Assessing the Impacts of Sea Level Rise Using Existing Data

Abstract

Local communities want to know the cost of improvements needed to their drainage system based on projected sea level rise. Prior research demonstrates that in coastal areas, groundwater will rise with sea level. As a result the combination of groundwater levels and tidal data must be used to predict local impacts of sea level rise on the drainage system. However, it would appear to complicate the situation if the amount of data available for making sea level rise projections with groundwater is limited. The objectives of this task were to identify available data in a data limited community, compare the available data, assess the impact of sea level rise on the community, and its impact on the stormwater system, identify vulnerable areas in the City, provide an estimate of long-term costs for improvements, and provide a toolbox of strategies to employ at the appropriate time. The project was conducted using Arc-GIS tools to import tidal, groundwater, topographic LiDAR and infrastructure improvements into GIS software and performing analysis based on current data. The cost of improvements was based on applying actual 2015 construction costs in the subject comments across a larger vulnerable area. It was found that the data sources provided similar results, despite different timelines and dates so did not interfere with the subsequent analysis. The data revealed that over $400 million in current dollars might be needed to address stormwater issues arising from sea level rise before 2100.

A Framework for a Subwatershed-Scale Screening Tool to Support Development of Resiliency Solutions and Flood Protection Priority Areas in a Low-Lying Coastal Community

“…The screening tool conceptually depicted in Figure 1 builds on prior work by Bloetscher et al (2021), Bloetscher and Wood (2016), Romah (2015), E Sciences (2014), Romah (2011), andZhang et al (2020). Romah (2011) and defined flood risk using LiDAR and groundwater measurements on a given day, with the requisite high tides on that day.…”

Establishing a framework of a watershed-wide screening tool to support the development of watershed-based flood protection plans for low-lying coastal communities

“…Establishing a framework of a watershed-wide screening tool to support the development of watershed-based flood protection plans for low-lying coastal communities Bloetscher and Wood (2016), Bloetscher and Romah (2015), Wood Jr. ( 2016), E Sciences (2014), Romah (2011), andZhang et al (2020) to identify 1) the potential options for improvements to reduce flooding, and 2) the prioritization of where these improvements should be undertaken, while addressing the potential for inequities caused by the political process.…”

“…The screening tool conceptually depicted in Figure 1 was built on prior works by Bloetscher and Wood (2016), Bloetscher and Romah (2015), Wood Jr. ( 2016), E Sciences (2014), Romah (2011), and Zhang et al (2020). Romah (2011) and Wood Jr. (2016) defined flood risk using LiDAR and groundwater measurements on a given day, with the requisite high tides on that day.…”

Assessing Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Costs in a Data Limited Environment

“…Coastal communities are not the only ones impacted by sea level rise. As noted in Bloetscher and Romah (2015), Bloetscher and Wood (2016) and Bloetscher et al (2014), inland communities are projected to have risks from elevated groundwater, and must address excess water to avoid disruptions to economic and social activities.…”

“…Sea level rise (SLR) is an ongoing climatic phenomenon that continues to put coastal populations at risk for increased flooding after storms and during king tide events (Bloetsscher, et al 2016). Nearly half the US population lives within 50 miles of the coast, including most major commercial, leisure and import/export enterprises (Bloetscher and Wood, 2016). Hence much of the economic activity of the nation is tied to coastal communities.…”