Rhode Island Sea Level Rise

AQUIDNECK ISLAND SEA LEVEL RISE STUDIO

CPLN 705 Studio, Fall 2020 - University of Pennsylvania, School of Design

MEET THE STUDIO

Benita Lily Cheng Urban Design & Environmental Planning

Linhan Fu Public-Private Development

Huidi Hu Smart Cities

Kellie King Land Use & Environmental Planning

Maddy Kornhauser Housing, Community & Economic Development

Xintian Stella Li Transportation & Infrastructure

Erin Monroe Housing, Community & Economic Development

Ejiro Ojeni Land Use & Environmental Planning

Katherine Payne Housing, Community & Economic Development

I

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

Yilin Ren Urban Design

Stewart Scott Urban Design

Jingzong Wang Transportation

Scott Page Interface Studio

Jamie Granger Interface Studio

Teresa Crean URI Coastal Resources Center/RI Sea Grant

This plan was created as part of a Fall 2020 Studio at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. The Studio brought together twelve city planning students with a broad range of focuses and interests including urban design, transportation, land use, real estate, and community & economic development.

The Studio would like to thank our instructors Scott Page and Jamie Granger for guiding us through this process. We would also like to give a special thanks to Teresa Crean of the Coastal Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island for her deep knowledge and for being a seemingly limitless supply of resources. Representing communities across Aquidneck Island, we are deeply thankful to Peter Friedrichs and Sarah Atkins from Newport, Rita Lavoie from Middletown, Gary Crosby from Portsmouth, and Cornelia Mueller from Naval Station Newport. We also extend our gratitude to Pam Rubinoff of the Coastal Resource Center, Jennifer West of the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Rachel Calabro of the RI Department of Health, Jean Riesman with the Newport Health Equity Zone, Kevin Hively of Ninigret Partners, and Erin Donovan-Boyle of the Newport Chamber of Commerce for aiding in our research projects. We would like to thank Rhode Island’s Chief Resilience Officer Shaun O’Rourke, the City of Philadelphia’s Floodplain Manager Josh Lippert, and Scott Bishop of Bishop Land Design for visiting our class as guest lecturers. Finally, we’d like to thank the van Beuren Charitable Foundation for funding our work. We could not have done this without all your extensive knowledge and generous support.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

51

55

• Figures • Texts

Appendices

PREFACE

23

• Overview • Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection • Enhancing Source Water Protection • Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth • Atlantic Beach Redesign • North End Redesign

Projects

1

• Vision • Goals

Vision & Goals

I

• Demographics • Housing and Development • Economy • Environment • Infrastructure • Current Planning Actions

Existing Conditions

• Overview • History • Climate Change • Municipal Resilience Program

Context

Preface

III

• Meet the Studio • Acknowledgements

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Context

1 Overview 2 History 10 Climate Change 13 Municipal Resilience Program 18

Reviewing Aquidneck Island’s culture, people, and land, this section provides a basic overview of the Island and explores its relationship to the water. Additionally, this section introduces the Island’s exposure to increasingly common floods and coastal storms over the coming decades, which will pose a unique threat to its communities.

Figure 3 Portsmouth

Overview

Portsmouth

Aquidneck Island is the largest island in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Three municipalities call the Island home: Newport in the south, Portsmouth in the north and Middletown in the middle. The Island is just under 40 square miles and the highest point sits 260 feet above sea level. Today, the island is largely known as a picturesque, coastal retreat that has attracted visitors to its beautiful beaches for centuries.

Figure 4 Middletown

While Aquidneck Island is a popular vacation destination, it is much more than that. In addition to the substantial economic activity generated from the tourism industry, Naval Station Newport is home to nearly 6 thousand civilian and military jobs and is the third largest employer in the state. The island is also a cultural center with a unique collection of historic architecture from multiple time periods that holds local, state, and national significance.

Newport 0

Figure 1 Rhode Island and Aquidneck Island Context

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CONTEXT

Middletown

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Figure 5 Newport CliffWalk

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Figure 2 Map of the three towns on Aquidneck Island CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Source: Naval Station Newport; 2014-2018 ACS; Newport Comprehensive Plan; Tourism Economics, 2018; US News & World Report

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CONTEXT

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Source: 2014-2018 ACS; City of Newport; Town of Middletown; Town of Portsmouth; Vision Government Solutions CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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History

20th Century While the tourist economy remained strong into the 20th century, the island also experienced growth in other industries. Notably, the U.S. Navy stationed their destroyer fleet at Naval Station Newport following World War II. This led to a substantial population boom on the island and growth in defense-related industries. Unfortunately, the island’s economy suffered another blow in the 1970’s when the U.S. Navy transferred their fleet away from Newport, resulting in the loss of many jobs.

