Reports
Virginia Flood Resilience Funding Outreach Assessment (2024)
Wetlands Watch, with funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts, has focused on enhancing the accessibility and equitable distribution of the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) to non-coastal communities, which have historically received fewer resources for flood resilience despite facing significant flood risks. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), provides critical funding for community-scale flood mitigation, with $97.7 million awarded in the first three rounds.
While coastal regions have benefited from extensive resilience planning and resources, including the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan and support from institutions like the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, inland areas have struggled with capacity and outreach challenges, limiting their access to CFPF resources. Wetlands Watch’s efforts include statewide outreach, technical assistance, and the development of educational materials to support local governments in flood-prone inland areas. These initiatives aim to address the unique barriers faced by these communities and ensure their inclusion in future resilience planning, particularly as Virginia considers the potential impacts of withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which funds the CFPF.
This report summarizes our engagement and feedback from local governments on the successes and barriers of the CFPF.
Resilient Design Collaboratory: Summary of Work (2023)
Wetlands Watch’s Resilient Design and Research Collaborative Laboratory (Collaboratory) exemplifies the organization's collective impact approach, addressing the hyper-local nature of flood resilience needs in underserved communities. The Collaboratory connects communities with academic institutions and the private sector to tackle real-world challenges, providing experiential learning opportunities for students in disciplines such as engineering, architecture, and public policy. To date, over 230 students have participated in this program, contributing valuable design work to initiatives like the Chesterfield Heights project, which led to a $120 million grant for flood adaptation in Norfolk.
The Collaboratory also focuses on critical research needs, such as managed retreat policies and nature-based adaptations, while promoting conservation efforts.
This report provides an overview of the work of the Collaboratory over the last decade.
Implementing Resilience: The Barriers & Opportunities in Inventorying Natural Resiliency Project Proposals (2019)
Commissioned by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, Wetlands Watch gathered feedback from stakeholders on the opportunities for and obstacles to developing a database focused on natural resiliency project proposals.
We found that without direct funding incentives, localities are unlikely to commit resources to populate such a database, as it offers more benefit to state-level stakeholders than local applicants.
To address this, Wetlands Watch developed a grant inventory to integrate into the database, facilitating the matching of projects with funding opportunities. We are exploring emerging tools and programs to add value to the database, emphasizing the importance of developing shovel ready projects that can attract funding and prepare communities for natural disasters. The Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan could further incentivize detailed resilience proposals by following models like the Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan, where proposals are scored on feasibility and benefits. Wetlands Watch’s collaboration with VIMS on a Natural and Nature-Based Feature prioritization tool could enhance the database's utility by identifying high-priority areas for restoration, ultimately preparing localities for future funding opportunities. Moving forward, Wetlands Watch aims to shift from merely soliciting proposals to actively informing and enhancing them, with an upcoming workshop in the Middle Peninsula serving as a pilot for this approach.
2021 Pilot Project Symposium: Building Resilience to Sea Level Rise Report (2021)
Wetlands Watch, in collaboration with the Living River Trust (LRT), hosted a Symposium in 2021 to develop local government sea level rise retreat policies using land conservation approaches. The project was designed to advance nature-based retreat strategies within two local government programs: a FEMA-funded open space acquisition program in Chesapeake and a resilient zoning ordinance in Norfolk that disincentivizes development in high-risk flood zones. Both programs face the challenge of determining land ownership and management post-structure removal.
The Pilot Project’s goals were building resilience to sea level rise through conservation, developing adaptive land management strategies with multiple benefits, and creating replicable national models.
Increasing CRS Knowledge in Virginia: Local Government CRS Program Evaluation Trainings (2019)
In 2019, Wetlands Watch implemented a project across Virginia’s Coastal Zone to enhance local government staff knowledge and engagement with the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS). The project involved conducting twelve CRS Program Evaluation Trainings in various communities, including Northumberland, Henrico, and Northampton Counties, as well as the cities of Fredericksburg and Suffolk.
These five-hour workshops provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the CRS Program, including NFIP principles, credit requirements, and the benefits of joining CRS. The trainings facilitated interdepartmental collaboration and offered tools such as a CRS Quick Check and a training summary report to help communities estimate their potential CRS class rating and associated flood insurance savings.
The feedback from these sessions was overwhelmingly positive, particularly from rural communities, highlighting the need for localized, accessible training on floodplain management. Wetlands Watch’s efforts underscored the importance of such initiatives, especially given the challenges rural localities face in accessing information and resources on floodplain management and regulatory updates.
