direction to help address existing and future threats. 

If you are interested in joining the CHRN, please email Sara Brostrom at bros461@ecy.wa.gov. 

Top ​​Photo: Hugh Shipman (Washington Department of Ecology)