City of Gloucester

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning

Update

Outline• Successful Development of Vulnerability Assessment

• The Right Team – Coastal Resilience Working Group• Built on Past Efforts

• Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2010) – Critical Asset Inventory• Citywide LIDAR and GIS (2011-2012) – Robust Dataset

• Useful Tools (Critical Elevations, Risk Assessment, Viewer)• Prioritization (Infrastructure Life Cycle vs. Risk)*• Regulatory Review (Risk vs. Economic Development)**

• Adaptation Project Implementation (Green Infrastructure)

• Protecting Critical Infrastructure – Enhancing Natural Resources

• Little River Floodplain and Habitat Restoration• Questions

Outline• Successful Development of Vulnerability Assessment

• The Right Team – Coastal Resilience Working Group• Built on Past Efforts

• Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2010) – Critical Asset Inventory• Citywide LIDAR and GIS (2011-2012) – Robust Dataset

• Useful Tools (Critical Elevations, Risk Assessment, Viewer)• Prioritization (Infrastructure Life Cycle vs. Risk)*• Regulatory Review (Risk vs. Economic Development)**

• Adaptation Project Implementation (Green Infrastructure)

• Protecting Critical Infrastructure – Enhancing Natural Resources

• Little River Floodplain and Habitat Restoration• Questions

AdministrationElected City CouncilPlanning BoardClean Energy Comm.Conservation Comm.DPW/EngineeringPlanning staffHealth DepartmentMembers of Public

Plus Kleinfelder - WHGCZM

Team

Asset Inventory High Res Topo

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Priority-planning

areas

Project Approach

Phase I

Sea Level Rise/Storm Surge Projections

Scenario Development

Phase II

Mapping Inundation Modeling Results

Vulnerability/Risk Assessment

Phase III

Develop Adaptation Strategies

Probability of occurrence

Con

sequ

ence

of i

mpa

ct

Working Group

Public Meeting Public Meeting Public Meeting

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• 2013 - Present• 2030 – 15 years out – Near term• 2070 – 55 years out – Long term

• Future Conditions - Not Cause

Planning Horizons

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Not “worst-case” scenariosbut

“worst-likely” scenarios

A Probability-Based Model

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Estimate of impactGeneral Strategies

Big Picture Approaches

Adaptation Strategies

Enhanced Critical Asset inventoryAccurate modellingRisk assessmentRecommendations: Policies, Priorities & Projects

Dynamic tools only made possible by grant funding!

What did we get?

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Infrastructure

MBCR

MassDOT

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Depth of Flooding above Ground (ft.)

Essex Ave at Western Ave2030: 1% Annual Probability (≈100 yr Recurrence)

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Depth of Flooding above Ground (ft.)

Essex Ave at Western Ave2070: 1% Annual Probability (≈100 yr Recurrence)

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Flooding Consequence -Measure of Risk?• Area of service loss• Duration of service loss• Cost of damage• Impacts to public safety and emergency

services• Impacts to economic activities• Impacts to public health and the environment

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RESULTS

Facilities/BuildingsAll are at or above 1% Flood Elevation in 2030Some facilities subject to extreme flooding in 2030

Waste Water Treatment PlantPump Stations at highest risk:Thatcher Rd, Good Harbor

Senior CenterA number of facilities buildings subject to some degree of flooding in 2070

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RESULTS

Facilities/BuildingsAll are at or above 1% Flood Elevation in 2030Some facilities subject to extreme flooding in 2030

Waste Water Treatment PlantPump Stations at highest risk:Thatcher Rd, Good Harbor

Senior CenterA number of facilities buildings subject to some degree of flooding in 2070

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LONG TERM THOUGHTS

Recommendation:Install lock gates at Blynman Canal, and Rt 128 at Annisquam River or Rail causeway, in concert with strategically raising roadway elevations and/or adding roadside walls

Protects City Assets:• WWTP• High School/Emergency

Dispensing Site• Riverside Ave PS• Leslie O Johnson Rd• Centennial Ave• Kent Circle• PLUS Rt 133, Rt 127

Blynman Canal

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Outer Harbor – Hurricane Barrier?

Natural Resources

Adaptation Project Implementation

• City of Gloucester• Department Ecological Restoration• NOAA and Gulf of Maine Council for the

Marine Environment• Mass Audubon• Wellspring House• US Fish and Wildlife• Engineer: Milone and MacBroom, Inc.• Contractor RC&D Providence• COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

Partnerships

Funding to date$54,815 Department of Ecological Restoration (Design)$43,000 Gulf of Maine Council for the Marine Environment, NOAA (Design and Fish Monitoring)$50,000 USFWS (Construction and monitoring)Coastal Zone Management Green Infrastructure Grant: $400,000 (Construction)

City of Gloucester: $150,000* (Construction)Volunteers (monitoring - fish counting) - Priceless

Finding the right funding fit – change grant priorities Support for Project - City FundingIdentify Cash or BondBond Authorization:

MGL Chapter 44, Section 7(1)Sets project type, eligibility, duration

Surface drainage improvement New explicit category needed?Always offer food at public meetings!

Challenges and Lessons

Thank You! Questions?

planning@gloucester-ma.gov