Coastal Parks and Climate Change

Approximately a quarter of all National Park Service (NPS) sites are situated on or near the coast. These parks and the concessioners who operate within them are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts: sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, ocean warming and acidification, increased storm intensity, and changing temperatures. To protect the irreplaceable natural and cultural resources and visitor experience, NPS must prepare for and adapt to coastal climate change impacts and connect visitors to the resources and the potential effects of climate change.

Many park units are taking innovative action to prepare for - and respond to - climate change. The NPS is working with scientists and other partners to support research, inventory, and monitoring activities to improve our understanding of climate and weather phenomena affecting coastal parks. These solutions span a broad range of resource management, including baseline data collection, historic preservation, archeological surveys, habitat restoration, infrastructure design, and long-term planning.

Coastal Adaptation Strategies Handbook and Case Studies

The Coastal Adaptation Strategies Handbook provides guidance on exploring and implementing climate change adaptation strategies in coastal areas. Concessioners can use this handbook to learn more about the NPS’s current understanding of coastal climate change impacts and what adaptation strategies are being used and researched. The handbook identifies tools and strategies, provides examples of approaches being used to address coastal vulnerabilities and climate change impacts, and provides decision-making guidelines.

The Coastal Adaptation Strategies Case Studies were released in September 2015, detailing 24 coastal adaptation efforts occurring in 15 states across the country. Each case study includes a point of contact to request additional information and insight. For concessioners, the case studies can be used to learn about which strategies have been beneficial for certain challenges and needs. Adaptation efforts described in the handbook include historic structure preservation, baseline data collection and documentation, habitat restoration, engineering solutions, redesign and relocation of infrastructure, and development of broad management plans that consider climate change.

Coastal Vulnerability Assessments

In partnership with the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University, NPS created a Coastal Hazards and Sea-Level Rise Asset Vulnerability Assessment Protocol. This established a standard methodology and set of best practices for conducting vulnerability assessments, which allows for a vulnerability comparison across local, regional, and national levels.

The assessments are currently focused on assets at risk to coastal hazards and sea-level rise within coastal parks. Coastal vulnerability was chosen as a starting point in the development of vulnerability assessments because of digital data availability and a good understanding of the trends in the major climate stressors (e.g., sea level). The vulnerability assessment protocol is being piloted for inland parks, as the methods can be applied to additional natural hazards and climate stressors, if georeferenced hazard data exists or can be mapped.These assessments look at three different metrics:

• Exposure – if a resource is in an area experiencing climate change and coastal hazards

• Sensitivity – how a resource fares when exposed to an impact

• Adaptive Capacity – the ability of the resource to adjust or cope with the impacts

Considering these metrics can help you understand where your park may fall in terms of vulnerability and can also help provide an understanding of what assets may be considered higher priority. You can find a list of current coastal facilities vulnerability assessments here.

Ocean Advisory and Support Team

In 2018, the NPS Ocean Advisory and Support Team (COAST) team completed a planning process focused on identifying the highest priority issues for ocean and coastal park units. Seven areas were noted as requiring immediate attention – fisheries management, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, restoration, benthic habitat mapping, shoreline and sediment management, and sea level rise – and the team developed a three-year plan to address each issue. The commentary and plan for each area can be found here.

Sea level rise, specifically, was one of the major issues posing a significant and immediate threat to our coastal parks and concessioners. Global sea level is rising at an accelerated rate, with 92 percent of U.S. coastal national parks projected to be affected by sea level rise soon, if not already. Infrastructure, cultural resources, and natural resources are vulnerable to rising water levels, associated increases in periodic high tide flooding, and exacerbated storm surge impacts. To respond to shoreline erosion and rising sea levels, parks need the best available data, projections, and tools to help them meet this challenge.

Outreach Products

To help inform park personnel, concessioners, and visitors of the challenges posed by sea level rise, the COAST team is developing briefs for each park. These briefs contain the most recent and park specific projections and highlight cultural and/or natural resources within the park that may be most impacted. Example briefs have been developed and distributed to all ocean and coastal parks to get input prior to completing briefs for all the parks. Once the briefs are completed, concessioners can use the outreach products to better educate visitors on how their specific park may be affected.

Sea Level Rise Resources and Tools

Sea level rise and storm surge documents, databases, and tools are available from a wide range of federal agencies, state agencies, and NGOs. The COAST team is providing links to many of these resources, as well as an ArcGIS Online map to help parks and concessioners find resources that are most relevant to them. Additionally, COAST is working with NOAA and other agencies to compile and share tools and trainings with parks.