# Presentation: 047935

## The Role of CZM Programs in Adaptation to Climate Change

**Braxton Davis, SC / Jena Carter, CSO**
***Tom Calnan, TX******	******    Steven Goldbeck, CA        Julia Knisel, MA******	******     Rebecca Roth, CA***
***David Carter, DE ******	******    Jennifer Hennessey, WA   Gary Lytton, FL ******	******     Jeff Warren, NC***
***Sarah Cooksey, DE ******	******    Charles Hernick, MA         Anne McMahon, CA  John Watkins, OH***
***Stephen Dickson, ME   Terry Howie, LA******	******         Tony Pratt, DE******	******     Jeff Weber, OR***
***Eddie Fisher, TX******	******     Zoë Johnson, MD ******	******         Ben Rhame, TX***
***	******	******	***

**10****th**** Annual Caribbean and Southern Regional CZM Meeting**
**November 8, 2007**

## New CSO Structure

_**Old CSO**_**:**
**Standing committees (Hazards, Water Quality)**
**Exec. Committee – officers, chairs of standing committees**
_**New CSO**_**:**
**Work Groups**
**Outcome-driven**
**Short-term**
**Increased participation from agency staff**
**Exec. Committee – officers, regional representatives**
**2008 – Braxton Davis (South Atlantic), Eddie Fisher (Gulf), and Janice Hodges (Islands)**

## Charge of the CC Work Group

**Assess the current activities & needs of coastal states and territories**
*Report:“Role of CZM Programs in Adaptation to Climate Change”*
**Track and Respond to Federal Legislation**
*Worked w/ CSO staff in reviewing/editing House & Senate bills*
**Develop Draft CSO Policy Statement on CC**
*In development for membership consideration at “March” 08 meeting*
***Reviewed/submitted comments on US CCSP report on coastal adaptation options***
***Participated in several interagency workshops***

## 1) Assess current activities and needs

***“******Role of CZM Programs in Adaptation to CC”***
- Inform CZMA reauthorization
- Provide for information exchange among states
- Identify federal research and policy needs
**Survey distributed to state/territory CZM programs**
- Parallel efforts underway by NERRS, Sea Grant, others
- Recent (past 10 yrs) climate change-related activities
- 18 state responses; additional info from NOAA and RI SG; continuous input from CSO work group

## Coastal Zone Management Act

- 302(l): “Because **global warming may result in a substantial sea level rise** with serious adverse effects in the coastal zone, coastal states **must anticipate and plan for such an occurrence**.”
- 303(b): “...the management of coastal development to minimize the loss of life and property...in areas likely to be affected by or vulnerable to **sea level rise, land subsidence, and salt water intrusion**”
- 303(k): “the study and development...of plans for addressing the adverse effects upon the coastal zone of land subsidence and of sea level rise”
- 303(3): “to encourage the preparation of **special area management plans... **including those areas likely to be affected by land subsidence, **sea level rise**”
- 309(a)(2): “Preventing or significantly reducing threats to life and destruction of property by...anticipating and managing the effects of potential **sea level rise and Great Lakes level rise**.”

## General Findings

- CZM Program ‘Climate Change’ initiatives
- All focus on related hazards – erosion, flooding, hurricanes
- Several involved in Governors’ CC initiatives...
- Most initially focused on accelerated rate of SLR
- Coastal impacts may also include...
- Changes in freshwater quality/quantity
- Changes in lake levels (Great Lakes)
- Ocean acidification / physical changes (thermal stratification)
- Invasive species/species migrations/habitat loss

## Adaptation Activities

**State “Sea Level Rise Strategy” reports/workshops**        (MD, CA, DE, RI, NC, others...)
**Sea level rise inundation mapping and vulnerability assessments** (ME, BCDC, NJ, MD, others...)
**General shoreline mgmt. initiatives** (SC, DE, WA)
**Extension/Outreach activities** (CA, RI, others...)

## Adaptation Policies

**Specific sea level rise policies/strategies:**
- Public infrastructure siting policies
- Wetland conservation and restoration policies
- Add “freeboard” above BFE
- Address SLR in regional/local plans
- Land acquisition/conservation priorities
- GIS-based decision-support tools

## Research Needs

- High resolution topography/bathymetry (LIDAR)
- Guidance/support on inundation and shoreline change modeling and monitoring
- Impacts of accelerated SLR on coastal habitats (especially wetlands)
- Economic studies, potential impacts to infrastructure
- Role of sea level rise in beach nourishment frequency and volumetric requirements
- Policy analyses related to shoreline “retreat” & armoring
- Projections of other climate change impacts
- Information synthesis (regional)

## Governance Needs

**A clear federal strategy for intergovernmental coordination   on coastal adaptation**
- Outline roles/activities of federal agencies/programs
- Improve coordination between CZM, FEMA, & ASFPM
- National Flood Insurance Program
- Coordinate through Regional Partnerships
- Recognize and strengthen the CZMA

## Role of CZM in Adaptation to CC

**Report presentations**
- Federal Coastal Coordination Committee
- CEQ’s Subcommittee on Integrated Mgmt. of Ocean Resources
- U.S. Climate Change Science Program
- CZ07 Special Session
- Florida Coastal Law School Conference
- NE and SE Regional Meetings
- Next week - Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing

## 2) Respond to Federal Legislation

***House bill – (Rahall, Chair House Nat. Res. - HR 2337)***
- New section added to CZMA
- Voluntary grants to CZM programs for state coastal adaptation plans   and implementation activities
- Phased funding
***Senate bill (Draft)***
- Federal interagency adaptation strategy – federal resources and activities
- NOAA regional vulnerability assessments and recommendations
- Regional coastal adaptation plans – NOAA partnership with states
- Ocean adaptation strategy development – NOAA/states
- Remote sensing / spatial data development activities

## Next Steps...

**Continuation of the work group to address:**
- Further development of policy statement (February)
- Ongoing legislative proposals, CZMA development