SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION

Sea level rise causes water to reach farther inland and groundwater levels to rise. This increases impacts such as flooding from storm surge and high tides, coastal erosion, and wetland loss. Adapting to sea level rise is usually categorized in three different ways: protect, accommodate, or retreat. Protect means building structures that help protect against rising seas like berms, levees, or breakwaters. Accommodate means adapting in place through modifying structures or changing land use. Retreat means removing entirely or moving existing structures away from areas with rising seas. Many of these approaches can be used together and can result in additional community benefits such as improved access to water and more natural spaces for people and wildlife to enjoy.