Coastal Community Resilience

The economic, ecological, and social losses from coastal hazard events have grown as development and population growth place people in harm’s way. In addition, further losses to the ecosystems’ natural health and resilience are a result of development and pollution. Landscape changes, climate changes, and other stressors such as harmful algal blooms, shifts in harvested species, and economic downturns also impact the region’s coastal communities. Fish kills, polluted groundwater, and damaged buildings are a result of these changes in the ecosystem.