Urban Heat Islands.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the urban heat island effect is when urban areas experience higher average temperatures than outlying areas, due to structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorbing and re-emitting the sun's heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies. Due to urban areas often having limited greenery and a high concentration of built structures, daytime temperatures can be about 1 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit higher on average than temperatures in outlying areas, and nighttime temperatures can be about 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher on average.
The urban heat island effect can have a variety of impacts on communities and the environment, including increased energy consumption, elevated emission of pollutants, and negative public health effects for vulnerable populations. Another impact of the urban heat island effect is that heat from hot urban surfaces can be transferred to water running into urban streams, thereby increasing water temperatures. Water temperatures affect aquatic ecosystems, and rapid changes can be stressful, and even fatal, to aquatic species such as salmon.
The Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map.
The Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map is an interactive mapping tool that compares communities across the state for environmental health disparities, aiming to provide insights on where public investments can be prioritized to buffer environmental health impacts. The map shows measurements of pollution, such as ozone and diesel emissions, as well as indicators such as poverty and cardiovascular disease. It was launched in 2019 by the Washington State Department of Health as part of its Washington Tracking Network program, which focuses on making public health data more accessible to the general public.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is directed to evaluate the urban heat island effect and other factors influencing water temperatures in urban areas throughout the Puget Sound region, in collaboration with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources. This evaluation is to include:
As compared to the original bill, the substitute bill:
(In support) Salmon and trout are sensitive to water surface temperatures. Seattle and Portland are in the top 10 in the nation for worst urban heat island effect. There is a lot of work being done in rural communities to help salmon find cool waters, but this does not address the problem in urban areas where there are a lot of impervious surfaces. This bill is an important first step in addressing the urban heat island effect and would help gather information and establish positive incentives regarding the issue. It also addresses urban streams buried underground, which are an issue facing salmon and other fish as they have negative effects on the overall aquatic ecosystem.
(Opposed) This bill is an unfunded mandate on local governments. It would require local governments to do significant compliance and monitoring which is resource intensive, especially in unincorporated counties covered by Phase I permits. Local governments have undiversified funding sources and cannot afford to take on these new responsibilities.
(Other) It is important for cities to address the urban heat island effect as a part of salmon recovery efforts, but there are issues with the bill related to adding additional requirements for Phase I permittees under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The Department of Ecology has delegated authority under the Clean Water Act to administer NPDES permits, and as such there is a public process that the federal government has established that must be followed in order for Ecology to add new requirements under Phase I permits. There are already existing requirements related to tree canopy and impervious surfaces for Phase I permits, which could potentially lead to conflict between those proposed in this bill. Innovation is important to solving environmental issues and using prizes is a good idea. Measuring pollutants from homeowners is not addressed in this bill, and this policy would make shipping and port activities more difficult.
No new changes were recommended.
(In support) This bill is being put forth because there are significant differences between temperatures in the urban areas surrounding the Puget Sound region and nearby rural and suburban areas. There is data showing that in Seattle, temperatures can be up to 17 degrees warmer on summer days when compared to surrounding areas. This has a significant impact on the experience of both humans and wildlife. Additional studies have found that when built structures are rained on, some of the water runoff flows into the Puget Sound up to 30 degrees warmer than the temperature of the Puget Sound. If we do not know the scope and scale of the problem, it is hard to determine the effect that this change in water temperature is having on the aquatic ecosystem and species such as orcas. As there is increased infill development and density in built areas, we need to think about the impacts on the surrounding ecosystems. This bill asks agencies to obtain data on the impact of this issue in the Puget Sound region. This information would be used to create innovative technology to deal with stormwater runoff, redirecting it into green and gray infrastructure and improving the well-being of both people and wildlife.
(Opposed) None.