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A Waterfront View of Coastal Hazards: Contextualizing Relationships among Geographic Exposure, Shoreline Type, and Hazard Concerns among Coastal Residents

Author

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  • Steven B. Scyphers

    (Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Coastal Sustainability Institute, Nahant, MA 01908, USA)

  • Michael W. Beck

    (Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA)

  • Kelsi L. Furman

    (Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Coastal Sustainability Institute, Nahant, MA 01908, USA)

  • Judy Haner

    (The Nature Conservancy, Alabama Coastal Program, Mobile, AL 36602, USA)

  • Lauren I. Josephs

    (Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Coastal Sustainability Institute, Nahant, MA 01908, USA
    Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA)

  • Rebecca Lynskey

    (Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Coastal Sustainability Institute, Nahant, MA 01908, USA)

  • Andrew G. Keeler

    (Department of Coastal Studies, East Carolina University, Wanchese, NC 27981, USA)

  • Craig E. Landry

    (Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • Sean P. Powers

    (Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA)

  • Bret M. Webb

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA)

  • Jonathan H. Grabowski

    (Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Coastal Sustainability Institute, Nahant, MA 01908, USA)

Abstract

Coastal communities exist on the front lines of diverse natural hazards and the growing impacts of climate change. While traditional strategies for dealing with coastal hazards have often involved the hardening or armoring of shorelines, more recent research and practice have demonstrated the value and cost-effectiveness of “living shorelines” and other ecosystem-based strategies for coastal protection. To explore potential relationships among geographic exposure (waterfront vs. inland), shoreline condition (armored vs. natural), and hazard concerns, we surveyed 583 waterfront and inland residents in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We found that overall concern for coastal hazards was similar across waterfront and inland residents, as well as among residents with both armored and natural shorelines. However, concern for specific hazards differed across these groups. Waterfront residents were significantly more concerned about major hurricanes and erosion than inland residents. Conversely, inland residents were more concerned with drought and flooding than waterfront residents. Among waterfront residents, specific hazard concerns were similar between residents with natural and armored shorelines with two key exceptions. Residents with armored shorelines reported higher concern for erosion and sea level rise than residents with natural shorelines. Our results suggest that armored shorelines do not necessarily alleviate concerns about coastal hazards. In the context of balancing social and ecological objectives in addressing coastal hazards or adapting to climate change, understanding the perceptions and behaviors of coastal residents is essential for conserving and protecting coastal ecosystems along residential shorelines.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven B. Scyphers & Michael W. Beck & Kelsi L. Furman & Judy Haner & Lauren I. Josephs & Rebecca Lynskey & Andrew G. Keeler & Craig E. Landry & Sean P. Powers & Bret M. Webb & Jonathan H. Grabowski, 2019. "A Waterfront View of Coastal Hazards: Contextualizing Relationships among Geographic Exposure, Shoreline Type, and Hazard Concerns among Coastal Residents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-11, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6687-:d:291089
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Katie K. Arkema & Greg Guannel & Gregory Verutes & Spencer A. Wood & Anne Guerry & Mary Ruckelshaus & Peter Kareiva & Martin Lacayo & Jessica M. Silver, 2013. "Coastal habitats shield people and property from sea-level rise and storms," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(10), pages 913-918, October.
    2. Siddharth Narayan & Michael W Beck & Borja G Reguero & Iñigo J Losada & Bregje van Wesenbeeck & Nigel Pontee & James N Sanchirico & Jane Carter Ingram & Glenn-Marie Lange & Kelly A Burks-Copes, 2016. "The Effectiveness, Costs and Coastal Protection Benefits of Natural and Nature-Based Defences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Borja G Reguero & Michael W Beck & David N Bresch & Juliano Calil & Imen Meliane, 2018. "Comparing the cost effectiveness of nature-based and coastal adaptation: A case study from the Gulf Coast of the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Christine C Shepard & Caitlin M Crain & Michael W Beck, 2011. "The Protective Role of Coastal Marshes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(11), pages 1-11, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mauro Francini & Lucia Chieffallo & Annunziata Palermo & Maria Francesca Viapiana, 2020. "A Method for the Definition of Local Vulnerability Domains to Climate Change and Relate Mapping. Two Case Studies in Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Mizanur Rahman & Jeff Popke & Thomas W. Crawford, 2022. "Resident perceptions of riverbank erosion and shoreline protection: a mixed-methods case study from Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 114(3), pages 2767-2786, December.

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