Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8g
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
September 10, 2024
DATE : August 5, 2024
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Sarah Ogier, Director-Maritime Environment & Sustainability
Jon Sloan, Sr. Manager-Environmental Programs
Kathleen Hurley, Sr. Environmental Program Manager
SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement between Port of Seattle and WA State Dept. of Natural
Resources regarding the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Project
Amount of this request:
$227,000
Total estimated project cost:
$227,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute an Interlocal Agreement
with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support a 5-year follow-
on study to conduct eelgrass, kelp, and sediment carbon monitoring and data collection. Total
estimated project cost is $227,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Port of Seattle’s Smith Cove Blue Carbon Study, DNR will carry out additional study
related to the effects of habitat enhancements at the Smith Cove site, specifically, the
characteristics of submerged aquatic vegetation (kelp and eelgrass), carbon accretion, and
carbon sediment sources. The new ILA will authorize DNR to implement a scope of work to
continue data collection on eelgrass, kelp and sediment carbon monitoring 2024-2029.
The Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project represents an on-going and long-term commitment by
the Port to monitor important keystone habitat in Puget Sound. The design and construction of
the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project was first authorized in the Port’s 2018 Maritime Division
expense budget. The Port subsequently contracted with Puget Sound Restoration Fund and
Grette Associates to implement the work. Once the project work was implemented, various
elements of the project were monitored by DNR and Puget Sound Restoration Fund utilizing
previously authorized Energy & Sustainability Committee funding to support a long-term
evaluation of project benefits.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 2 of 6
Meeting Date: September 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
JUSTIFICATION
Kelp and eelgrass have been widely recognized as keystone habitats for a wide range of fish and
wildlife species. Researchers have also begun to recognize that they are effective “carbon sinks,”
storing as much as a third-of-a-ton of carbon per acre per year. In that light, the Smith Cove Blue
Carbon Pilot Project was undertaken to make progress on the Port of Seattle’s Long Range Plan
Objective 15, Priority Action 4, “Optimize PORTfolio park and habitat restoration sites to
sequester greenhouse gases (GHGs)”; and, Objective 17, “Restore, create, and enhance 40
additional acres of habitat in the Green/Duwamish Watershed and Elliott Bay.”
The degree to which the project can be credited towards either of these two objectives, however,
is based on assumptions from the academic literature and additional monitoring is needed to
confirm correlation and benefits. To that end, a long-term data collection and analysis effort has
been developed. The effort will contribute to knowledge and expertise applicable to kelp and
eelgrass restoration, water quality, and evaluate the carbon sequestration potential at the Smith
Cove location. The Smith Cove project will demonstrate the Port’s regional leadership in
achieving balanced economic and environmental benefits, while providing a case study for other
agencies and interests to implement similar blue carbon projects.
Diversity in Contracting
The Washington Department of Natural Resources is a public sector partner with its own
Strategic Plan (2018-2025) outlining specific diversity goals. Specifically, DNR’s plan calls for “the
development and implementation of a targeted promotion and recruitment plan that ensures a
workforce that reflects the diversity of the state’s labor force throughout all job categories and
levels and fosters the culture we are working to achieve.” Additionally, DNR recently released its
draft Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Plan, which focuses on more meaningful integration of
equity and environmental justice into their body of work.
DETAILS
Smith Cove is located on Port-owned aquatic lands to the west of Terminal 91. The site is the
location of the Smith Cove Monitoring Project, which includes specific habitat restoration
treatments implemented between 2018-2022 to evaluate potential benefits, including carbon
sequestration, water quality (amelioration of seawater acidification) and habitat productivity.
The treatments included installation of bull kelp, eelgrass and Olympia oyster beds. Following
installation, the Port measured potential benefits in and around the site for three years. At the
conclusion of the three-year monitoring period, the Parties evaluated the results and developed
a plan for on-going monitoring (Phase 2) at the Site to better understand the benefits of the
habitat enhancements at the site.
In Phase 2 of the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Monitoring Project, DNR will evaluate the
characteristics of submerged aquatic vegetation (kelp and eelgrass), carbon accretion, and
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 3 of 6
Meeting Date: September 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
carbon sediment sources at the Smith Cove site. The scope of work is for a 5-year period (2024-
2029) to conduct eelgrass, kelp and sediment carbon monitoring data collection.
