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.