Searchable Case Studies for Climate Change Adaptation
National Climate Assessment Regions
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Communities across the United States are anticipating, planning, and preparing for the impacts of climate change. Below are examples of municipal, state, or tribal communities that have taken action.
Select from the options below to view cases according to the area of interest, geographic region, or level of government. Use the search function to view cases according to key words or areas of interest not provided below (Example: Sea Level Rise, Drought, or Green Infrastructure).
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| Case Name | Description | Area of Concern | Level | NCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The City of Boston Plans for Adaptation | See the process by which the Boston city government assessed vulnerability and developed an adaptation plan to respond to sea level rise and other climate risks. | Comprehensive Adaptation Planning, Sea Level Rise | Local | NE |
| DC Utilizes Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater | See how the Washington, DC Water and Sewer Authority will use green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows, maintain water quality, and provide adaptive flexibility to changing climate conditions. | Stormwater Runoff, Flooding and Storms, Smart Growth, Water Quality, Water Utility | Local | NE |
| Washington, DC Wastewater Facility Reinforces Facility Against Floods | See how a wastewater utility in Washington, DC is protecting their facility by building a sea wall that accounts for higher river elevations and changing climate conditions. | Flooding and Storms, Sea Level Rise, Water Utility | Local | NE |
| Boston Raises Wastewater Facility to Avoid Inundation | See how Boston's Deer Island Water Treatment Facility redesigned their facility to account for expected sea levels and routinely evaluates performance under the best-available climate science. | Sea Level Rise, Water Utility | Local | NE |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Assesses Climate Vulnerability | See how Manchester-by-the-sea used a EPA tool to help assess drinking water system vulnerability to sea level rise. | Water Utility, Sea Level Rise, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning | Local | NE |
| Iowa City, Iowa Removes Vulnerable Wastewater Treatment Facility | See how Iowa City, IA responded to riverine flooding risk by decommissioning a vulnerable facility and expanding service outside the floodplain. | Flooding and Storms, Water Utility | Local | MW |
| Smart Growth Along the Riverfront Helps Manage Stormwater in Iowa City, Iowa | See how Iowa City, IA used smart growth strategies to increase climate change resiliency by removing vulnerable structures and managing stormwater along the riverfront. | Stormwater Runoff, Water Quality | Local | MW |
| Chicago, IL Improves Extreme Heat Preparedness Adaptation Plan for Extreme Heat | See how Chicago, IL is improving climate resilience to extreme heat events by engaging vulnerable communities and improving disaster response protocols. | Air and Public Health | Local | MW |
| Chicago, IL Uses Green Infrastructure to Reduce Extreme Heat | See how Chicago, IL assessed public health vulnerability to extreme heat events and is adapting by utilizing green infrastructure to reduce urban heat island hot-spots in anticipation of future climate risk. | Extreme Heat and Public Health | Local | MW |
| Salt Lake City, Utah Adapts to Improve Air Quality Through Smart Growth | See how Salt Lake City is implementing strategies that are reducing air pollutants in anticipation of increasing threats from climate change. | Outdoor Air Quality, Air and Public Health | Local | SW |
| Tampa Bay Diversifies Water Sources to Reduce Climate Risk | See how a Tampa, FL water utility reduced vulnerability and evaluated climate threats to sea level rise exacerbated saltwater intrusion. | Source Water Impacts, Water Utility, Saltwater Intrusion, Drought | Local | SE |
| California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change | See how California is improving resiliency to particulate matter threats by planning to adapt to increased climate threats from wildfires. | Air and Public Health, Outdoor Air Quality, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning | State | SW |
| Southeast Florida Compact Analyzes Sea Level Rise Risk | See how South Florida counties and municipalities partnered to develop a comprehensive sea level rise assessment. | Saltwater Intrusion, Water Utility, Sea Level Rise | Regional | SE |
| New York City Assesses Extreme Heat Climate Risk | See how New York City, NY assessed climate risk from extreme heat and is undertaking efforts to reduce current and future vulnerability. | Air and Public Health, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning, Extreme Heat and Public Health | Local | NE |
| Camden, New Jersey Uses Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater | See how Camden, NJ water utility used an EPA tool to assess the climate risks from projected precipitation increases and vulnerability of greater combined sewer overflows. | Stormwater Runoff, Flooding and Storms, Water Utility, Water Quality | Local | NE |
| Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries and Water Quality from Climate Change | See how Pennsylvania is planning to adapt to climate threats to water quality criteria and protect ecosystem health, particularly for cold water fisheries. | Change in Fish, Erosion and Sedimentation, Stormwater Runoff, Ecosystem Protection, Water Quality | State | NE |
| Anacortes, Washington Rebuilds Water Treatment Plant for Climate Change | See how a water utility in Washington state partnered with experts to redesign and rebuild a water utility to adapt to sea level rise and other changing climate conditions. | Source Water Impacts, Flooding and Storms, Drought, Water Utility, Saltwater Intrusion, Adaptation Planning | Local | NW |
| Southwest Florida Assesses Salt Marsh Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise | See how Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council assessed the sea level rise climate vulnerability of marshes and wetlands and identified potential adaptation strategies. | Estuary, Wetland Protection, Water, Ecosystem Protection | Regional | SE |
| Fredericktown, Missouri Prepares for Climate Change Drought Risk | See how a water utility in Fredericktown, MO used an EPA tool to assess climate vulnerability for their source water from drought, erosion and sedimentation. | Erosion and Sedimentation, Source Water Impacts, Flooding and Storms, Water Utility, Water Quality, Drought | Local | MW |
| Maryland Analyzes Coastal Wetlands Susceptibility to Climate Change | See how the state of Maryland used a modeling tool to assess the vulnerability of saltmarshes to projected sea level rise. | Wetland Protection, Ecosystem Protection, Water | State | NE |
| Minnesota Assesses Climate Risk to Public Health | See how Minnesota has assessed projected public health risks from climate change across the state. | Water and Public Health, Air and Public Health, Waste and Public Health, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning | State | MW |
| Southern Nevada Water Authority Assesses Vulnerability To Climate Change | See how the Southern Nevada Water Authority used an EPA tool to better assess climate vulnerability to drought and harmful algal blooms. | Algal Blooms, Source Water Impacts, Drought, Water Utility | Regional | SW |
| New York City Adapts To Deal with Projected Increase of Heat Waves | See how New York City has used its vulnerability assessment to anticipate and prepare for changing conditions by using adaptation strategies to reduce extreme heat vulnerability. | Air and Public Health, Extreme Heat and Public Health | Local | NE |
| Massachusetts Surveys Climate Readiness of Public Health Departments | See how Massachusetts has surveyed local health departments to assess vulnerability to expected climate changes. | Water and Public Health, Air and Public Health, Waste and Public Health, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning | State | NE |
| American Cyanamid Superfund Site Reduces Climate Exposure | See how American Cyanamid Superfund Site responded to disaster by rebuilding facilities to account for expected climate changes. | Waste, Contaminated Site | Local | NE |
| San Juan Bay Estuary Program Assesses Vulnerability and Targets Low Risk Adaptation Measures | See how the San Juan Bay Estuary Program assessed climate risk to the bay and identified adaptation strategies to reduce ecosystem vulnerability from changing climate conditions. | Estuary, Wetland Protection, Ecosystem Protection, Water, Sector Specific Adaptation Planning | Local | SE |
| Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Identified Smart Growth Strategies for More Resilient Communities | See how the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments developed an adaptation plan with policy options for the consideration of its local jurisdictions. | Comprehensive Adaptation Planning | Regional | NE |
| Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability | The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, responsible for Minneapolis, Minnesota, considered climate projections to better understand climate threats and vulnerability to stormwater management capabilities. | Stormwater Runoff, Flooding and Storms, Water Utility, Water Quality | Regional | MW |
| Barre City, Vermont Accounts for Climate Change within a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan | Barre City, Vermont: Barre City, Vermont used the Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives Checklist to better understand the climate vulnerability of a redevelopment project on a brownfield site. | Waste, Contaminated Site | Local | NE |
| Quinault Indian Nation Plans for Relocation | See how the Quinault Indian Nation is considering climate (sea level rise, storm surge, and river flooding) and non-climate (tsunami) risks together to form a village relocation plan. | Comprehensive Adaptation Planning, Sea Level Rise, Flooding and Storms | Tribal | NW |