Scope of Work
The duration of the work is for five years, beginning in Q4 2024 through Q4 2029. The project
phases include the following:
1. Project Planning and Permits (2024)
2. Surface Sediment collection (2025-2028)
3. Sediment accretion monitoring (2025-2028)
4. Submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring (2025-2028)
5. Reporting (2025-2028)
6. Sediment core collection and analysist (2026)
7. Final Report (2029)
Schedule
The baseline data collection from 2020-2023 provided the foundation for the proposed five-year
monitoring and evaluation phase of the Smith Cove Blue Carbon monitoring objectives. A
technical memorandum will be provided annually followed by a final report in 2029.
Activity
Commission authorization
Year 1 Monitoring
Year 2 Monitoring
Year 3 Monitoring
Year 4 Monitoring
Year 5 Final Report
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Planning and Permitting
$13,000
$13,000
Study Implementation
$184,000
$184,000
Contingency
$30,000
Total
$0
$227,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
An alternatives analysis was included in the prior Commission action (April 14, 2020). At that
time, the Commission decided to move forward with a new ILA (substantially the same as the
prior ILA) with DNR to undertake monitoring for the Smith Cove Blue Carbon. Thus, the purpose
of this action is to approve another new (but substantially similar) DNR ILA, which will extend the
data collection and monitoring period to 2028, with a final report to be submitted in 2029.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 4 of 6
Meeting Date: September 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Alternative 1 – No further monitoring implemented
Pros: The Port will not incur the $227,000 cost related to the proposed 5-year monitoring
program.
Cons: Terminating the monitoring program will limit understanding of the efficacy of habitat
enhancement and restoration at Smith Cove related to blue carbon and other ecosystem
benefits. Additionally, opportunities for partnerships with other public agencies and community
volunteers will no longer be available. Finally, this alternative would not support critical research
that supports both Port and State of Washington goals around marine habitats, specifically
eelgrass and kelp conservation.
This is not the recommended alternative.
Alternative 2: Continue monitoring the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Project outcomes
Pros: The proposed action will extend the monitoring period for the Smith Cove Blue Carbon
Project and data collection will focus on carbon sequestration and ecological benefits of the
habitat enhancement action at Smith Cove. Furthermore, the proposed monitoring program will
support the Port’s habitat goals as well as contribute to statewide data on restoration of
submerged marine habitats, such as eelgrass and macroalgae.
Cons: The project will incur a total cost of $227,000 over a five-year period.
This is the recommended alternative.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The Phase 2 budget is approximately $200,000 to implement, however a $27,000 contingency is
included to allow for unanticipated cost increases.
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Original estimate
$0
$0
$0
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
0
$545,000
$545,000
Current request for authorization
0
$227,000
$227,000
Total authorizations, including this request
0
$772,000
$772,000
Remaining amount to be authorized
$0
$227,000
$227,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 5 of 6
Meeting Date: September 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
Implementation of the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project was funded for $295,000 in the
2017-18 Maritime Division expense budget. The Commission authorized use of an additional
$250,000 in 2018 to support the long-term study.
Originally, funds ($250,000) from the Port’s Energy & Sustainability Committee (now the SEAC)
were authorized and were allocated in the 2020-23 expense budgets. On-going monitoring for
Smith Cove Blue Carbon Project has come from the Maritime Environment and Sustainability’s
annual expense budget.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
N/A
Business Unit (BU)
N/A
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
N/A
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
N/A
CPE Impact
N/A
Future Revenues and Expenses (Total cost of ownership)
N/A
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
This project will contribute to the scientific body of work on “blue carbon,” specifically the carbon
sequestration potential of kelp, eelgrass, and associated sediments; furthermore, the project
expands our understanding expands our understanding for restoration of these critical habitats
in Central Puget Sound. The Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project includes habitat restoration
elements that will be evaluated for carbon sequestration, water quality (specifically seawater
acidification) benefits, and habitat productivity. These habitat elements include bull kelp,
eelgrass and Olympia oyster beds installed between 2018-2021. The new ILA with DNR will
support the ongoing monitoring of the project, including collection of data from the water quality
sensors, including volunteer participation, collection and analysis of sediment sample, and survey
eelgrass and algae in the study area data for four years. Following data collection, DNR will
analyze the data to produce a final report in 2029.
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Draft Interlocal Agreement
(2) Presentation slides
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8g Page 6 of 6
Meeting Date: September 10, 2024
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
February 9, 2021 – The Commission authorized a revised Interlocal Agreement with the Washington
State Department of Natural Resources to monitor the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Project for three
years.
April 14, 2020- Authorization to execute Interlocal Agreements with the Washington State
Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
September 11, 2018 – The Commission moved to approve the Smith Cove Blue Carbon Pilot Project
as a recipient of the Port’s Energy and Sustainability Committee Funding.