Coastal Resilience

Societal Challenge U.S. coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems, as well as the natural and built infrastructure on which they depend, are increasingly impacted by accelerating changes at the coast. Creating resilience to these changes requires risk-informed decision making and adaptation via enhanced emergency response, coastal data collection, and predictive capabilities. A resilient coastal zone is necessary to reduce the risk of adverse impacts on our coastal and ocean infrastructure, ecosystems, marine transportation, tourism, recreation, and other key economic sectors at the coast. Overview Sea level rise, dramatic shifts in Great Lakes water levels, the warming ocean, loss of sea ice, changing ecology, reduced water quality, and coastal erosion and shoreline change are severely impacting coastal states and territories, communities, economies, and ecosystems. For instance, increasingly extreme storms and changing water levels have heightened risks to lives and property and challenged navigation and sustainable supply chains in dynamic coastal environments. Increasing impacts from coastal change represent a threat to lives and livelihoods, as well as national and economic security, and raise important social equity concerns. There is an urgent need to develop technologies to preserve and protect coastal zones, as well as expand and enhance observations, mapping, modeling, future conditions projections, and services that inform the public about environmental and physical coastal risks. Examples of appropriate research topic areas for applications from small businesses include, but are not limited to products and services that accomplish the following objectives: Facilitate better understanding and prediction of hazard risk, vulnerability, and resilience for decision makers in coastal communities with regards to sea level rise, changes in Great Lakes hydrology and water levels, and other climate impacts Support improved community preparedness in response to natural and human-induced coastal hazards Integrate real-time navigation at national ports Manage inundation and protect coastal infrastructure on varying timescale Support forecasts of temperature, salinity and other water quality risks in bays, estuaries, and sounds Support effective preparation and response to ocean-related threats to health, including harmful algal blooms, shellfish poisoning, and marine pollution Support coastal habitat conservation and restoration to increase resilience in coastal communities and ecosystems Address hazardous spill response and nearshore search and rescue operations