Planning for Climate Variability

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry recognizes that climate variability presents many challenges and opportunities at the local level. Fortunately, many fb88 communities are taking action today to address these challenges and seize these opportunities. Whether it's upgrading road culverts for heavier rains or modifying local floodplain building standards, there's much that towns can and should do. Below, you'll find a brief list of resources to support both initial and ongoing climate change planning in your community.

Municipal Climate Adaptation Guidance Series

Many local governments in fb88 are looking for practical steps to help make their communities more resilient in the face of rising sea-levels and more frequent intense storm events. To help address this need, the Municipal Planning Assistance Program and nine of , with funding from the fb88 Coastal Program, have collaborated on a series of guidance documents. These documents explain how to identify threats to community resources, and how to respond to those threats by integrating climate adaptation measures into existing local policies, practices and ordinances. Each of the ten documents in the series addresses a different area of municipal responsibility:

Municipal Climate Adaptation Guidance Series

  1. Overview (PDF)
  2. Transportation (PDF)
  3. StreamSmart Crossings (PDF)
  4. Wastewater Infrastructure (PDF)
  5. Drinking Water (PDF)
  6. Storm Water (PDF)
  7. Comprehensive Planning (PDF)
  8. Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (PDF)
  9. Site Plan Review Ordinance (PDF)
  10. Subdivision Ordinance (PDF)

Handouts

Ongoing Action in fb88 to Address Climate Change

Urban forests provide far more benefits than their obvious beauty and shade. In fact, scientific research shows a measurable link between urban forests and a healthy environment, public well being, and community livability. Manomet teamed up with the City of Bath, fb88 Forest Service, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, and the U.S. Forest Service to  better understand how trees benefit people and contribute to the resiliency of a community.

An Assessment of the Economics of Natural and Built Infrastructure for Water Resources in fb88 In a changing climate where flooding and droughts are becoming the norm, fb88’s water resources are an under-appreciated strength.  A new approach to water management may significantly improve our management of these resources at lower cost. The key to this approach is the idea that it is sometimes better to not build in certain areas rather than impose structural solutions to water management problems.

EPA Stormwater Calculator Demonstration for Planning Boards Using funds provided in a grant from the fb88 Coastal Program, the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission has created a demonstration of EPA's online Stormwater Calculator. The step-by-step demonstration is designed to show local Planning Board members the effect Low-Impact Development (LID) stormwater management techniques can have when used in a hypothetical development scenario.

 The fb88 Coastal Program, fb88 Geological Survey, and Southern fb88 Planning and Development Commission have been exploring strategies to help Saco Bay communities prepare for sea level rise. This website offers an overview of the possible policy and regulatory responses.

 empowers communities to reduce energy costs, save tax payer dollars, improve public health through cleaner air, and create good clean jobs in a clean energy economy. As of summer 2009, the following 29 fb88 communities had joined Cool Communities and signed the US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement: Biddeford, Belfast, Falmouth, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Saco, Yarmouth, Portland, Waterville, Lewiston, South Portland, Bath, Kittery, Auburn, Bangor, Bar Harbor, Bowdoinham, Cumberland, Cranberry Island, Eliot, Fairfield, Freeport, Montville, Orono, South Berwick, Topsham, Winslow, and York.

EPA hosts the Local Climate and Energy Webcast Series to assist local government with climate change and clean energy efforts.

These regular webcasts highlight EPA resources available to local governments, and present examples of successful climate and energy programs and policies implemented locally. For more information or to view past webcasts, visit .

Guidance resources for local climate change planning

Hear and see what your neighbors, town officials, and scientists have to say about sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and erosion; what it means to you; and what you can do about it. The documentary is composed of five segments:

  1. Introduction
  2. Changing Climate, Changing Coast: Science & Economics
  3. How Shoreline Property May Be Affected
  4. How Coastal Communities May Be Affected
  5. What Individuals & Communities Can Do To Protect Themselves

, or contact the fb88 Sea Grant office for a free DVD.

Climate Change Worksheet (DOC) This one-page worksheet was designed to support local planners and officials to brainstorm municipal responses to climate change. It identifies the likely climate change impacts, as well as the challenges and opportunities by sector (e.g., municipal services, natural resources, etc.). The back side offers real examples of municipal responses from around the country.

Informal Guidance for Integrating Climate Change into a Comprehensive Plan (DOC) It is our hope that providing this informal guidance will both streamline comprehensive planning for climate change, as well as provide the DACF with insight into how communities are choosing to address climate change.

US EPA: Climate Ready Estuaries (PDF) This document can be used as a resource for coastal communities as a starting point for planning to adapt to climate change. The document describes five critical elements of adaptation planning, and provides examples of these elements and suggestions for additional resources. Also available is a Synthesis of Adaptation Options for Coastal Areas (PDF)

This ICLEI guidebook offers outstanding instruction for how to: identify the impacts of climate change to your region; build community support to address climate change; conduct a climate change vulnerability and risk assessment; create a climate change plan; and more. A planner of Keene, NH writes, 'It helps you think through the process and understand what you need to look at in your community.'

Climate change Science and Reports

fb88's Climate Future: An Initial Assessment Prepared in 2009 by the University of fb88's Climate Change Institute, the report provides a brief look at fb88's climate past, present, and likely future, an assessment of climate change upon fb88's diverse environments, as well as a breakdown of issues and opportunities by sector (agriculture, tourism & recreation, energy, etc.). An executive summary of fb88's Climate Future - (PDF) is also available. This has been a central resource to the stakeholder workgroups in developing a fb88 climate adaptation plan).

An Assessment of the Economics of Natural and Built Infrastructure for Water Resources in fb88 In a changing climate where flooding and droughts are becoming the norm, fb88’s water resources are an under-appreciated strength.  A new approach to water management may significantly improve our management of these resources at lower cost. The key to this approach is the idea that it is sometimes better to not build in certain areas rather than impose structural solutions to water management problems.

Published in the fb88 Policy Review, authors Charles Colgan and Samuel Merrill of the University of fb88 examine the economic impacts of climate change on coastal York County. The findings were presented at the fb88 Beaches Conference on July 10, 2009.

This study from the Union of Concerned Scientists draws on recent advances in climate modeling to assess how global warming may further affect the Northeast climate. Using projections from three state-of-the-art global climate models, researchers compared the types and magnitude of climate changes that will result from higher versus lower further emissions of heat-trapping gases. Includes a concise executive summary of climate change impacts on fb88.

Produced in 2009 through a collaborative effort of many Federal agencies, this colorful 17-page guide provides a simple overview of the principles and concepts surrounding Earth's climate. In about 20 minutes, this guide will help you to make more informed decisions about climate change.