Technical Assistance & Current Projects
- Marshes on the Margin: Developing Tidal Wetlands Adaptation Strategies in Southern California
This is a project of the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, funded by a NOAA Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise grant. The project seeks to understand how estuaries, like Los Cerritos Wetlands, will change with sea level rise, and then work to develop natural and nature-based solutions, and promote collaborative networks to understand tradeoffs between management strategies.
- Regional AdaptLA: Sea Level Rise Planning for Los Angeles
A team of experts is developing a comprehensive shoreline change and coastal erosion model for the Los Angeles region. USC Sea Grant is building capacity throughout the region to enable coastal jurisdictions to utilize this new information in adaptive adaptation planning. - Southern California Coastal Impacts Project
USC Sea Grant is providing technical assistance and outreach on the CoSMoS model for the Southern California region to help build capacity in coastal communities as they begin to plan for impacts from sea level rise. - 2016 California Climate Adaptaion Needs Assessment Survey
A survey was conducted during summer 2016 of nearly 700 coastal professionals to assess how they are preparing for the impacts of climate change. What challenges do they face? What information, technical training, and science is needed? Results will help the state determine where more guidance, financial resources, and science resources are needed to help them effectively invest funds. Results will also help USC Sea Grant fine tune how to best work with communities to advance adaptation planning.
- Santa Monica Pier 'Owl' Virtual Reality Installation
USC Sea Grant helped develop a new virtual reality installation that will be on the Santa Monica Pier from November 14 to December 31, 2016. The installation, nicknamed the “Owl” due to its appearance, is a pair of freestanding viewers that reveal how sea level rise will affect the Santa Monica shoreline. Will its iconic beaches be underwater in 30 years? Visualizations are also available online and via smart phone here: http://mobileowl.co/samo/
- Climate Change and Hazard Mitigation: Local Plans & Resources
USC Sea Grant is providing technical assistance to the L.A. City Emergency Management Department as they update the City's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- City of Imperial Beach Sea Level Rise Study
USC Sea Grant is helping the City of Imperial Beach identify and utilize the best available scientific information to assess the City's vulnerability to sea level rise and coastal storms and to guide the City in identifying appropriate adaptation strategies.
- Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Study for the City of Los Angeles
This study provides an assessment of the potential physical, social and economic impacts of sea level rise on the City's resources and population, as well as the possible impacts to coastal and shoreline assets. This report was released in 2014. - USC Dornsife 2020 - Climate Change in the Southern California Bight
This project focused on integrating data, technology and interdisciplinary environmental research to create effective solutions to climate change in the urban coastal ocean. - Climate Change Adaptation Survey: Rising to the Challenge - Results of the 2011 California Coastal Adaptation Needs Assessment
The survey assesses the needs and barriers coastal communities have in planning for climate change, including appropriate trainings and technical assistance needed, and the best way to link communities to resources and tools already available.
