Adaptation Strategies

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Coastal communities are striving to adapt to a changing climate. Whether it’s finding new ways to protect the built and natural environment, or building the social capital needed to support community resilience initiatives, these Digital Coast resources offer assistance.

Understand the Basics

  • Training – In-person Course

    Adaptation Planning for Coastal Communities

    Attend this in-person training to gain a thorough grounding and practical skills for incorporating adaptation strategies into planning processes.

  • Training – Virtual Course

    Coastal Adaptation Planning Essentials

    Learn the foundational concepts of a five-step adaptation-planning process in this virtual training. This is perfect for the beginner just starting to address the challenges resulting from climate change.

Identify Options

  • Training – In-person and Virtual Course

    Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Hazards

    Attend in-person or virtual training to discuss key nature-based solutions and implementation steps, and hear from experts in the field.

  • Training – Video

    Green Infrastructure Protective Services

    Watch a short animation describing the protective benefits of green infrastructure. This is a useful outreach tool.

  • Training – Quick Reference

    Measures for Shoreline Stabilization

    Access easy-to-digest overview information on the use of living shorelines and structural shoreline stabilization techniques to reduce coastal risks and improve resilience.

  • Tool

    Coastal Resilience Evaluation and Siting Tool

    This tool starts the process of identifying large public and private coastal and nearshore land areas ideal for restoration and analyzes their potential to provide maximum protection to human communities, while also restoring or improving habitat for fish and wildlife.

Evaluate Options

Engage Stakeholders

  • Training – Case Study

    San Francisco Stakeholder Engagement Process

    Learn how purposeful collaboration strategies and a diverse work group furthered local efforts to design a planning process for addressing multiple hazards.

  • Training – Quick Reference

    Stakeholder Analysis Worksheet

    Use this worksheet to identify stakeholders to include when addressing a community issue and to help identify an individual’s or group’s interest, position, or other special factors that should be considered during the decision-making process.

  • Training – Publication

    Introduction to Stakeholder Participation

    Learn about some of the most important considerations and techniques to increase the likelihood of stakeholder participation in the coastal management process.

Learn from Others

  • Training – Case Study

    Out of Harm’s Way: Relocation Strategies to Reduce Flood Risk

    Learn how the City of Kinston, North Carolina, embarked upon a comprehensive approach to improve resilience to flooding and hurricanes. Flood-prone properties were purchased, whole neighborhoods were relocated to higher ground, and natural floodplain functions were restored.

  • Training – Case Study

    Zoning Ordinance Overhauled to Increase Community Resilience to Flooding

    Learn how the City of Norfolk, Virginia, chose to take a bold step to overhaul its zoning ordinance to reduce impacts and increase resilience to sea level rise. The zoning ordinance contains a number of pioneering approaches to confront the long-term challenges posed by sea level rise, including a resilient quotient points system for new development and coastal and upland resilience overlay zones.

  • Training – Case Study

    Dune Restoration Increases Flood Protection and Access for Community

    Learn about an innovative solution that provides protection from sea level rise and storm surge. A dune restoration project in Cardiff Beach State Park is not only helping to protect transportation infrastructure from current and future flooding, but is also increasing public access to a popular beach and providing enhanced habitat for plants and animals.

  • Training – Case Study

    Resiliency Officer Helps Design an Environmental Impact Bond to Finance Community Resilience Projects

    Learn how Hampton, Virginia’s resiliency officer led the development of Virginia’s first ever Environmental Impact Bond to help finance community resilience projects. The bond enables impact investors to support innovative projects, such as those that will reduce stormwater runoff and provide multiple-layered public benefits to the community.

Related Topics

You may be interested in resources found on these topics pages.