Adaptation and Resilience
Buildings and Infrastructure
Climate Change

Weather and Social Data to Inform Participatory Planning Initiatives

Briefing Series: Climate Adaptation Data Week

April 17, 2020

Climate Adaptation Data Week
April 13 Localizing Sea Level Rise Projections for Decision-Makers
April 14 Assessing National Park Asset Flood Risk: Retreat, Adapt, Fortify?
April 15 Cultural Heritage and Climate Change
April 16 Bridging the Gap Between Science and Decision-Making
April 17 Weather and Social Data to Inform Participatory Planning Initiatives

Climate Adaptation Data Week Overview

Mary Austerman, Great Lakes Coastal Community Development Specialist at New York Sea Grant, discussed a collaborative effort with the National Weather Service to integrate weather and social science data to inform vulnerability assessments for coastal cities and towns along Lake Ontario. Austerman then described how this work feeds into a participatory planning process for communities vulnerable to repeated flooding events.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Mary Austerman, Great Lakes Coastal Community Development Specialist, New York Sea Grant.

Download briefing transcript
  • The New York Sea Grant uses a community-driven needs assessment survey approach to bring weather and social science data to decision-makers in New York’s Great Lakes region. The data addresses land use planning, watershed protection, sustainable energy discussions, and climate change hazards facing coastal communities (among other topics).
  • One of 33 Sea Grant programs nationwide, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the New York State university system and Cornell University.
  • In 2014, NYSG began reaching out to Great Lakes coastal communities to assess how they felt about climate change and climate change terminology, and determine the resources, tools, and data they needed for adaptation planning in the region. In the Great Lakes region, climate change is not openly embraced, so NYSG discussed resilience planning with public officials in terms of weather trends.
  • When presented with chart and map data and a weather event assessment tool, community focus groups found the community self-assessment tool “Coastal Resilience Index” the most effective for their planning efforts. This index model was created by Gulf Coast communities to use when planning for hurricane vulnerability and response.
  • The focus groups identified the need to customize the Coastal Resilience Index tool to match specific weather hazards in the Great Lakes region by including coastal flooding, flash flooding from precipitation and ice jams, ice storms, lake effect weather hazards, and wind storms.
  • This guide helps communities evaluate how various weather events will affect sectors of the community by comparing the event to a benchmark and a credible worst-case scenario 50 percent worse than the benchmark case. The guide also includes narratives and pictures of consequences from past weather events.
  • In 2017, Lake Ontario experienced a record flooding event that lasted for 3 months. To document the damage, NYSG asked residents for pictures and descriptions of how their lives were impacted and published the 2017 Lake Ontario Record-High Water Level Impact Survey This survey record helped communities plan for future flooding events and was used by state agencies to validate flood damage modeling tools.
  • NYSG developed a case study for the 2017 flooding in Sodus Point, NY, which has one of the lowest elevations of any community along the Lake Ontario shore. The case used the Community Self-Assessment and the Inundation Mapping Tool to document the flood’s impact. With results from these tools, and using a Community Resilience Building process developed by NOAA and the Nature Conservancy, NYSG convened a community visioning workshop in Sodus Point.
    • Participants included residents, federal, state, and local government officials, and academics. The workshop evaluated how the flood impacted the community and developed flood damage mitigation strategies. The workshop produced a set of resiliency actions to prepare for and respond to future flood events.
  • The NYSG recommends the following strategies in developing community resilience programs: research, collaboration, integration, customization, adaptation, and the creation of tools that can be transferred elsewhere.

 

Q&A Session

 

Were there any kinds of data that you did not have that would have been helpful in your work or that might be helpful in the future?

In the beginning, lake water level risk inundation mapping was not possible but became available during the project. This is very important information for lakeshore communities. Climate projections are more certain now, which is very helpful.

 

How do you collaborate with the 33 other Sea Grant programs around the country?

There is a lot of collaboration among programs and regions. We meet every two years with other Sea Grant members in the Great Lakes region. There are also leadership meetings across the country.

 

How is your Lake Ontario inundation model different from NOAA coasts modeling?

The NOAA model is a fantastic tool but does not allow evaluation of flood risk at the parcel level, which is the scale needed by our communities. There are different tools for different applications.

 

What is the reference for portraying lake level at 249 plus feet? Does subsidence play a role on Lake Ontario?

The 249-feet level was of interest because when we were developing the inundation mapping tool, the water level hit 249 for the first time. Communities wanted to know what could happen at a level higher than they had experienced. Concerning subsidence, the Great Lakes region is a “bathtub.” Floodwaters tend to remain for a long time, as showcased in 2017.

 

What is the collaboration like between NY Sea Grant and your partners in Canada? Do you have any success stories of effective collaboration with Canadian partners?

Yes, there is collaboration on fisheries. Recently, through these flooding events, Cornell and our group collaborated with Canada to share the flooding survey assessment for their use.

 

Has there been talk about retreat in community discussions?

NY state is funding a $300 million planning initiative for Great Lakes coastal infrastructure development, and the state is also launching a coastal community planning initiative. Retreat is a very sensitive topic, but people are beginning to talk about it.

 

How is a participatory public process different from other ways you might engage the community?

Our community engagements are “bottom-up” driven. We have top-down focus areas and objectives. Our niche is being the connection that involves the public and all stakeholders to the extent that is needed for the project.

 

How was Cornell selected to be involved in your work?

Cornell is New York’s Land Grant university and Sea Grant Programs are affiliated with the Land Grants. We are able to connect with university programs at Cornell, such as “Engage Cornell,” which allows faculty to connect students with local issues. One of these faculty members is a technical modeling specialist who fits well with my expertise in community engagement.

 

How has the “storytelling” been received in your community engagement?

We put together a story map that is very popular and allows people to see and hear recordings of what happened to others. People connect on a personal level, and this marries well with the data.

 

USEFUL RESOURCES