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CRP - Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) Focus Area - Click to enlarge image.
The Coastal Resilience Partnership of Southeast Palm Beach County (CRP) fosters collaboration and cooperation in climate adaptation research and planning among jurisdictions sharing similar physical, geographic, and social characteristics in the southeast portion of Palm Beach County. Formed in 2019, the CRP consists of seven (7) jurisdictions and the County working together to complete a joint climate change vulnerability assessment covering the geographic area shown to the right.
Since 2018, the CRP has
received two (2) grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP) through the Florida Resilient Coastlines Program and one (1) through the new Resilient
Florida Grant Program. This funding has helped to (1) develop a regional
framework to assess climate vulnerability and prioritize adaptation strategies, (2)
complete the initial steps of the joint climate change vulnerability
assessment including community outreach, and (3) update the vulnerability
assessment to meet requirements of the 2021 Resilient Florida legislation.
To learn what Personal Adaptation Strategies you can apply to your own properties to make them more resilient to climate and weather, please see here.
FY 2018-2019 FDEP Grant Work Plan
FY 2019-2020 FDEP Grant Work Plan
FY 2022 FDEP Grant Work Plan
The image on the left shows the current status of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment project. The first five steps of the assessment were completed in 2021, and the report was shared with the community. In 2022, the project team completed Step 6, to update the vulnerability assessment to meet the requirements of the 2021 Resilient Florida legislation (See Appendix 9).
Step 1 culminated with the selection of twelve specific threats to Southeast Palm Beach County to be further evaluated. Those threats are shown below with visual icons associated with each. Colors represent general themes (meteorological, health, heat, water). To read more information about each threat, please download the PDF file
here.
Threats Evaluated in CRP Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
During Step 2, the seven participating municipalities and Palm Beach County collected all data needed to perform the assessment, and the consultant team organized, cleaned, and prepared the data for the analysis. The collected datasets are the ingredients necessary to understand how each climate threat will impact Southeast Palm Beach County. This includes socio-economic data that will be used to ensure vulnerable populations are considered in an equitable manner. To read more about the assets the CRP is considering in this study, please see the PDF document, here.
The analyses conducted as a part of Step 3 identified the extent of exposure, potential impact, and ability to adapt to each of the twelve climate threats across analyzed assets. Even with the use of the best available data, it is important to note that the data available to analyze each threat varied greatly. Beyond the results of the assessment completed in Step 3, when considering adaptation options, careful understanding and examination of potential interrelationships between threats are essential. These interrelationships may also be modified by future climate changes.
As part of Step 3, the project team conducted a public survey and webinar. This information allowed for the development of a comprehensive list of potential adaptation strategies for each municipality as well as the identification of potential Adaptation Action Areas or “AAAs" as part of Step 4. These AAAs allow municipalities to denote specific areas that may require special planning to address climate change.
Step 5 took place throughout the summer of 2021 and was recently completed. During Step 5, meetings were held throughout the study area to update the public and leadership of each jurisdiction regarding the results of the study. The Coastal Resilience Partnership and each municipality are putting the results of the study to work as the journey to resilience in Palm Beach County continues.
Step 6 was completed in 2022, in which the assessment was updated in order to meet the required statutory elements of the Resilient Florida Legislation (Section 380.093, Florida Statute (F.S.)). The City of Boynton Beach received a $74,000 grant from FDEP to fund this step of the project. This update expanded the analysis to include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intermediate-low and intermediate-high sea level rise projections for 2040 and 2070 and updated the storm surge and tidal flooding for all critical assets in the study area. This step helps CRP communities to become competitive for future funding from the
Resilient Florida Grant Program and to have projects included in the statewide resiliency plan. This also makes the areas included in the study area eligible for Resilience Florida Grant Program funding for implementation (
Step 7).
Interested in learning more about the CRP?
Recording of Integrating Socioeconomic Data in a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, August 18, 2021:
Recording of the November 19, 2020 Community Update Workshop:
Recording of the June 4, 2020 Stakeholder Workshop:
Click here to see the Interlocal Agreement between Palm Beach County and the seven (7) municipalities associated with this effort (R2019-1949 dated December 17, 2019).