Coastal Issues Committee

Pam Pogue, CFM
URS Corp.
240-246-6111
pamela_pogue@urscorp.com

ASFPM COASTAL COMMITTEE 2007 - 2008 Goals and Objectives

1. Coastal No Adverse Impact (NAI)

a. Work with Executive Office and NOAA-Coastal Services Center on Spanish Language version of Coastal NAI Handbook.

b. Assist the Executive Office, as needed, with development and implementation of a Coastal NAI outreach strategy, including creation of a cadre of Coastal NAI workshop instructors.

c. Solicit case studies from the membership to augment the information currently contained in the Coastal NAI Handbook and pilot training course materials.

2. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)/Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM) System Support

a. Assist NOAA and the Coastal States Organization (CSO) in identifying floodplain managers’ needs for sensors, observations, products, etc., from regional and national IOOS platforms.

b. Coordinate with other ASFPM policy committees, as necessary, concerning solicitation of other user needs (to supplement input provided by Coastal Committee members).

c. Facilitate participation of floodplain managers in IOOS Regional Associations.

d. Support the Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping System by participating in meetings and/or committees as a key stakeholder. Support may also include adopting of an ASFPM Board resolution in support of the initiative.

3. ASFPM – CZM Collaboration

a. Continue to support ASFPM’s efforts to integrate floodplain management and coastal zone management, fostering dialogue and interaction between managers of both disciplines concerning shared objectives and outcomes (watershed/resource protection, hazard reduction, etc.).

b. Provide input to NOAA and the CSO on enhancements or other changes to the Coastal Zone Management Act as it comes up for reauthorization in 2008.

4. Hazard Mapping and Mitigation

a. Coordinate, as needed, with the Technical Pod committees (Mapping & Engineering Standards and Arid Regions) on cross-cutting issues, including topics or policy proposals related to the Map Modernization program.

b. Monitor legislative actions related to coastal erosion, including the potential for expanded flood-related hazard mapping (including coastal erosion) in upcoming NFIP reform legislation. Provide input to ASFPM Executive Office as needed.

c. Develop a White Paper on beach nourishment. Examine current issues in terms of hazard mitigation, post-disaster recovery, compatibility with NAI and sustainable development principles, and impacts on floodplain mapping and V Zone development standards and/or regulations.

d. Coordinate with the Mapping & Engineering Standards and Floodplain Regulations committees, as necessary, on issues related to coastal erosion and beach nourishment.

5. Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise

a. Continue participation in the EPA-sponsored Coastal Elevations and Sea-Level Rise Advisory Committee (CESLAC), which is part of the EPA’s Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program. Provide status and updates to Committee members.

b. Survey ASFPM members on policies or regulations in place (or in development) concerning sea-level rise or other “future conditions” issues facing floodplain managers and coastal zone managers. (Can be done in conjunction with solicitation of case studies for the Coastal NAI Handbook.)

2006 - 2007 Status Report

1. Coastal No Adverse Impact

The final draft of the Coastal NAI Handbook is complete and available on ASFPM’s website; see http://www.floods.org/NoAdverseImpact/coastal.asp. Feedback can be provided to the Project Staff at the ASFPM Executive Office as indicated on the website.

ASFPM staff members, with support from the Coastal Committee, are continuing to work with NOAA on development of a Spanish-language version of the handbook and on an overall outreach strategy. The companion workshop on Coastal NAI has been delivered on a pilot basis several times during the last year, most notably at:

• The 2006 ASPFM Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico;
• A one-day workshop in Easton, Maryland, co-sponsored by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Maryland Department of the Environment; and
• The April 2007 ASFPM/FEMA “Mission Mitigation” Workshop in New Orleans.

Numerous invited presentations on Coastal NAI concepts have been made by ASFPM and Committee leaders at conferences and other meetings, some at the request of NOAA. Part of the outreach strategy being developed by ASFPM and NOAA involves the creation of a cadre of qualified Coastal NAI instructors, who can deliver the workshop as needed around the country. ASFPM hopes to develop and deliver a train-the-trainer session for those who volunteer to become instructors.

2. Hurricane Recovery Efforts

ASFPM leadership and Committee members were engaged in various aspects of hurricane recovery, ranging from providing testimony on Capitol Hill to monitoring of the flood map updates underway for Louisiana and Mississippi. In conjunction with the Wisconsin State Cartographers Office, ASFPM created a Hurricane Katrina interactive mapping website (http://maps.sco.wisc.edu/asfpm/). The initial focus of the site was to provide map-based information that can aid floodplain managers and communities in making informed decisions during the recovery process. The site provides myriad GIS-enabled data layers, including information on storm surge inundation limits and Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs).

3. Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) Support

ASFPM members were involved in numerous activities sponsored by several IOOS Regional Associations (RAs), and the Committee has continued its efforts to ensure that floodplain managers are engaged as IOOS stakeholders as data and product specifications for the observation networks are developed. Activities included:

1. Co-Chair Maria Honeycutt was a Steering Committee member and facilitator for a January 2007 Surge Inundation Workshop co-sponsored by the Gulf Coast Ocean Observing System (GCOOS), Southeastern Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), and NOAA. Among the workshop objectives was identification of data needs for emergency managers and other users before, during, and after inundation events. ASFPM Vice Chair Al Goodman was an invited speaker at the workshop, where he discussed his experience and data needs surrounding landfall of Hurricane Katrina.

