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Commencement Bay Restoration and Resilience Master Plan

Commencement Bay is a vital working waterfront and a treasured natural and cultural resource. However, habitat loss, pollution, and the impacts of climate change including rising sea levels, pose serious threats to salmon, orcas, local jobs, and public shoreline access.
Aerial photo of Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

Contact

Kristin Lynett
Sustainability Manager
(253) 592-4788
Klynett@tacoma.gov

Community Open House – July 15, 2026

Join us for a free open house during PNW Climate Week, see shoreline design concepts, talk with the project team, and make your voice heard. Light snacks and refreshments provided.

Event Details

Wednesday, July 15, 2026
5–7 p.m.
Owen Beach Pavilion (5605 Owen Beach Road, Tacoma, WA 98407)

Shaping the Future of Our Shoreline

In collaboration with Parks Tacoma, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Port of Tacoma, Pierce County, University of Washington Tacoma, and other regional partners, the City of Tacoma is developing the Commencement Bay Resilience & Restoration Master Plan (CBRRMP). This plan will work to build resilience for our shoreline for years to come.

How Will the Plan Work?

  • Guide strategies to adapt to sea level rise and improve water quality.
  • Coordinate partners and community around a shared vision and clear priorities for the Bay’s future.
  • Set the foundation for future projects that restore habitats for salmon, orcas, and people.
  • Identify opportunities to balance shoreline restoration with port, industrial, and recreational uses.
  • Provide a roadmap for site-specific investments and long-term stewardship.

This is an Arial view of Mt. Rainier, Port of Tacoma and the Tide Flats using a drone.

Plan Timeline

The project Steering Committee kicked off the planning process and contracts with technical consultants initiated.

  • Conduct technical studies on habitat, climate vulnerability, and shoreline conditions.

Commencement Bay Resilience & Restoration Master Plan workshop introduced project goals, shared baseline Bay conditions, and gathered early input on restoration priorities, site selection, governance, and resilience strategies. The October 10, 2025, hybrid session included 27 participants across local, state, tribal, academic, and agency partners.

Develop nature-based design options and recommendations for policy and governance.

The City is hosting an online focus group for property owners near the priority focus area of Ruston Way (Cummings Park to Dickman Mill Park). The virtual focus group will be held June 17, 2026, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Compilation of site-specific conceptual designs into a plan.

A free, drop-in public event during PNW Climate Week where community members can engage directly with the project team and share feedback before the plan is finalized.

Deliver the master plan and funding strategy to guide long-term implementation.

Publish an interactive StoryMap highlighting the project process and finalized designs, available as a long-term resource for partners and the public.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee was assembled to guide sea level rise adaptation work in Commencement Bay. The committee plays a central role in shaping the Commencement Bay Resilience & Restoration Master Plan (CBRRMP) by providing ongoing guidance, local expertise, and community perspective.

Over the course of the 18-month planning process, the committee will:
  • Provide input on data collection, site identification, and concept development.
  • Help shape collaborative workshops with partners and the consultant team.
  • Advance adaptation pathways and concept designs for priority shoreline sites.
Participating Organizations:
  • City of Tacoma
  • Parks Tacoma
  • Pierce County
  • Puyallup Tribe of Indians
  • Port of Tacoma
  • University of Washington, Puget Sound Institute

The Technical and Engagement consultant team is made up of Mithun (lead), Moffatt & Nichol, Cascadia Consulting Group, Herrera, ECONorthwest, Parametric, and Reach Studio.

Funding

This project is funded primarily through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coastal Resilience Fund grant awarded to the City in 2023.

Project Materials

The documents below are foundational pieces in the planning process to develop the Commencement Bay Restoration and Resilience Master Plan.

  • Data Gaps Memo: Outlines data needs and recommended information gathering
    necessary to support near-term planning decisions and opportunities for data that would strengthen future phases of analysis and project development.
  • Shoreline Inventory and Current Conditions Assessment: Describes the conditions along Commencement Bay to inform analysis, planning and project definitions and builds on prior efforts, including the City of Tacoma Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report (2007) and shoreline inventory for the Tacoma Tideflats adaptation study (2025), while applying updated mapping and analysis techniques.
  • Habitat Assessment Memo: Summarizes the historic land use changes and subsequent effects on the ecological processes and functions of the Commencement Bay shoreline.
  • Shoreline and Nearshore Habitat Knowledge Compilation: Summarizes the existing and historic conditions of the shoreline and nearshore habitat of Commencement Bay including the Puyallup River and Hylebos Creek estuaries.
  • Literature Review Summary: Establishes a shared regional understanding of existing planning, restoration, and adaptation efforts throughout Commencement Bay, providing the foundation for the CBRRMP to build on ongoing work and create cohesion between current projects and future Bay-wide adaptation efforts.
  • Climate Vulnerability Assessment: The Climate Vulnerability Assessment is currently still in progress as of June and will be uploaded as soon as it is finalized.