Figure 1 - Adaptation
Adaptation to Natural Coastal Processes
Adaptation
is people adapting to natural coastal processes by staying out of nature's way.
It is a strategy of siting new buildings far enough from the edge of coastal
slopes and high enough above the water that erosion won't claim them and
flooding won't reach them during their useful lives. Adaptation is also
relocating existing buildings (figure 1) inland of erosion hazard areas and designing new
buildings that can easily be relocated in case erosion is more rapid, or water
levels higher, than anticipated. Adaptation does not mean moving building sites
lakeward as lake levels drop and shorelines advance lakeward.