Climate Science and Policy

Low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise and flooding. The City of Imperial Beach (IB), California currently experiences inundation effects that will intensify as sea levels rise. Inundation in IB has previously been studied by Sangsefidi et al., who explored the importance of studying the compounding impacts of isolated phenomena (e.g. sea level rise, groundwater, precipitation). Understanding regional adaptation priorities, stakeholder concerns, and implementation strategies is essential for coastal resilience and adaptation planning under projected climate impacts. This study used geospatial visualization and interviews with key decision-makers and stakeholders to assess current adaptation efforts and identify implementation barriers in Imperial Beach. Findings indicate that stakeholders have differing priorities, with City officials targeting beach nourishment projects to protect property and public access and estuary managers focusing on dune restoration and nature-based solutions in their territory. Service providers are focused on being able to maintain service provision as necessary in the future, the main approach being to protect assets where they are. However, complicated regulatory processes make project implementation difficult despite broader support for these adaptive measures, leaving city officials unequipped to carry out innovative projects without significant time and resources allocated to them.