Digital Coast Fellowship

2020-2022 Project Summaries

Association of State Floodplain Managers: Eleanor Rappolee, from Michigan State University and nominated by Michigan Sea Grant, was matched with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (in partnership with the Coastal States Organization) to help coastal communities tackle the challenge of repeatedly flooded properties. Eleanor collaborated with Digital Coast partners and subject matter experts to establish relationships with local and state floodplain managers and identify community resilience needs. She gathered information from over 3,000 flood-prone communities, which she used to develop technical training and resources focused on mapping, risk communication, and funding assistance. These resources are featured on the ArcGIS site, Community Resilience Guide for Repetitive Flood Loss, with ongoing updates planned.

National Estuarine Research Reserve Association: Mary Schoell, from Yale University and nominated by Connecticut Sea Grant, was matched with the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association at Narragansett Bay Research Reserve to enhance coastal wetland migration pathways. Mary collaborated with coastal managers, land trust representatives, planners, and other decision-makers to identify their mapping, information, and communication needs, and synthesized these insights into comprehensive reports. Her work assessed current efforts by the Reserve System and stakeholders in protecting wetland migration pathways and developed recommendations for advancing resilience strategies through mapping, monitoring, stewardship, and community planning and engagement.

The Nature Conservancy: Anna Jane Jones, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and nominated by North Carolina Sea Grant, was matched with The Nature Conservancy to plan and implement nature-based solutions to reduce risk in hurricane-impacted regions of the Southeast United States, specifically the Florida Panhandle and the Carolinas Coastal Plain. As a Digital Coast Fellow, Anna Jane developed a portfolio of nature-based resilience projects for the Florida Panhandle, guiding investments in hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, and conservation after Hurricane Michael. She also created a case study addressing planning barriers and needs in the Winyah Bay watershed in South Carolina, impacted by multiple hurricanes. This included a needs assessment, recommendations, and a networking mechanism to improve flood resilience. Through her work, Anna Jane has gained valuable insights into equitable community engagement and overcoming related challenges.