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Man walking through flooded streets

Adaptation Strategies

Building coastal resilience is a complex process that includes a range of possible approaches and strategies to address coastal hazards and vulnerabilities. Each strategy has barriers and risks, including cost, effectiveness, permitting restrictions, and lifespan. Some options will be ‘quick wins’ which can be implemented in the near term, while others require significant planning. The goal is to provide communities with the knowledge of potential adaptation options to guide section of the best strategy for the project area. 

There are generally four high-level categories of adaptation strategies

Protect

Protect land and buildings from erosion and flooding with new infrastructure. This approach generally prevents inundation of the asset.

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Accommodate

Instead of preventing inundation, erosion, or flooding, coping strategies are developed that enable continued human habitation with periodic flooding.

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Avoid

Prevent new development in areas most vulnerable to flooding. This is primarily a proactive and policy-driven approach.

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Get out of harm's way

Move people and structures in areas most vulnerable to flooding out of harm’s way. This will allow coastal habitats to migrate naturally as the sea encroaches inland.

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Within each of these four categories, specific solutions can be implemented based on a range of criteria including geography, scale, cost, and future maintenance. They can also vary based on their approach.

​Nature-Based

Uses green or natural infrastructure to protect against climate hazards.​

Hardscape

Uses materials such as stone, concrete, or asphalt to create structures or barriers to protect against climate hazards.​

Policy/Program

Sets standards for adaptation measures.​

Coastal Adaptation Strategies

SMPDC with support from consultant SWCA, developed an extensive matrix of adaptation and resilience strategies including type, limitations, and cost. 

Conceptual Renderings

The Project team, in consultation with SWCA, developed conceptual visuals showing how adaptation strategies could be implemented in the Casco Bay region. 

Strategies in Action

Explore how communities around the region are implementing coastal adaptation strategies.

​This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from Gulf of Maine Research Institute, The Builders Initiative, and Jane’s Trust Foundation.

The views and conclusions contained on this website are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

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