Building Coastal Resilience in Virginia: Data Needs Assessment & Funding Resources Review (2018)
This report aims to identify data needs for building resilience and to review funding resources currently used and available for resilience projects in coastal Virginia. It is divided into two sections: a data needs assessment and a funding resources review. Wetlands Watch conducted interviews with stakeholders engaged in resilience work, which informed the list of data needs and funding resources included in the document. The data needs, such as first-floor elevations, were commonly recognized by stakeholders, although not always explicitly mentioned, and are annotated with references to the stakeholders who identified them. Funding resources are organized in tables, providing details like match requirements and grant award sizes, addressing a stakeholder-identified need for a comprehensive reference document.
While creating an extensive, regularly updated funding resource was beyond the scope of this project, the framework provided could serve as a template for future efforts. The report emphasizes the critical connection between data needs and funding resources, highlighting the importance of data sharing among stakeholders. Baseline data is essential for project proposals, which in turn seek funding to gather more data, creating a challenging cycle where funding is both the starting point and the endpoint. Leveraging existing data and sharing it across stakeholders is vital for advancing resilience efforts.
Improving the Community Rating System Program: Recommendations from Coastal CRS Communities & Stakeholders (2018)
Growing interest in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) in Virginia, especially among coastal communities, offers the potential for economic relief through discounted flood insurance premiums and improved floodplain management standards. While the CRS program encourages resilience by incentivizing activities such as Open Space Preservation and Flood Protection, coastal and urban communities face significant challenges due to the program's point structure, which favors riverine and undeveloped areas.
Wetlands Watch, in collaboration with the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, conducted interviews with CRS coordinators across the United States to identify common obstacles and gather recommendations for improving the CRS program. The findings revealed that the administrative burdens and the disadvantageous credit calculations for coastal and urban areas hinder these communities' ability to advance in CRS rating classes. Wetlands Watch suggests that the CRS program should consider alternative scoring systems that better reflect the unique challenges of coastal and urban communities, rewarding them for effective flood risk management. The recommendations gathered from these interviews aim to enhance the CRS program's ability to support coastal communities in preparing for and mitigating future flooding risks.
Capacity Building in the CRS: Viability of Regional CRS Support Positions in Virginia (2018)
Interest in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System (CRS) is steadily increasing in Virginia, but the program's growing reporting requirements and frequent updates have raised concerns about the burden on local government staff and the affordability of participation.
To address these challenges, Wetlands Watch, in collaboration with academic institutions, conducted an assessment on financing and coordinating technical assistance for the CRS Program across multiple jurisdictions in Virginia. The assessment included feedback from localities, planning district commissions, and state agencies on the feasibility of a cost-sharing model for CRS support.
While many stakeholders supported the idea of a multi-jurisdictional CRS staff, the need for assistance varied depending on the region, community size, and staff capacity. Larger urban areas like northern Virginia and south Hampton Roads, with sufficient in-house expertise, expressed a preference for a regional CRS Coordinator to serve as a facilitator, offering continuing education, regional collaboration, and coordination with FEMA, rather than direct technical assistance. In contrast, smaller, rural tidewater communities, which are at higher risk of flooding, showed stronger support for a regional CRS Coordinator who could provide comprehensive technical assistance, including help with joining the CRS, annual recertification, and cycle visits.
These communities suggested that the position be hosted by a Planning District Commission, with enrolled localities contributing to the salary based on their level of need. This feedback highlights the importance of tailoring CRS support to the specific needs of Virginia’s diverse communities.
Maximizing Multiple Benefits for Local Government Actions in Virginia: A Crosswalk Between Stormwater Management & the CRS Program (2017)
This report identifies a “crosswalk” between stormwater management activities performed at the local government level in VA, and the CRS Program’s Manual, noting which stormwater activities earn CRS credit and how localities can modify actions to earn credit.
The Costs & Benefits of the CRS Program in Virginia (2017)
Information gaps regarding the costs and benefits of participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s CRS program have historically impeded local governments' decisions to join or maintain involvement in the program. This report addresses these gaps by analyzing data from interviews with staff across Virginia localities at varying stages of CRS engagement.
The primary cost is staff time, with CRS Coordinators reporting a median commitment of 13% of their full-time equivalent (FTE), translating to an estimated annual cost of $11,570 per locality. Despite this, the financial benefits of CRS participation are substantial, with benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) ranging from 68:1 in Norfolk to a median of 8:1, largely due to discounted flood insurance premiums for high-risk policyholders.
While secondary benefits such as enhanced floodplain management are more challenging to quantify, they are nonetheless crucial in bolstering community resilience, as emphasized by CRS Coordinators who highlight these advantages in their strategic decision-making.
