BeachSAMP Document
Recognizing the need for comprehensive planning to address the impacts of storm surge, flooding, sea level rise and erosion, the CRMC initiated the development of the Rhode Island Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). SAMPs have been a valuable management tool for CRMC to tackle challenging coastal issues such as water quality, coastal development patterns, and siting offshore renewable energy. The Shoreline Change SAMP builds off previous work completed through the Salt Ponds SAMP and the Metro Bay SAMP, where the impacts of development and coastal hazards were examined.
The Shoreline Change SAMP is comprised of two volumes. Volume 1 provides: a synthesis of the current scientific understanding of sea level rise, storm surge, tidal flooding, and coastal erosion, as well as the impacts these hazards pose to infrastructure, other developed property such as municipal buildings and residential properties, and the social, environmental and cultural assets in Rhode Island; a description of the tools developed to model and map potential future impacts from these coastal hazards; a discussion of risk and risk management within the coastal zone; and recommendations for best management practices and adaptation strategies or techniques to be employed at both the state and local level to minimize future risk. Volume 2 contains all the technical reports that support the new research conducted as part of the SAMP project. These technical reports contain more detailed information on research methodology and findings and ultimately support the synthesis provided in Volume 1.
Download the BeachSAMP Executive Summary:
Download the PDF of Full BeachSAMP Document chapters:
BeachSAMP Cover/ Table of Contents/ Boothroyd Tribute/ Credits and Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Trends and Status: Current and Future Impacts of Coastal Hazards in RI
Chapter 3 Assessing Coastal Hazard Risk
Chapter 4 Rhode Island’s Exposure to Coastal Hazards
Chapter 5 RI CRMC Coastal Hazard Application Guidance
Chapter 6 State and Municipal Considerations
Chapter 7 Adaptation Strategies & Techniques