According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States has nearly 95,500 miles of shoreline and projects that sea levels along the contiguous states will rise an average of 2 to 7 feet by 2100, with specific increases varying by region. This anticipated threat to coastal communities has many of our clients considering how to incorporate resilience into infrastructure projects and how to address known vulnerability. Yet they are often left wondering how to approach these projects due to a lack of clear guidance from regulatory agencies and gaps in funding. Woodard & Curran’s flood mitigation and stormwater professionals are stepping in to help clients determine risk, identify opportunities for resilience, and make worthwhile investments in capital improvements.
Coastal resilience projects come about in a variety of ways. Sometimes there has been a significant storm event combining high tides and storm surge that requires communities to address damage and rebuild with sea level rise in mind. In other cases, we are working with a client to rehabilitate or replace infrastructure within a coastal area, unrelated to stormwater or flooding, that would benefit from incorporating resilience measures to mitigate future risk. Each project, regardless of the precipitating factors, comes with its own unique challenges, and our experts work to tailor solutions with stakeholder input. We collaborate with our clients to identify the risks of seal level rise based on NOAA predictions and what state or federal funding might be available to help curb the cost of capital expenditure. Then we create a design that fits the area both physically and aesthetically, while incorporating feedback from municipal officials, neighboring residents, and any other stakeholders. This approach helps create a well-suited solution to mitigate coastal flooding.
Right-sized resilience solutions
The island of Vinalhaven is home to one of Maine’s most productive working waterfronts. Many of the low-lying areas on the 23-square-mile island are vulnerable to storm surge and sea level rise. The town has established a Sea Level Rise Committee and engaged a host of technical and funding resources, from consultants to local, state, and federal agencies, to address specific areas with known flooding problems. A Design and Resiliency Team (DART) study of the downtown, funded by a grant from the Maine Coastal Program, has helped the community better understand the surge risk of Penobscot Bay. This helped inform a Downtown Improvement Project to preserve the walkability, drainage, and utility resilience in the heart of the community.
Vinalhaven Sea Level Rise Inundation Map Generated by Maine Geological Survey SLR/SS Scenarios Viewer
