ASBPA is helping to address top management challenges in coastal communities across the Southeast U.S. High tide flooding has become a major concern to tourism-based and residential coastal communities. This 5-year project has been funded by SECOORA (Southeast Coastal and Ocean Observing Regional Association), which is a member of the US Integrated Ocean Observing System, and part of NOAA. ASBPA is leading one of four teams selected to create a new regional water level network. The project will engage 40 of ASBPA’s member communities to install low-cost sensors to fill gaps between federal tide stations. ASBPA is seeking funding to expand this project on a national scale.
The project will provide real-time water level data, tide predictions, and flooding alerts to coastal communities. The data will be used to plan for and respond to flood emergencies and design resilience strategies for sea-level rise and the projected increase in flooding. ASBPA is collaborating with Hohonu, Inc., a technology startup that provides environmental water level monitoring to help communities adapt to climate change.
As the water level sensors are installed, data will become available online at Hohonu’s website. Sign up for a free account to view the data and community-defined critical elevation thresholds. Ultimately, data will be accessible on SECOORA’s website. If you have any questions about this project, please contact ASBPA’s Science Director, Nicole Elko at nicole.elko@asbpa.org.
