- Year Funded: 2009
- Principal Investigators: Braxton Davis, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- Co-Principal Investigators: Scott Templeton, Clemson University, Department of Applied Economics & Statistics; Paul Gayes, Coastal Carolina University, Center For Marine and Wetlands Studies; Susan Cutter, University of South Carolina, Hazards & Vulnerability Research Institute; James Morris, University of South Carolina; Belle W. Baruch, Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences; Jessica Whitehead, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium/North Carolina Sea Grant
- Program: COCA Funded Project
- Categories: Coasts, SARP
FY 2009 SARP Funds Requested: $288,935 from August 1, 2009 through July 31, 2010.
Coastal areas of the United States are predicted to be the most vulnerable to future impacts of
climate change. State and local resource managers have immediate responsibilities for planning
and implementing strategies to prepare for and adapt to those changes, since many of the
development and land use decisions that managers make today will have implications for
decades to come. At the same time, there are considerable uncertainties regarding the potential
magnitude and timing of climate change impacts, and significant data needs for comprehensive
adaptation planning. Because it may take several years to collect the necessary data and
thoroughly model and assess various risks and scenarios associated with climate change, coastal
managers need guidance on immediate priorities and opportunities to begin adapting to climate
impacts and to lay the groundwork for more exhaustive adaptation planning in the coming years. Managers need guidance on: a) how to plan (i.e., which impacts and sectors should be considered in future adaptation planning); b) how economic, environmental, and social vulnerabilities interact with respect to chronic, gradual impacts of climate change; and c) unique impacts expected in the southeastern region due to similarities in geomorphology, culture, and economic drivers.
The proposed research uses case studies involving four oceanfront coastal counties of South
Carolina to identify social and economic vulnerabilities to climate change, as well as the
“resilience” of natural resources (estuaries and barrier island systems). Each investigator will use a combination of literature reviews, secondary data analysis, and supplemental research efforts to identify high priority vulnerabilities and cross-cutting issues. An ongoing Advisory Panel made up of federal, state, and local officials and stakeholders from the southeastern region will provide regular feedback on each study and on the final report and recommendations generated through the study. The findings will provide a foundation for coastal adaptation planning in the southeast, and will support ongoing efforts of the South Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program to review research and policy needs for improved management of coastal hazards.