Climate change, sea level rise and severe flooding are the most pressing domestic issues of our time. Our way of life and every other issue we face will be moot if we don't have communities that are safe from natural disasters and a habitable planet. Here, you can arm yourself with facts about the very real threats posed by climate change and the related rise of the seas, as well as how coastal communities can fight back through resiliency efforts. You'll also find practical info about the value of our coasts, and how you can enact change by putting pressure on Congress. Whatever your views, don't let your elected representatives kick the can down the road any longer!
- Sea Level Rise & Climate Change
- Coastal Resilience
- Economics of the Coasts
- Taking Action: Your Guide to Congress
- Coastal and Other Congressional Caucuses
Sea Level Rise
Climate Change
Fighting Back
- Understanding the Change in Floodplain Management Rules (CRS) (9/6/17)
- Coastal Risk Reduction: Background
- Reducing coastal risk (NAS) (2014)
- History of Coastal Protection in the World
- Coastal Risk Reduction: Using the Full Array of Measures
- What is the Federal Interest in Coastal Protection?
- Coastal Risk Reduction- Value to the Nation
- Shore Protection Projects: Value to the Nation
- How Beach Nourishment Works Primer
- Beach Nourishment & Protection - Natl Academies of Science (1995)
- Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative (NAS) (2012)
- Defining 'Coastal Population'
- River Basins and Coastal Systems Planning in the Corps (NAS) (2004)
- Coastal Cliff Retreat in California (March 2018)
- Smart Growth For Coastal Communities
- Smartersafer.org (Americans for Smart Natural Catastrophe Policy)
- Rockefeller Foundation: 100 Resilient Cities
- Coastal Risk Reduction Summary
- The Value of Coastal Wetlands for Flood Reduction (August 2017)
- Wetlands Reduce Flood Damages
- Make Way for Marshes
- Living Shorelines: From Barriers to Opportunities
- Adaptive Management for Resources Project Planning (NAS)
- Valuing Environmental Benefits
- Ecosystem- Service Assessment: Research Needs for Coastal Green Infrastructure (August 2015)
- Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features for Coastal Resilience (ERDC) (2015)
- WRDA 2016 Guidance on Nature-Based Features (September 2017)
- Naturally Resilient Communities
- Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Communities After Disasters (NAS)
- Community Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction
- Mitigating Shore Erosion on Sheltered Coasts
- New Jersey Backbay Coastal Resilience Study
- Kresge Foundation: Climate Adaptation in U.S. Communities (2016)
- Dredged Material as a Resource - Int'l Assoc of Dredging Contractors
- Dredged Material Management Plans: An Explanation
- Beneficial Use of Sediment for Ecosystem Restoration (1999)
- Beneficial Use & The Role of the Federal Dredging Standard (EPA & Corps)
- Hurricane Fran: How Communities with Federal Shore Protection Projects Fared Compared to Others (2000)
- Improving Watershed Planning and Management Through Integration: A Critical Review of Federal Opportunities (2002)
- Endangered Species Act Primer- Congressional Research Service (2016)
- Evaluation of Erosion Hazards- Heinz Center (2000)
- Impacts on Sediment Flow of Damming of Rivers (2005)
- Impediments to the Regional Management of Coastal Water Resources (abridged)
- Improved Use and Understanding of NNBF in the Mid-Atlantic- MARCO (March 2017)
- Sandshed Management (Journal of Coastal Research: 2007)
- Sediment Evaluation in the Pacific Northwest (2016)
- Sediment Evaluation Team in the Pacific Northwest (2016)
- Thin-Layer Deposition Nonstructural Management Practices that Build Resiliency (April 2017)
Alternative Financing for Infrastructure
- ASCE Releases Report on Alternative Financing for Waterways Infrastructure (March 2017)
- How About Bundling Projects to Attract Private Investment?
- Federal Public-Private Partnerships
- Great Lakes Industry Forum- Corps (Feb. 2015)
- Potential and Implementation of Alternative Funding and Finance of the USACE Works Mission
Watershed Planning and Budgeting
- Watershed Budget Brief (2013)
- Watershed Budgeting EC 11-2-206 (March 2014)
- Watershed Budgeting Explained
- Watershed Planning Bulletin (Sept. 2016)
- Watershed Analysis
- USDA's Watershed Rehabilitation Programs
- Making More Informed Watershed Decisions
- Watershed Perspective for Corps Programs
- Improving Watershed Planning and Management Through Integration: A Critical Review of Federal Opportunities (2002)
Nationwide Studies: Why the coasts matter, in dollars and cents
- Beach Nourishment Economic Benefits – Houston & Dean (2013)
- Beach Nourishment: Does It Protect Property During Hurricanes?
- Beaches and Tourism
- Beach Economics: A Bibliography (IWR) (2004)
- Database: National Ocean Economics Program (NOEP)
- The Economic Value of the Coast and Estuaries (2008)
- Economic & Market Values of Coasts & Estuaries (2008)
- The Importance of Establishing Fees for Beach Protection (2009)
- The Value of Beaches to State Economies
- The Importance of the U.S. Coast: Benefits and Risks (article) (2014)
- The Importance of the U.S. Coast: Benefits and Risks (fact sheet)
- The Value of Disappearing Beaches (2009)
- The Value of the Federal Role in Coastal Risk Management Projects
- Tourism Generated Earnings in Coastal Zone (2003)
- Tourism as a Beach Management Tool
- The Changing Ocean & Coastal Economy (2003)
Regional or State Studies
- California: Economic Value of San Clemente's Beaches
- The Fiscal Impact of California's Beaches - Presentation
- Putting a Price on California's Beaches
- Potential Loss of Revenue from Not Maintaining California's Beaches
- The Economic Value of California's Beaches (1997)
- The Fiscal Impact of California's Beaches (1999)
- Delaware: The Coast of Beach Retreat (1998)
- Delaware: Recreational Benefits of Beaches (1994)
- Delaware: The Value of the Coast
- Florida report on investment in its beaches (2015)
- Florida's Beaches: Economic Fact Sheet - FSBPA (2014)
- Florida: The Economics of Beaches (2004)
- Hawaii - Waikiki Beach Potential for Erosion (2008)
- Waikiki National Economic Benefits (2002)
- Waikiki Regional Economic Benefits (2002)
- New Jersey Beach Visitation Survey (2009)
- New Jersey Economic Impact of Tourism (2013)
- North Carolina Beach Economic Valuation study
- Sand vs. Fire - Which Gets More Federal Money?
- South Carolina: Visitor Needs Assessment
- South Carolina Coastal Erosion Study - USGS (2009)
Your Guide to Congress
- How Congress Works
- How To Talk So Congress Listens
- House Schedule for 2017
- Senate Schedule for 2017
- Find Your Senators and See What Committees They Serve On (2017)
- Pick a Senate Committee and Find Out Who Its Members Are (2017)
- Find Your Senators by State (plus send them a message)
- House Committee Assignments for 2017-18 (by Representative)
- Pick a House Committee and Find Out Who Its Members Are (2017)
- Find Your Representative by ZIP Code (plus send them a message)
- Application for Non-Federal Interests for Feasibility Study
- Legislator Lookup
Congressional Hearings
- Senate committee holds its second hearing on Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (May 4, 2017)
- Watch the House Appropriations Committee Hearing on the Corps Budget (May 3, 2017)
- House Subcommittee Holds April 27th Hearing to Explore How FEMA Can Lower Disaster Response Costs plus view Webcast here anytime
- House Committee Hearing on Water Infrastructure (March 9, 2017) Video and statements here
Status of Current Coastal Legislation
- Coastal Bills in Congress (Updated July 31, 2018)