Small Communities Cohort Program
Roy
Infrastructure, Operations, Community-Readiness, and Long-term Planning
The City of Roy is a small, rural jurisdiction in Pierce County, Washington, with a population of approximately 850. Roy faces growing threats from drought, extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and infrastructure disruptions. These events threaten public health, critical infrastructure, and the City’s ability to provide uninterrupted services. Historically, Roy has had to respond retroactively to these disruptions. As a jurisdiction with limited staff capacity, Roy is in the early stages of their climate preparedness work.
The Small Community Cohort Program Project
Through participation in the Small Communities Cohort, the City of Roy is working with the Collaborative on an integrated project package to reduce climate risk and increase community resilience. This project bundles four mutually reinforcing efforts—water system resilience, climate ready operations, community preparedness and outreach, and plan integration—so the City can deliver near-term reliability while building durable systems for the future.
The Small Communities Cohort Project is designed to help Roy proactively strengthen the reliability of their water system, update operational protocols, prepare residents for climate-induced disruptions, and embed climate resilience priorities into long-range planning. These interconnected efforts will reduce service interruptions and improve communication during emergency events. This project will also help Roy increase alert enrollment and build public confidence and readiness with community-facing materials. Finally, this project will embed climate resilience priorities into the Comprehensive Plan and Capital Improvement Plan to ensure continuity beyond the Small Community Cohort program. Together, these efforts create a practical, rightsized pathway for a small city to manage climate risk—and to compete effectively for future funding that advances design, equipment, and construction.
Project Goals
01
Ensure reliable drinking water service during climate related stressors and technical failures.
02
Embed climate risk response into day-to-day operations and clarify roles during incidents.
03
Increase resident readiness for disruptions and build trust through clear, actionable information.
04
Align long term planning and capital investments with practical resilience priorities.
Collaborative Project Fellow:
Phebe Rutledge
