Building Blocks for Climate Change: Tools for Assessment & Planning

Teresa Crean, AICP URI Coastal Resources Center / RI Sea Grant

Sea Level Rise Exposure Assessment Update

North Kingstown Community Center September 19, 2013

North Kingstown is Already Taking Action! • FEMA Community Rating

System NK’s Rating = 9 – Currently 5% reduction on flood

insurance premiums town-wide – NK taking steps to get down to an

“8” rating = 10% reduction!

• Hazard Mitigation Plan updated

in 2013, estimated adoption by end of year

• NK will incorporate natural hazards planning into 2014 rewrite of NK’s Comprehensive Community Plan

•Understand your risk •Be Prepared •Get Involved

– NK Comp Plan Rewrite, 2014 – RI Shoreline Change (Beach)

Special Area Management Plan www.beachsamp.org

•Spread the word!

Actions YOU can take!

HEIGHT NOW

Adapted from: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/

sltrends_station.shtml?stnid=8452660%20Newport,%20RI Boothroyd 2013

Rate of Rise 1930-1996 9.4 +/- 1 inch/100 yr

Rate of Rise 1930-2013 10.8 +/- .7 inch/100 yr

2050

137 cm

100 cm

185 cm

Height above NOW

VR Max

VR A1F1

VR B1

41

6.1 ft

4.5 ft

1.4 ft

Planning Horizons – what are we planning for? • Daily sea level rise, 2 high tides / day • Storm events – nor’easters, tropical storms,

hurricanes

TIMEFRAMES

v

Design life of infrastructure & maintenance schedules Updated science & modeling Lessons learned from other places

2030 - NK Comprehensive Plan (20 years) Possible 1’ SLR + storm event scenarios

2050 2075 2100

May 24, 2013

May 24, 2013

Marsh Impacts

Impediments to Coastal Marsh Migration

All Parcels MHHW +5’ SLR

North Kingstown Study Areas 1

2

3

4 5 6

7 8 9

10

11 12

North Kingstown Study Areas 1

2

3

4 5 6

7 8 9

10

11 12

5%

of total assessed property

values in NK

$80M of property in Wickford

-150 parcels- (Study Areas 5 & 6)

potentially impacted by 2100

Study Area 6: Wickford Commercial SLR Scenarios & SLAMM

salt marsh

salt marsh

salt marsh S L

A M

M

Study Area 6: Wickford Commercial Impacted parcels & roadways

WHAT ARE THE MAPS TELLING US?

Study Area 5, Wickford Historic: • Many properties exposed with

high assessed value

• Ingress/egress barrier @ Main St/Brown St – no alternate route out of the neighborhood

• Evacuation routes out of this area are exposed to 3-foot SLR scenario

• Many septic systems were recently upgraded – how do we include SLR assessment in future sewer planning?

• Historic properties – what are the options to retain historic listing?

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

TO YOU?

Next Steps All of these different concerns/

projects will be used to:

• Identify funds – EPA SGIA grant

• Comp Plan & Haz Mit Plan

• State TIP & Local Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

• Beach SAMP – local & state policies & programs

• Future research – GROUNDWATER!

• Contributions to NK’s Community Rating System - reducing your flood insurance for all properties in NK

•Understand your risk •Be Prepared •Get Involved

– NK Comp Plan Rewrite, 2014 – RI Shoreline Change (Beach)

Special Area Management Plan www.beachsamp.org

•Spread the word!

Actions YOU can take!

Building Blocks for Climate Change: Tools for Assessment & Planning

Teresa Crean, AICP URI Coastal Resources Center / RI Sea Grant

Sea Level Rise Exposure Assessment Update

North Kingstown Community Center September 19, 2013