Flood Protection Pay-Offs: A Local Government Guide to the Community Rating System (2017)
Virginia localities face significant challenges, including rising insurance rates from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), increasing sea levels, strained budgets, and heightened regulatory requirements for reducing stormwater runoff. Wetlands Watch has identified an opportunity to address these challenges through a coordinated strategy that leverages the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS offers flood insurance discounts in exchange for advanced floodplain management, helping to keep homes affordable and maintaining the local tax base. Many existing programs in Virginia localities, such as stormwater management, building code enforcement, and open space preservation, can earn CRS credit, thereby improving efficiency and fostering collaboration between municipal departments. However, the challenge lies in identifying and documenting these co-benefits.
This Wetlands Watch CRS report serves as a guide for local governments to assess which activities and programs may earn CRS credit, determine necessary adjustments, and explore funding opportunities to enhance creditable programs. By increasing CRS participation, localities can provide flood insurance discounts, support the housing market, and incentivize adaptation to sea level rise and flooding through the strategic use of existing programs.
Chesterfield Heights Design Challenge (2016)
Southeastern Virginia, a flat, tidal region experiencing the highest rate of relative sea level rise on the Atlantic Coast at 4.45 mm/year, is projected to see a rise of 4 to 6 feet over the next century. This region, ranked 10th globally for assets at risk from sea level rise in port cities, faces significant threats due to its water-dependent economy, which includes military bases, shipbuilding, and tourism. While cities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach have begun designing and implementing large-scale adaptation projects to address these threats, much of tidal Virginia remains in the early stages of planning. The region's adaptation needs are vast, yet largely unestimated, with an urgent need for smaller, distributed solutions that can be integrated into neighborhoods.
Wetlands Watch identified a critical opportunity to engage the public, businesses, and local governments in designing resilient communities that prioritize ecosystem services along the shoreline. In response, we developed the "Tidewater Rising Resiliency Design Challenge," a community-scale, street-level design process focused on sea level rise adaptation before significant storm damage occurs. This initiative, supported by Virginia Sea Grant, aims to foster innovation in adaptation design while maintaining ecological integrity, and to build a local community of practice in adaptation design and engineering. Through partnerships with academic institutions like William and Mary Law School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the project also seeks to address legal, policy, and economic challenges, creating a multidisciplinary approach to resilience in Southeastern Virginia.
Hampton Roads as a Center of Economic Activity for Sea Level Rise Adaptation (2015)
Experiencing the highest rate of sea level rise on the Atlantic Coast, Hampton Roads faces increasing "nuisance flooding," higher storm surges, and economic pressures, including rising flood insurance rates and infrastructure challenges. With sea level rise predicted to reach 4 to 6 feet by the end of the century, the region's vulnerability could either spell disaster or serve as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. Viewing Hampton Roads as an adaptation "test bed" offers the potential to transform these challenges into opportunities for new economic activities, particularly in sectors related to water management and sea level rise adaptation. Drawing lessons from regions like the Netherlands and New Orleans, which have turned flooding challenges into economic advantages, Hampton Roads could similarly position itself as a center for adaptation design, engineering, and resilience-building. Efforts like the Chesterfield Heights adaptation project, involving local universities and design professionals, highlight the region's potential to become a hub for adaptation expertise. Finally, innovative tools like the "Sea Level Rise" app developed by Wetlands Watch and Concursive Corporation demonstrate how technology can engage communities and support business continuity during flood events.
Wetlands Watch argues that by embracing these opportunities, Hampton Roads could not only protect its residents and infrastructure but also generate significant economic activity and professional growth in response to the challenges of sea level rise and more frequent flooding.
The Challenge of Mitigating Virginia’s Flooding and Sea Level Rise Impacts (2014)
Wetlands Watch has released a study highlighting the growing need for flood mitigation and sea level rise adaptation in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where five cities alone face nearly $431 million in pending costs to repair flood-damaged structures. At the current rate of government assistance, property owners could wait between 78 and 188 years for help, during which time rising sea levels will likely add more properties to the list.
This study identifies potential solutions, such as establishing revolving loan funds at the state and regional levels, modeled after existing programs in Virginia and other states like Connecticut, which recently launched a $25 million coastal flood mitigation initiative. Private sector financing, inspired by models like energy efficiency mortgages, could also be mobilized to address these needs. Importantly, addressing these challenges would not only mitigate flood risks but also stimulate the economy, as the $431 million investment in just these five cities could generate approximately 9,200 jobs in construction, design, finance, and related sectors.
