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City of Boston: Climate Resilient Design Standards and Guidelines for Protection of Public Rights-of-way
October 17, 2018
In 2018, the City of Boston’s Public Works Department issued standards and guidelines for climate-resilient infrastructure to protect public rights-of-way from an expected 40-inch increase in sea level by 2070. In particular, the guidelines are intended to inform height adjustments for structures to account for sea-level rise, and establish a climate-resilient design process for shoreline barriers. City engineers and designers will be able to use these guidelines to inform designs for flood barriers protecting public rights-of-way to ensure they are prepared for the acute and chronic flooding conditions expected in coming years.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Governance for a Changing Climate: Adapting Boston's Built Environment for Increased flooding
September 2018
The Sustainable Solutions Lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston examines the impacts of flooding from sea level rise and increased precipitation on the City of Boston’s built environment in this report. Along with discussing the governance challenges as related to to these climate change impacts, the report offers policy recommendations and governance strategies to improve resilience to increased flooding. The report is built upon the Climate Ready Boston (CRB) project, and offers recommendations on the implementation of its initiatives as well as policy reform to further flooding adaptation.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Stephanie Kruel, Rebecca Herst
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Financing resilient communities and coastlines: How environmental impact bonds can accelerate wetland restoration in Louisiana and beyond
August 20, 2018
The Environmental Defense Fund and Quantified Ventures have assessed how an environmental impact bond (EIB) could effectively be used for coastal resilience financing for wetland restoration in Louisiana and other coastal areas. The report outlines the steps Louisiana would take to pilot and implement the EIB to restore the coast and wetlands, while greatly reducing land loss to sea level rise, and incentivizing investment. The framework could also support financing other natural infrastructure projects that build coastal resiliency, and serves as a template for coastal investments anywhere.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Building Coastal Resilience for Greater U.S. Security
June 19, 2018
The Building Coastal Resilience for Greater U. S. Security project created a forum for coastal experts from the United States and globally to develop solutions for climate change impacts on coastal infrastructure, economy, communities and national security. The Hoover Institution, the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars jointly convened a series of discussions to advance coastal resilience to climate change impacts by identifying knowledge gaps and establishing policy solutions.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Alice C. Hill, Roger-Mark De Souza, Christopher B. Field, Katharine J. Mach, Meaghan E. Parker
Resource Category: Solutions
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Connecticut SB 7: An Act Concerning Climate Change Planning and Resiliency (Public Act 18-82)
June 6, 2018
SB 7 supports both climate change mitigation and adaptation measures for Connecticut, with directives that will help to prepare the state for climate impacts, primarily sea level rise. Connecticut’s statutory references to sea level rise will now reflect the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation’s (CIRCA) planning recommendation of nearly two feet by 2050. The legislation requires all state or federally-funded coastal infrastructure projects to take this new sea level rise projection into account when being planned and developed.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Foster City, California Measure P - Sea level rise abatement bond
June 5, 2018
Measure P is a $90 million bond measure approved by Foster City, San Francisco Bay area of California in June 2018, that will fund structural projects to reduce flood risks from sea level rise. Residential, office and commercial property owners will see an annual tax rate increase of approximately $40 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Rhode Island Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan (Beach SAMP)
June 2018
In June 2018, the State of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) adopted the Rhode Island Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan (Beach SAMP) to help Rhode Island’s coastal communities better adapt to the impacts of climate and shoreline changes. The Beach SAMP includes various guidance and tools for policymakers and coastal managers. In Chapter 5, CRMC presents the “Coastal Hazard Application Guidance” - a five-step risk assessment framework developed for applicants to address the coastal hazards from climate change in permit applications submitted to CRMC for new and substantially improved projects. The purpose of the Coastal Hazard Application Guidance is to ensure that: (1) permit applicants are aware of the coastal risks that could impact their projects; and (2) CRMC can approve projects that are better able to adapt and are more resilient to these risks to increase safety and other benefits for communities, the environment, and the state’s economy. Through a subsequent regulatory amendment, CRMC now requires (since July 2019) that permit applicants submit a Coastal Hazard Application worksheet with their applications to CRMC. Chapter 7 of the Beach SAMP outlines a suite of adaptation measures property owners and decisionmakers can consider, including protection, accommodation, and relocation or managed retreat. The Beach SAMP provides a useful example of innovative shoreline change planning, and serves as a policy model for other state agencies and local governments on how to ensure new development and redevelopment can better adapt and be more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards.
Resource Category: Planning
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Florida Adaptation Planning Guidebook
June 2018
The Florida Adaptation Planning Guidebook, developed at the culmination of the state's multi-year Community Resiliency Initiative, provides a step-by-step framework to assist local governments in Florida with preparing for the impacts of sea-level rise, particularly impacts of coastal flooding and erosion, and changes in ecosystems. The guidebook describes the steps of adaptation planning in the context of existing requirements and optional designations under state legislation passed since 2011, including the optional Adaptation Action Areas designation (Community Planning Act) and the requirements to consider sea-level rise in redevelopment policies (SB 1094, Peril of Flood Act).
Resource Category: Planning
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Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Projections for the National Park Service
May 21, 2018
From the University of Colorado in partnership with the National Park Service, this report describes how climate change and associated sea level rise and storm surge can affect coastal U. S. National Park infrastructure, facilities, and resources. This analysis provides sea level rise projections for 118 park units and storm surge projections for 79 of those parks - from which storm surge maps for each site are included. These results are intended to inform adaptation planning for coastal parks and resources managed by the National Park Service.
Resource Category: Assessments
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Maryland HB 1350/ SB 1006 - Sea Level Rise Inundation and Coastal Flooding - Construction, Adaptation, and Mitigation
April 5, 2018
Effective July 1, 2018, Maryland will expand and strengthen its "Coast Smart" siting and design criteria to better manage sea level rise and improve coastal adaptation efforts. The legislation also requires the state to establish a plan to adapt to saltwater intrusion, and to build criteria for hazard mitigation funding for sea level rise and coastal flooding. Additionally, by July 1, 2019, local jurisdictions that experience nuisance flooding must submit a plan to address this climate impact.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
