The City of Gloucester has developed a vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan to address climate change risks. This builds on past efforts including a 2010 hazard mitigation plan and 2011-2012 LIDAR and GIS data collection. Key aspects of the plan include identifying critical infrastructure and assets, modeling sea level rise and storm surge flooding for 2030 and 2070, assessing risks, and developing adaptation strategies. High risk areas were prioritized and include the waste water treatment plant and certain pump stations. Long term recommendations include installing lock gates and strategically raising roads to protect low-lying areas including the treatment plant and schools. Funding was provided through various state and federal grants totaling over $500,000.

1. City of Gloucester
Climate Change Vulnerability
Assessment and Adaptation Planning

2. • Successful Development of Vulnerability Assessment
• The Right Team – Coastal Resilience Working Group
• Built on Past Efforts
• Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2010) – Critical Asset Inventory
• Citywide LIDAR and GIS (2011-2012) – Robust Dataset
• Useful Tools (Critical Elevations, Risk Assessment, Viewer)
• Prioritization (Infrastructure Life Cycle vs. Risk)*
• Regulatory Review (Risk vs. Economic Development)**
• Adaptation Project Implementation (Green Infrastructure)
• Protecting Critical Infrastructure – Enhancing Natural Resources
• Little River Floodplain and Habitat Restoration
• Questions

3. • Successful Development of Vulnerability Assessment
• The Right Team – Coastal Resilience Working Group
• Built on Past Efforts
• Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan (2010) – Critical Asset Inventory
• Citywide LIDAR and GIS (2011-2012) – Robust Dataset
• Useful Tools (Critical Elevations, Risk Assessment, Viewer)
• Prioritization (Infrastructure Life Cycle vs. Risk)*
• Regulatory Review (Risk vs. Economic Development)**
• Adaptation Project Implementation (Green Infrastructure)
• Protecting Critical Infrastructure – Enhancing Natural Resources
• Little River Floodplain and Habitat Restoration
• Questions

4. Administration
Elected City Council
Planning Board
Clean Energy Comm.
Conservation Comm.
DPW/Engineering
Planning staff
Health Department
Members of Public
Plus Kleinfelder - WHG
CZM

5. Asset Inventory High Res Topo

6. 6
Priority-
planning
areas
Project Approach
Phase I
Sea Level Rise/Storm
Surge Projections
Scenario Development
Phase II
Mapping Inundation
Modeling Results
Vulnerability/Risk
Assessment
Phase III
Develop Adaptation
Strategies
Probability of occurrence
Consequenceofimpact

7. 7
• 2013 - Present
• 2030 – 15 years out – Near term
• 2070 – 55 years out – Long term
• Future Conditions - Not Cause
Planning Horizons

8. 8
Not “worst-case” scenarios
but
“worst-likely” scenarios
A Probability-Based Model

9. 9
Estimate of impact
General Strategies
Big Picture Approaches
Adaptation Strategies

10. Enhanced Critical
Asset inventory
Accurate modelling
Risk assessment
Recommendations:
Policies, Priorities
& Projects
Dynamic tools only
made possible by grant
funding!

14. 14
Depth of Flooding
above Ground (ft.)
Essex Ave at Western Ave
2030: 1% Annual Probability (≈100 yr Recurrence)

15. 15
Depth of Flooding
above Ground (ft.)
Essex Ave at Western Ave
2070: 1% Annual Probability (≈100 yr Recurrence)

16. 16
Flooding Consequence -Measure of Risk?
• Area of service loss
• Duration of service loss
• Cost of damage
• Impacts to public safety and emergency
services
• Impacts to economic activities
• Impacts to public health and the environment

17. 17
RESULTS
Facilities/Buildings
All are at or above 1% Flood Elevation in 2030
Some facilities subject to extreme flooding in 2030
Waste Water Treatment Plant
Pump Stations at highest risk:
Thatcher Rd, Good Harbor
Senior Center
A number of facilities buildings subject to some
degree of flooding in 2070

18. 18
RESULTS
Facilities/Buildings
All are at or above 1% Flood Elevation in 2030
Some facilities subject to extreme flooding in 2030
Waste Water Treatment Plant
Pump Stations at highest risk:
Thatcher Rd, Good Harbor
Senior Center
A number of facilities buildings subject to some
degree of flooding in 2070

19. 19
LONG TERM THOUGHTS
Recommendation:
Install lock gates at Blynman
Canal, and Rt 128 at
Annisquam River or Rail
causeway, in concert with
strategically raising roadway
elevations and/or adding
roadside walls
Protects City Assets:
• WWTP
• High School/Emergency
Dispensing Site
• Riverside Ave PS
• Leslie O Johnson Rd
• Centennial Ave
• Kent Circle
• PLUS Rt 133, Rt 127
Blynman
Canal

20. 20
Outer Harbor – Hurricane Barrier?

35. • City of Gloucester
• Department Ecological Restoration
• NOAA and Gulf of Maine Council for the Marine
Environment
• Mass Audubon
• Wellspring House
• US Fish and Wildlife
• Engineer: Milone and MacBroom, Inc.
• Contractor RC&D Providence
• COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

36. $54,815 Department of Ecological Restoration (Design)
$43,000 Gulf of Maine Council for the Marine
Environment, NOAA (Design and Fish Monitoring)
$50,000 USFWS (Construction and monitoring)
Coastal Zone Management Green Infrastructure Grant:
$400,000 (Construction)
City of Gloucester: $150,000* (Construction)
Volunteers (monitoring - fish counting) - Priceless

37. Finding the right funding fit – change grant priorities
Support for Project - City Funding
Identify Cash or Bond
Bond Authorization:
MGL Chapter 44, Section 7(1)
Sets project type, eligibility, duration
Surface drainage improvement 
New explicit category needed?
Always offer food at public meetings!

38. Thank You! Questions?
planning@gloucester-ma.gov