Coastal Adaptation

What is Coastal Adaptation?

Coastal adaptation is an adjustment in natural or human systems in anticipation of, or response to, a changing environment in a way that effectively uses beneficial opportunities or reduces negative efforts, focusing on the unique requirements of coastal systems.

In coastal areas, adaptation solutions such as physically armoring the coast against sea level rise will have to be combined with other infrastructure-based solutions, nature-based solutions and, in some cases, managed retreat from the sea to ensure that communities are protected and can stay resilient in the coming decades.

Layers of Protection

Managing coastal storm risk is a shared responsibility by all levels of government and individual property owners. Not all strategies to reduce risks are engineered solutions. Communities should consider adopting a combination of strategies that emphasize wise use of the floodplain and include structural, non-structural, natural and nature-based features, and programmatic measures to manage risk. Improved land use planning, responsible evacuation planning, and strategic retreat are important and cost-effective actions that are proven to reduce coastal flood risks. But no matter what risk reduction strategies are taken, there will always be residual risk. (United States Army Corp of Engineers. https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/Images/igphoto/2001007580/)

As cultural heritage sites are lost and landscapes altered, public historians and preservationists will assume an essential role in preserving what is left of the past, interpreting the changes in the environment, and mitigating the sense of loss and displacement that can accompany the destruction of community cultural heritage. It is inevitable that some cultural heritage sites will be partially or completely lost in the coming decades, and such loss is particularly true for coastal sites that are experiencing sea level rise, increased storm surge, and increases in coastal erosion. By identifying and implementing adaptation strategies now, that sense of community loss can be mitigated, particularly if the community can be brought together in support of cultural resource adaptation projects