Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy

Background

In coastal areas of the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), sea levels are expected to rise as a result of climate change, which will increase flooding from coastal storms. Planning for these changes now will help reduce costs and impacts in the future. In 2018, the Province directed Local Governments to plan for 1 metre of sea level rise. To address this and other climate-related coastal flood issues, the CVRD is developing a Coastal Flood Adaptation Strategy (CFAS).

Project goals include:

  • Minimize risks and vulnerabilities and increase community resiliency from climate change impacts. 
  • Build adaptive capacity to respond effectively to climate change impacts over time. 
  • Increase awareness and education among CVRD staff, external parties and the community to enhance coastal adaptation and flood risk understanding and capacity. 
  • Strengthen the relationship between the CVRD and external stakeholders. 
  • Develop preferred adaptation options for managing coastal flood resiliency and mitigating coastal flood hazards.
  • Prioritize coastal flood adaptation efforts.

The CVRD has taken a multi-phased approach in developing the strategy. Regulatory Coastal Floodplain Mapping from Phase 1 is available.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3 (Current Step)