We argue that this approach presents a compelling opportunity for Virginia's study committees on sea level rise to simultaneously tackle flooding issues and boost local employment—a clear win-win for all.
Homeowners Insurance Changes in Coastal Virginia: Causes and Consequences for Shoreline Communities (2013)
Homeowners insurance along the Atlantic Coast is becoming increasingly expensive, with coverage, especially for wind damage, undergoing significant changes. Initially, these shifts were thought to be a response by insurance companies to the early impacts of human-caused climate change, such as sea level rise and extreme weather events, suggesting a potential tool to encourage climate adaptation.
However, a comprehensive study by Wetlands Watch, funded by the Virginia Environmental Endowment and West Wind, revealed a more complex reality. The study found that, rather than primarily reacting to climate change projections, insurance companies are responding to several other factors. These include a periodic increase in tropical storm activity since the mid-1990s, efforts to avoid litigation similar to that which followed Hurricane Katrina, the economic pressures of the recession, and the use of more sophisticated risk assessment methods that incorporate personal data. These factors make it difficult to isolate the influence of climate change on rising premiums, undermining the effectiveness of using insurance as a signal for climate adaptation.
Nonetheless, the rising costs and changing coverage are placing significant financial pressure on shoreline homeowners, particularly as these changes coincide with reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The resulting economic impacts could lead to the gentrification of oceanfront communities, with modest homes being replaced by larger, wealthier properties, or the hollowing out of working waterfronts, lowering property values. Attempts to cap insurance premiums or create risk pools have proven problematic, as evidenced by experiences in Gulf Coast states, where such interventions have led to insurers exiting the market or increasing premiums over time. As insurance costs continue to rise in response to the risks of coastal living, including eventual incorporation of climate change impacts, there is an urgent need for a public dialogue on the future of shoreline communities to avoid a chaotic and costly transition.
A Collaborative Summit, Protecting Water Quality Through Actions on Urban-suburban Properties, February 13-14, 2013, Williamsburg, VA
In the early 2010s, increasing concerns about water pollution and the health of the Chesapeake Bay led to significant regulatory measures aimed at reducing stormwater runoff. By 2014, local governments in Virginia faced a critical deadline to develop and implement plans to significantly reduce polluted runoff over the next 10 to 15 years. These requirements were part of a larger effort to meet water quality standards established by initiatives like the Virginia Stormwater Management Program, MS4 permits, and Chesapeake Bay TMDL allocations. In response to these challenges, the Collaborative Summit on Protecting Water Quality was convened in February 2013 in Williamsburg, VA. This landmark event brought together 179 participants from diverse sectors, including government, non-profits, academic institutions, and private industry, to strategize on scaling up stormwater management and watershed restoration practices on private urban and suburban properties.
The Summit focused on practical, community-driven solutions, such as rain gardens, permeable pavers, and native plant buffers. Participants highlighted the need for better coordination across government agencies, comprehensive stormwater planning, and the creation of a "Community of Practice" to share knowledge and build capacity. Key actions included forming task forces, clarifying roles among stakeholders, providing consistent educational resources, and developing sustainable funding strategies. Through collaboration and innovative partnerships, the Summit aimed to set the stage for cleaner waterways in Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay, providing a roadmap for long-term water quality improvements.
Reducing Nutrients on Private Property: Evaluation of Programs, Practices, and Incentives (2012)
This report, prepared for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) as a subcontractor to CH2M Hill, and funded by a grant from the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, aims to support local Hampton Roads governments in developing Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) strategies. The project focuses on assessing the feasibility, opportunities, and constraints of implementing best management practices (BMPs) for nutrient reduction on existing urban, suburban residential, and light commercial private properties. The report summarizes a three-month preliminary investigation into several key areas: 1) model programs for private property stormwater management, including voluntary and mandated efforts, financial incentives, and utility credits; 2) the role of non-profit organizations and citizen groups in promoting environmental stewardship and BMP installation in the Hampton Roads region; 3) the suitability and effectiveness of BMPs for retrofitting private properties to achieve nutrient and sediment reductions; and 4) the challenges and unresolved issues affecting the feasibility of these practices.
The report also evaluates the availability and quality of existing BMP data from NGO programs to determine their potential use by localities in estimating nutrient and sediment load reductions. This investigation builds on work initiated by Wetlands Watch in 2011 to identify and enhance watershed stewardship activities in the Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay regions, with the ultimate goal of developing a Watershed Stewards Academy (WSA) or refining existing environmental stewardship programs through a collaborative Strategic Summit involving key stakeholders.