The Paths to Resilient Shorelines: An Engineering Analysis of Sea Level Rise Planning from the Gulf Coast to Mid-Atlantic

Sea level rise is a common problem for many coastal communities. It is crucial that they plan for the future and determine how to best protect themselves. Sea level planning is currently left to states and local communities to outline how they can mitigate or adapt to the changing sea level. Without a coordinated effort, many communities must independently write their sea level plans based on publicly available information. These communities would benefit from a national coordinated effort, led by the Federal Government, to offer expert information for better planning. An assessment of current state and local plans provides a baseline to understand sea level mitigation needs. This study categorized the different sea level plans of states, counties, and communities along the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic to determine how Federal Agencies can best assist local communities in sea level rise planning.