Case Studies for Climate Change Adaptation

A list of case studies related to climate change adaptation. Select a tab below to view case studies for a particular interest.

• Air Quality
• Water Management
• Waste Management & Emergency Response
• Public Health
• Adaptation Planning

Air Quality

Case Name	Description
Bridgeport, CT Prepares for Changes in Indoor Air Quality	See how the city of Bridgeport recognized vulnerability to the impacts of climate change on IAQ as part of its BGreen initiative.
California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change	See how California is improving resiliency to particulate matter threats by planning to adapt to increased climate threats from wildfires.
Central New Mexico Prepares for Climate Change in Its Long- and Short-Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan	See how Central New Mexico is working to improve air quality by accounting for future climate change in the city’s transportation plans and ongoing projects.
Salt Lake City, Utah Adapts to Improve Air Quality Through Smart Growth	See how Salt Lake City is implementing strategies that are reducing air pollutants in anticipation of increasing threats from climate change.

Water Management

Case Name	Description
Anacortes, Washington Rebuilds Water Treatment Plant for Climate Change	See how a water utility in Washington state partnered with experts to redesign and rebuild a water utility to adapt to sea level rise and other changing climate conditions.
Blue Plains Wastewater Facility in Washington DC Reinforces Facility Against Floods	See how a wastewater utility in Washington, DC is protecting their facility by building a sea wall that accounts for higher river elevations and changing climate conditions.
Boston Raises Wastewater Facility to Avoid Inundation	See how Boston's Deer Island Water Treatment Facility redesigned their facility to account for expected sea levels and routinely evaluates performance under the best-available climate science.
Camden, New Jersey Uses Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater	See how Camden, NJ water utility used an EPA tool to assess the climate risks from projected precipitation increases and vulnerability of greater combined sewer overflows.
DC Utilizes Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater	See how the Washington, DC Water and Sewer Authority will use green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows, maintain water quality, and provide adaptive flexibility to changing climate conditions.
Fredericktown, Missouri Prepares for Climate Change Drought Risk	See how a water utility in Fredericktown, MO used an EPA tool to assess climate vulnerability for their source water from drought, erosion and sedimentation.
Iowa City, Iowa Closes Vulnerable Wastewater Facility	See how Iowa City, IA responded to riverine flooding risk by decommissioning a vulnerable facility and expanding service outside the floodplain.
Lake County, Illinois Stormwater Commission Develops a Tool to Support Wetland Restoration Planning	See how Lake County implemented a no-net-loss wetland acreage policy with a net gain in wetland function goal to improve their water quality and flood storage capacity.
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Assesses Climate Vulnerability	See how Manchester-by-the-sea used an EPA tool to help assess drinking water system vulnerability to sea level rise.
Maryland Analyzes Coastal Wetlands Susceptibility to Climate Change	See how the state of Maryland used a modeling tool to assess the vulnerability of salt marshes to projected sea level rise.
Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability	See how the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District in Minnesota considered climate projections to better understand climate threats and vulnerability to stormwater management capabilities.
Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries and Water Quality from Climate Change	See how Pennsylvania is planning to adapt to climate threats to water quality criteria and protect ecosystem health, particularly for cold water fisheries.
San Juan Bay Estuary Program Assesses Vulnerability and Targets Low Risk Adaptation Measures	See how the San Juan Bay Estuary Program assessed climate risk to the bay and identified adaptation strategies to reduce ecosystem vulnerability from changing climate conditions.
Seabrook, NH Plans for Sea-Level Rise	Learn how New Hampshire’s regional Rockingham Planning Commission helps communities prioritize resources to respond to sea-level rise.
Smart Growth Along the Riverfront Helps Manage Stormwater in Iowa City, Iowa	See how Iowa City, IA used smart growth strategies to increase climate change resiliency by removing vulnerable structures and managing stormwater along the riverfront.
Southern Nevada Water Authority Assesses Vulnerability To Climate Change	See how the Southern Nevada Water Authority used an EPA tool to better assess climate vulnerability to drought and harmful algal blooms.
Southwest Florida Assesses Salt Marsh Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise	See how Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council assessed the sea level rise climate vulnerability of marshes and wetlands and identified potential adaptation strategies.
Tampa Bay Diversifies Water Sources to Reduce Climate Risk	See how a Tampa, FL water utility reduced vulnerability and evaluated climate threats to sea level rise exacerbated saltwater intrusion.
Yakima River Basin Plans for Future Water Availability	See how federal, state, tribal, county, and city governments are working to meet water supply and ecosystem restoration needs of the Yakima River Basin.

