Alison Meehan, CFM
Virginia Dep’t of Conservation and Recreation



The Problem
Examples
Discussion



6 Counties
9 Cities
Borders the
Chesapeake
Bay


A high rate of subsidence means
Hampton Roads has the highest rate of
sea level rise on the east coast, totaling
1.45 feet over the last century.
Expected to be one of the worst impacted
areas by sea level rise in the country –
second only to New Orleans.


The rate of relative SLR in the mid-Atlantic is
accelerating and is projected to range between
2.3 and 5.2 feet higher by 2100.
Most communities in Hampton Roads
implement only a 1 foot freeboard.


The year 2100 is not the finish line!
Sea level will continue to rise after that.



Scientists warned us.
It wasn’t until recently that citizens started to
really notice the change.
Now, complaints by citizens force municipalities
to mitigate existing infrastructure using shortterm fixes – at high costs.





80 % - SLR in Virginia Beach is very important
and a long-term problem we need to plan for.
53 % - SLR is made worse by humans and we
can affect it, for better or worse.
91.5 % - SLR should be a priority for local
government.
8 % - Must change their route to work whenever
it rains.
2 % - Must change their route to work twice a
month with each lunar high tide.

Skip Stiles of a non-profit organization:
“Inaction at the state and federal level is
leaving Virginians alone, blind and broke to
wander across an increasingly dangerous landscape
being reshaped by sea level rise."

$90 to $180 M
projected cost to
elevate 2
neighborhoods

Sea walls,
removable flood
gates, land
purchases
recommended.

Precipitation Flooding
Most all of the City of Norfolk’s Planning Districts
experience some level of flooding.
 Some areas have no curb, gutter, or collection systems
 Subsequent upstream development exceeds system
capacity



New and replacement storm water infrastructure
are designed for 10-year storm.
Tidal flooding exacerbates precipitation flooding
–same pipes carrying out rain carry in tide

In conjunction with water & sewer
replacement full street improvement
projects are completed undersized
pipes replaced to 10-year design.

Installed drainage inlets, curbs and
gutters to improve water flow.

$18.2 million over 10 years.
Over 50 significant storms
have effected Portsmouth
since the first recorded
storm in 1635, averaging
one storm every 8 years.



Making some steps forward.
18 inch freeboard.
SLR mapping.
0-2 feet sea level rise
would result in 0.42
square miles being lost
2-4 feet sea level rise
would result in 1.16
square miles being lost
4-6 feet sea level rise
would result in 2.58
square miles being lost
6-8 feet sea level rise
would result 6.05 square
miles being lost




At which level of government is it best to tackle
SLR?
What can be done rather than short-term fixes?
How can anything long-term and proactive be
accomplished?
General advice???
Alison Meehan, CFM
Floodplain Program Planner
Virginia Department of Conservation and
Recreation
(804) 371-6137
[email protected]