The Paths to Resilient Shorelines: An Engineering Analysis of Sea Level Rise Planning from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic

Abstract:

Sea level rise is a common problem for many coastal communities. It is crucial that they determine and plan how to best protect themselves. These communities would benefit from a national coordinated effort, led by the Federal Government, to offer expert information for better planning. Before any recommendations can be made to communities from experts, there needs to be an assessment of what is currently in their plans. This study aims to categorize the different sea level plans of states, counties and communities along the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic.

The study analyzed all available plans including Coastal Zone Management plans and other state and local coastal documents. After analyzing the documents, a clear pattern started to emerge in several key areas: vulnerability assessments; recommendation reports; laws/ordinances; official plans; tools; examples of previous projects; and funding sources.

The plans were then categorized into groups from an engineering perspective, such as Hard Infrastructure, Natural Mitigation, Conservation, and Land Use/Zoning to determine what type of strategies are favored. There was a wide variation of strategies, even in neighboring areas. The sea level rise projection data source used in each plan was also noted. There were several sources that the communities used including NOAA, USACE, and some did not cite specific numbers or sources.

State plans often only provide general guidance and leave counties and cities to write plans with more local specificity. This allows communities to create plans that may not include the term “sea level rise” and only address issues such as current coastal flooding. The Federal Government is currently providing data on sea level rise projections, however it is not making it to all communities. The recommendation is for the Federal Government to work with communities to help disseminate the projections (i.e. NOAA, IPCC) for better planning. Additionally, local collaboration should be encouraged for more consistent planning along the coast. Knowing the types of infrastructure that communities want to build, the amount of funding available and the source of data helps build a larger picture in how Federal Agencies can support sea level planning for the country.