As part of this Coastlines and People (CoPE) Grant, researchers at the University of Virginia developed scientific models to show information about environmental issues on the Eastern Shore. The Livability Tool we developed from those models is different than other tools because it includes US Census data to cross-reference information about people who live here, allowing people to make more informed choices about how and where to prioritize. That way, the residents who are most at risk don’t get left out.
Other mapping tools provide different information. In some cases, we used the same environmental data sets to create the Livability Tool.
The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Tool
The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Tool uniquely focuses on mapping shoreline change over time areas with vulnerable habitat. It lacks socio-economic or demographic information for residents.
Features
- Flood and sea level rise. This tool uses the 2017 National Climate Assessment to predict flood and sea level rise
- Living shorelines. The tool uses living shoreline engineering guidelines to highlight areas where marsh vegetation is vulnerable and may need to be preserved.
- Future habitat. The tool shows how the tidal marshes and other coastal habitats may change in future sea-level rise scenarios.
- Coastline change. The tool shows historic changes in Virginia barrier island shorelines and shows how climate change plus management actions may affect rates of shoreline change in the future.
DCR Coastal Resilience Web Explorer
This mapper provides high-quality flood resilience data and analysis of the threat of increasing flood exposure and impacts in coastal Virginia. It includes a social vulnerability factor, but lacks search features for specific hurricanes or population data.
Features
- Hazards and Impacts. This tool combines coastal, rainfall, and riverine risks to evaluate flood vulnerability.
- Projects and Initiatives. This dashboard highlights planned, ongoing, and completed efforts across coastal Virginia to build more flood-resilient communities.
- Funding Opportunities Database. This living database provides a comprehensive source for identifying funding programs and mechanisms to finance flood resilience projects and initiatives in coastal Virginia.
Salt Patch Mapper
The University of Delaware created this GIS app to track saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva peninsula. Users can explore fine-grain detail of different land use types, including where frequent saltwater flooding in tidal creeks creates permanent salt patches in farmland.
Features
- Search by address. This tool allows users to search specific locations on the peninsula.
- Reporting. If you know of a salt patch that isn’t part of this data set, you can report the area.
The RAFT (Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool)
The RAFT is a multi-university, interdisciplinary academic partnership that began in 2015. The RAFT assessment and response decision tool helps coastal communities evaluate risks to coastal flooding, prioritizing action to increase resilience, and identifying sources of technical assistance and funding.
PHASES
- Scorecard assessment. Neutral academics evaluate a community’s risk of coastal hazards plus political, economic, and social factors.
- Presentation. Researchers share the resiliency scores with government staff and elected officials.
- Community workshop. Researchers host a workshop for community thought leaders to use the assessment to develop a Resilience Action Checklist.
- Implementation. Researchers provide technical support and funding search help for communities making the Resilience Action Checklist into a plan.
Cape Charles RAFT plan details are here.