Case Studies | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit

Communities, businesses, and individuals are taking action to document their vulnerabilities and build resilience to climate-related impacts. Click dots on the map to preview case studies, or browse stories below the map. Use the drop-down menus above to find stories of interest. To expand your results, click the Clear Filters link.

The Water Institute of the Gulf — Port Fourchon: Supporting Resiliency on an Evolving Coast

To ensure community support for nature-based reuse of dredged material in Port Fourchon, the Water Institute of the Gulf developed a robust outreach and engagement plan and worked with public and private partners to gather stakeholder input and potential project designs and sites.

Bridge and water in foreground, city skyline in background

Throw Away Your Crystal Ball: A Stress Testing Approach to Infrastructure Planning Under Climate Change Uncertainty

Civil Engineers in the City of Portland, Oregon relate how they used data and customized design storms to stress-test the city's stormwater sewer system.

A rock groyne at Atlantic Beach, New York.

Training Sessions Build Capacity for Recovery and Planning

Damage from Hurricane Sandy emphasized the need for East Coast coastal communities to prepare for future hazards and the impacts of climate change. Training sessions helped decision makers in these communities learn about and use data and tools to inform their planning efforts.

Cloudy sky over ocean and flat beach environment

Tribal Community Partners with Researchers to Monitor Food and Climate

Residents of a rural Alaska village are studying their environment to understand and protect their food. Their research partnership hires and trains students and local residents to contribute to high-quality research...and builds the capacity of the local workforce.

Image of drummers in a Salmon procession

Tulalip Tribes: Saving Their Sacred Salmon

People of the Salmon collaborate with farmers to ensure survival of their sacred fish.

The lighthouse at Agate Bay, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Two Harbors: Investments in Green Infrastructure Pay Off

Following a role play simulation on community planning for climate adaptation in Georgetown County, South Carolina, participants reported increased empathy for differing viewpoints and a high level of support for stakeholder engagement in planning processes.

Using a Sea Level Rise Model to Identify and Prioritize Wetlands for Conservation Acquisition

Staff at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources used the Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) to identify high-priority conservation areas that allow for wetland migration and future wildlife habitat.

Using Climate Data, Satellite Imagery, and Local Knowledge to Prevent Famine

The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) uses remotely sensed data from U.S. federal agencies to give decision makers in food-insecure nations a bird’s-eye view of current and upcoming food security challenges.

A flood damaged aerial view of downtown Gays Mills, Wis., is shown from an UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the Army.

Using Demonstration Storms to Prepare for Extreme Rainfall

An extreme precipitation event in 2008 cost one town more than a million dollars in infrastructure repairs. Now, other municipalities can simulate how their homes, businesses, and facilities might fare if they experienced a similar event.

Using Novel Approaches To Create Resilient Dune Systems

After a series of storms ravaged Puerto Rican beaches, a team from the University of Puerto Rico used innovative restoration techniques—including biomimicry—to create resilient dune systems that provide protection from coastal storms.

UVM Students Offer Real-World Climate Recommendations to Vermont Town

The town of Underhill, Vermont, is considering climate-change recommendations developed and presented by some intrepid University of Vermont (UVM) students.

Aerial view of the City of Virginia Beach oceanfront

Virginia Beach Becomes Sea Level Wise

When Blacksburg's new Sustainability Manager realized that climate change is more than just sea level rise, she lead her inland city toward climate resilience by developing a climate vulnerability assessment.

Marsh periwinkle on marsh grass, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.

Visualizing Completion of Coastal Projects Reassures Stakeholders

Shoreline property owners weren't sure how changes they needed to make to adapt to rising sea level would look. Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff found a way to create visualizations illustrating the likely visual impact of living shorelines.

Green Bay's CityDeck with the Peacemaker tall ship docked at the Cherry Street boat landing.

Visualizing Flooding in Green Bay

Digital tools give users a way to visualize lakes at various water levels. When property owners see the potential for flooding and other coastal hazards, they can be inspired to plan ahead for resilience.

Santa Ana winds carried a fire across Camp Pendleton's Las Pulgas area on September 28, 2005. The brush fire consumed 1,250 acres of the base's open land.

Watching for Wind: An Effort to Get the Upper Hand on Wildfire

After Santa Ana winds contributed to devastating wildfires in 2007, San Diego Gas & Electric worked with partners to monitor threats posed by the wind.

E.L. Huie Jr. Constructed Treatment Wetland in Clayton County, Georgia.

Water Recycling in Clayton County, Georgia

Just south of Atlanta’s busy Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Clayton County seems like an obvious place for metropolitan growth. But more homes and businesses mean a higher demand on the county’s limited water supplies.

Water Utility Plans for Climate Uncertainty

Managers and staff at Denver Water in Colorado are taking climate change seriously. To be sure they can continue serving their customers into the future, they're learning from climate scientists, hydrologists, and other water utilities.

Panini Bay Restaurant in Tuckerton, New Jersey

Waterfront Restaurant Rebuilds to Remain Open Through Future Storms

Property owners in New Jersey can check their vulnerability to sea level rise and storm surge using an interactive mapping tool—the NJ Flood Mapper. Here's how one restaurant owner used results from the tool in his long-term planning.

Watershed Protection Organizations Serve as Catalysts for Adaptation Planning

Two watershed protection organization enlisted local expertise to identify practical and achievable actions to reduce their communities' vulnerability to flooding.

Weather Ready Mattapoisett: A Community Prepares for Extreme Weather

Using lessons from the past, this Massachusetts town prepares its residents for a future that includes more intense weather.

View of city buildings with a wide river running through the center.

What if it Happened Here? Boston Takes a Lesson From Houston’s Hurricane Harvey

Faced with the possibility of a storm similar to Hurricane Harvey hitting Boston, the City Mayor had city planners evaluate the resilience of the city's stormwater system to a 500-year storm.

When Weather Becomes a Problem: Motivating Resilience Action in Texas

In San Angelo, a focus on addressing current weather-related concerns provided an avenue for taking action and created a foundation on which to build future climate resilience efforts.

Where Do We Need Shade? Mapping Urban Heat Islands in Richmond, Virginia

Citizen-scientists took to the streets on specially equipped bikes and cars to find out where it’s hottest—and where residents might be most vulnerable to extreme urban heat.

Wicked Joe Coffee Goes Solar

A coffee roasting business in Maine wanted to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability—and secure a low-cost energy source. But could they really save money by installing a solar wall?

Wind-Resistant Construction Key to Rebuilding for Resilience

After most of the city was flattened by a tornado, Joplin, Missouri’s Mercy Hospital built a new facility, incorporating features to reinforce its resistance to wind.

Photo of Long Island City, Queens, New York City

Working Together to Keep the Lights on in New York City

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Con Edison examined the future vulnerability of electrical infrastructure. Based on the results, they took action to increase their resilience.

Meandering river in Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge

Yukon Delta Villages Document Baseline Environmental Data

Students and community residents of four remote Alaskan villages measure environmental data to identify their climate vulnerabilities.

Skyline of the city of Norfolk, VA along the waterfront. There are a multitude of tall buildings and hotels and a shorter, wide building with the name "WATERSIDE" prominently displayed.

Zoning Ordinance Overhauled To Increase Community Resilience To Flooding

The city of Norfolk, Virginia, is like many other coastal communities facing sea level rise. The city chose to take a bold step to completely overhaul their zoning ordinance to reduce impacts and increase their resilience. Learn more about Norfolk’s innovative resilience zoning ordinance.

Pages