Waste Management & Emergency Response

Case Name	Description
American Cyanamid Superfund Site Reduces Climate Exposure	See how American Cyanamid Superfund Site responded to disaster by rebuilding facilities to account for expected climate changes.
Augusta, Georgia Brownfield Cleanup	See how a simple checklist helped Augusta, GA, better understand the climate vulnerability of a Brownfields redevelopment project.
Barre City, Vermont Accounts for Climate Change within a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan	See how a brownfield site redevelopment project in Barre City, Vermont used the Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives Checklist to better understand climate vulnerability.
King County, Washington, Helps Municipalities Account for Climate Change in Local Government Services	Learn how King County, Washington is helping municipalities address climate change in local government services, including solid waste management.
Northeast Indiana Counties Collaborate to Develop Debris Management Plans	See how several Northeast Indiana counties—Noble, LaGrange, Steuben, and DeKalb—developed debris management plans with the Northeast Indiana Solid Waste Management District (NISWMD).
San Francisco Cleans Up India Basin Waterfront Brownfield Site as Part of Greenspace Development Effort	See how San Francisco is working to transform brownfields property into greenspace.

Public Health

Case Name	Description
Bridgeport, CT Prepares for Changes in Indoor Air Quality	See how the city of Bridgeport recognized vulnerability to the impacts of climate change on IAQ as part of its BGreen initiative.
California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change	See how California is improving resiliency to particulate matter threats by planning to adapt to increased climate threats from wildfires.
Central New Mexico Prepares for Climate Change in Its Long- and Short-Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan	See how Central New Mexico is working to improve air quality by accounting for future climate change in the city’s transportation plans and ongoing projects.
Chicago, IL Adapts to Improve Extreme Heat Preparedness	See how Chicago, IL is improving climate resilience to extreme heat events by engaging vulnerable communities and improving disaster response protocols.
Massachusetts Surveys Climate Readiness of Public Health Departments	See how Massachusetts has surveyed local health departments to assess vulnerability to expected climate changes.
Minnesota Assesses Climate Risk to Public Health	See how Minnesota has assessed projected public health risks from climate change across the state.
New York City Adapts To Deal with Projected Increase of Heat Waves	See how New York City has used its vulnerability assessment to anticipate and prepare for changing conditions by using adaptation strategies to reduce extreme heat vulnerability.
New York City Assesses Extreme Heat Climate Risk	See how New York City, NY assessed climate risk from extreme heat and is undertaking efforts to reduce current and future vulnerability.
Salt Lake City, Utah Adapts to Improve Air Quality Through Smart Growth	See how Salt Lake City is implementing strategies that are reducing air pollutants in anticipation of increasing threats from climate change.

Adaptation Planning

Case Name	Description
King County, Washington, Helps Municipalities Account for Climate Change in Local Government Services	Learn how King County, Washington is helping municipalities address climate change in local government services, including solid waste management.
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Identified Smart Growth Strategies for More Resilient Communities	See how the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments developed an adaptation plan with policy options for the consideration of its local jurisdictions.
The City of Boston Plans for Adaptation	See the process by which the Boston city government assessed vulnerability and developed an adaptation plan to respond to sea level rise and other climate risks.
Quinault Indian Nation Plans for Relocation	See how the Quinault Indian Nation is considering climate (sea level rise, storm surge, and river flooding) and non-climate (tsunami) risks together to form a village relocation plan.