2. ASFPM Chair Pam Pogue was an invited participant at a similar surge inundation workshop that was sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA) in November 2006.

3. ASFPM member Phil Keillor was appointed in June 2006 to the inaugural board of directors of the Great Lakes Observing System-Regional Association (GLOS-RA).

As outlined in the Committee’s 2007-2008 Goals and Objectives, there are many opportunities on the horizon for ASFPM members to get involved in their local IOOS RA. To find out more about IOOS, including information on goals related to natural hazards, climate change, and healthy ecosystems, see http://www.ocean.us. For information about the 11 IOOS RAs located nationwide, see http://usnfra.org.

4. Coastal Erosion

In June 2006, some promising language concerning coastal erosion appeared in both the Senate and House versions of a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) reform bill. Unfortunately, the 109th Congress ended without further action on the NFIP reform legislation. This topic remains on the radar screen for the Committee, and there is hope that language concerning erosion hazard identification will appear in the NFIP reauthorization bill that will be taken up by the 110th Congress in late 2007/early 2008.

5. ASFPM – CZM Collaboration

ASFPM Chair Pam Pogue, Executive Director Larry Larson, and Co-Chair Maria Honeycutt were involved in various activities throughout the year aimed at strengthening ties between the floodplain management and coastal zone management communities. These two groups share many common interests and objectives for resource protection and hazard mitigation, but often work in isolation. Activities related to this goal included:

• Providing floodplain manager representation at IOOS-related conferences and workshops (see item 3 above);
• Representing ASFPM and/or floodplain managers generally in a series of stakeholder meetings sponsored by NOAA and the Coastal State Organization concerning the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA. These meetings are part of an “Envisioning” initiative that is aimed at identifying enhancements and improvements to the CZMA, which is due for reauthorization in 2008; see http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/czm/czma_vision.html;
• Fostering NOAA participation in ASFPM-sponsored events and activities, such as the ASFPM Annual Meetings and the April 2007 “Mission Mitigation” workshop in New Orleans.

6. Coastal Elevations and Sea-Level Rise Advisory Committee (CESLAC)

CESLAC was established in 2006 as part of the US Climate Change Science Program to address the implications of sea-level rise on areas of the US coast from New York to North Carolina. Through a study of ongoing data collection and study initiatives of many agencies, the Committee will report on how coastal environmental programs can be improved to adapt to sea level rise while enhancing economic growth.

Federal lead agencies are EPA, NOAA and USGS, while contributing agencies include DOT, USFWS, and USACE. Two ASPFM members are participating on CESLAC, including Bill Nechamen (NY DEC, representing ASFPM) and Coastal Committee Co-Chair Mark Mauriello (representing NJ-DEP).

The first meeting of CESLAC took place on January 29, 2007 in Washington DC, and included introduction of members, description of technical papers and approaches to evaluate, identification of additional questions to address, establishing a framework for stakeholder involvement, and defining the schedule for CESLAC and stakeholder meetings. The second meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2007 in Portsmouth, VA. Stakeholder meetings are currently being scheduled and the expectation is that there will be at least three of these meetings. The purpose of the stakeholder meetings is fact-finding, information-sharing, and to gain input into stakeholder needs in this topic area.

Additional information regarding this effort can be found via a link from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program web page: http://www.climatescience.gov/. ASFPM member comments and suggestions related to this effort can be provided to Bill Nechamen (wsnecham@gw.dec.state.ny.us) or Mark Mauriello (mark.mauriello@dep.state.nj.us).

7. Updating ASFPM “Flood Programs and Policies in Review” Document

The Coastal Committee supported the ASFPM Executive Office in drafting the updates to the Associations 2000 “National Flood Programs and Policies in Review.” ASFPM Chair Pam Pogue spearheaded the changes to the coastal section of the document, which included additions related to climate change, cumulative impacts, and integration of coastal zone management and floodplain management. Other sections were updated to reflect changes in policy or improvements in science/engineering, such as flood map modernization and recommendations for more stringent floodplain management criteria in Coastal A Zones. The document is available for review at http://www.floods.org/PDF/ASFPM_NFPPR_2007.pdf.

In response to member comments and to facilitate information sharing and coordination between agencies and coastal floodplain managers, this page now includes a new section titled “Coastal Links”. The purpose of this section is to provide easy access to other web sites that relate to coastal management and coastal floodplains. Please use these links and feel free to suggest other links that may be appropriate for inclusion on this page.

State CZM Programs: www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/czm/czmsitelist.html
USGS Center for Coastal Geology: marine.usgs.gov
Army Corps Home Page: http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/eng-manuals/em1110-2-1810/entire.pdf
FEMA/NFIP Regulations: www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr
National Ocean Service: www.nos.noaa.gov
Coastal States Organization: www.sso.org/cso
Coastal Engineering Page: www.coastal.udel.edu/coastal/coastal.html
NOAA Beach Nourishment References: www.csc.noaa.gov/opis/html/bchsand.htm
NOAA Coastal Services Center: www.csc.noaa.gov
Army Corps Field Research Facility: www.frf.usace.army.mil/frf.stm
National Resources Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov
Pew Oceans Commission: www.pewoceans.org
NOAA Websites Main Page: www.websites.noaa.gov
National Weather Service: www.nws.noaa.gov
American Coastal Coalition: www.coastalcoalition.org
EPA Beachwatch: www.epa.gov/ost/beaches
Coastal Management on the Internet: www.coastalmanagement.com