SPCMSC Coastal Change Hazards researchers awarded FY21 Risk Research and Applications Funding to assess coastal vulnerabilities in Puerto Rico

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Underrepresented communities are disproportionately impacted by coastal hazards. This project will connect existing Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program projects investigating coastal hazards to communities in Puerto Rico through a focused stakeholder engagement process and identify coastal hazard research needs in these communities. The objectives are to: identify and communicate existing USGS data, knowledge, and tools available to assess coastal hazards; establish connections with relevant stakeholders to understand their needs; host two stakeholder engagement workshops in San Juan and Mayagüez to build relationships and determine where information gaps exist; and identify research needs wherein future USGS projects can better support coastal decision-making in Puerto Rico. Anticipated stakeholders include federal partners, coastal communities, coastal managers, local government officials planning mitigation measures and managing disaster relief, and researchers and scientists conducting coastal research in Puerto Rico. Products and outcomes of the proposed work include 1) bilingual geonarrative on shoreline change in Puerto Rico to engage stakeholders and to provide critical information in a user-friendly format; 2) training protocols on various USGS tools that aid in coastal management decisions; and 3) collaborations with academic researchers at the University of Puerto Rico, scientists at the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Centers, and Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center in Puerto Rico, as well as other federal agencies to support planning and coordination of future projects there.