Seattle Parks Habitat Vulnerability Assessment

In 2025, Herrera partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation to assess sea level rise vulnerability and resilience across nearly 11 miles of Seattle’s coastal parks. Through field investigations, data analysis, and multidisciplinary synthesis, our team evaluated nearshore habitats, geomorphology, and critical park infrastructure under current and future sea level rise scenarios. The study established a baseline of coastal conditions and identified actionable, nature based and programmatic resilience strategies, ranging from shoreline restoration to adaptive infrastructure planning. Our team created a score card for each park that outlines specific vulnerabilities and place-based and programmatic resilience strategies, ranging from shoreline restoration to adaptive infrastructure planning. The output of this project equips Seattle Parks and Recreation with science-based tools to prioritize investments, protect public access, and steward ecologically rich coastal parks in a changing urban environment.