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Environmental Initiatives

Advancing Shoreline Resilience: Commencement Bay's Comprehensive Restoration Plan

By Jessica Burns |

Commencement Bay Restoration and Resilience Master Plan

Commencement Bay serves as both a bustling economic hub and an irreplaceable ecological treasure. Yet, escalating challenges such as habitat degradation, contamination, and climate-driven sea level rise threaten its delicate balance of wildlife, community livelihoods, and public access. Aerial view of Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

Contact

Kristin Lynett
Sustainability Manager
(253) 592-4788
Klynett@[SITEURL]

Shaping the Future of Our Shoreline

Through strategic partnerships with Parks Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Port of Tacoma, Pierce County, and other regional stakeholders, the City of Tacoma is crafting the Commencement Bay Resilience & Restoration Master Plan (CBRRMP). This initiative aims to secure the bay’s shoreline for generations to come.

How Will the Plan Work?

  • Direct strategies to mitigate sea level rise impacts and enhance water purity.
  • Unify partners and residents around cohesive objectives and prioritized actions for the bay’s future.
  • Establish a blueprint for habitat rehabilitation benefiting salmon, orcas, and local communities.
  • Explore synergies between ecological recovery and existing port, industrial, and recreational activities.
  • Outline actionable pathways for targeted investments and enduring conservation commitments.

Drone image showcasing Mt. Rainier, Port of Tacoma, and Tide Flats.

Project Timeline

Project Launch – Spring 2026

The Steering Committee launched planning efforts, securing technical consultants to advance the initiative.

Data Collection & Shoreline Assessments (Summer–Fall 2026)

Conduct comprehensive reviews of existing research, pinpoint knowledge gaps, and compile region-wide vulnerability analyses.

Partner Workshop – October 2025

Foster collective understanding of current conditions, articulate project ambitions, and solicit early feedback to inform site selection and preliminary design.

Conceptual Design & Strategies – Winter 2026–Spring 2026

Generate nature-inspired solutions and policy recommendations for adaptive management.

Focus Groups – March 2026

Engage diverse groups to clarify priorities and refine preferred design approaches after site identification.

Master Plan Development – Winter 2026–Summer 2026

Consolidate tailored concepts into a unified strategic framework.

Open House – Summer 2026

Present project details, collect community perspectives on design proposals, and outline subsequent steps.

Final Plan Release – Summer 2026

Release the completed master plan alongside a sustainable financing roadmap.

StoryMap Release – Fall 2026

Launch an interactive digital StoryMap documenting the journey and outcomes for ongoing public engagement.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee coordinates sea level rise adaptation initiatives for Commencement Bay. Their expertise ensures inclusive decision-making, integrates local insights, and drives progress toward resilient shoreline outcomes.

Throughout the 18-month planning cycle, committee members will:

  • Contribute to data acquisition, site evaluation, and conceptual frameworks.
  • Facilitate cooperative sessions among partners and consultants.
  • Promote forward-thinking adaptation pathways and refined shoreline concepts.

Collaborating Entities:

  • City of Tacoma
  • Parks Tacoma
  • Pierce County
  • Puyallup Tribe of Indians
  • Port of Tacoma
  • University of Washington

The technical team includes Mithun (lead), Moffatt & Nichol, Cascadia Consulting Group, Herrera, ECONorthwest, Parametric, and Reach Studio.

Funding

Funding originates chiefly from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Fund grant awarded to Tacoma in 2026.