Pre-Colonial & Colonial The communities on Aquidneck Island predate the United States. English settlers purchased the land from the Narragansett Tribe in 1637 and settled first in the town of Portsmouth and in Newport a few years later. In 1730, Middletown separated from Newport and became its own town. During the colonial period, Newport distinguished itself as a lucrative commercial hub by trading rum, fish, manufactured goods, and slaves while Portsmouth and Middletown grew as fruitful agricultural communities. Unfortunately, the British blockade of Narragansett Bay during the Revolutionary War caused an abrupt end to this prosperity.

This blockade shifted Rhode Island’s economic center to Providence and resulted in decline on Aquidneck Island.

Precolonial Precolonial & Colonial & Colonial

19th Century 19th Century

19th Century Due to these changing economic fates, Aquidneck Island transitioned towards being a “summer colony” for elite Americans, who constructed extravagant summer mansions that remain a draw for visitors today.

This move away from industrialization allowed Aquidneck to preserve its colonial architecture and much of its farmland. These features attracted artists and writers to the island who were influential in cultivating Aquidneck’s romantic and antiquarian character.

Figure 6 History Timeline

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CONTEXT

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

20th Century 20th Century

RecentRecent Past Past

Recent Past Today, the Navy is still the island’s largest employer, but the economy also relies heavily on tourism and culture. The island draws visitors interested in Aquidneck’s unique heritage tourism and its rich selection of musical and artistic events, such as the annual Newport Jazz Festival. These events highlight the island’s importance as an economic engine and cultural touchstone for the state of Rhode Island.

Aquidneck Island’s rich cultural past is essential to its identity and economy. And central to that history is the ever-present and ever-changing connection to the ocean.

The community’s proximity to water has long been an important source of its economic success due to its strategic position for trade and defense and its natural seaside beauty.

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Land Use

Common Fence Point

Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential Island Park

Water Major Road

Figure 8 Island Park Figure 7 Aerial view of the Aquidneck Island MAJOR LAND USES ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND Aquidneck Island is primarily residential.

Residential land use is scattered across a significant portion of Aquidneck Island, with the densest clusters occurring in the southern portion of Newport, and the northern portion of Portsmouth, (Figure 10).

Aquidneck Island also contains several clusters of commercial corridors and areas, (Figure 13). Some of this commercial presence, particularly in the Waterfront Business and Traditional Maritime zoning areas around Newport Harbor, point to the significance of maritime business on the

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CONTEXT

island. Several of these areas, however, will be exposed to sea level rise including Thames Street in Newport, the Atlantic Beach District in Middletown, and Melville in Portsmouth.

North End

There is also a long tradition of agriculture on Aquidneck Island and much of the Island’s land is used for this purpose. There is a high concentration of agricultural land use in the eastern and middle section of the island, (Figure 16).

Atlantic Beach

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Figure 9 Newport Heights EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Figure 10 Residential Land Use CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Land Use

Land Use

Commercial

Agriculture

Water

Water

Major Road

Major Road E Main Rd Commercial Corridor

Figure 11 Thames Street

Figure 14 Sweet Berry Farms

W Main/ Coddington Development Center

Thames St

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Figure 12 Atlantic Beach District

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CONTEXT

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Figure 13 Commercial Land Use EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Figure 15 Newport Vineyards

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Figure 16 Agricultural Land Use CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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AQUIDNECK’S RESIDENTS

Middletown

Aquidneck Island is home to about 58 thousand residents, or about 5% of Rhode Island’s total population. 85% of island residents are white, 5% are Black and the remaining 10% identify as another race.

The typical Aquidneck resident is slightly older than the rest of Rhode Island with a median age of 42 years.

Newport

Portsmouth

Aquidneck

Median Household Income (2009 - 2018)

Since 2009, the Island has generally become wealthier with the overall median household income increasing by over $10k, (Figure 18). Today, the median household income is $75 thousand, which is roughly $12 thousand higher than Rhode Island’s statewide income. At the same time, the Island is becoming more diverse with the overall share of white residents accounting for nearly 10% less of the total population in 2018 than in 2009, (Figure 19).

$120,000

100%

$100,000

95%

$80,000

90%

$60,000

85%

$40,000

80%

$20,000

75%

$0

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Figure 18 Aquidneck’s Median Household Income

White

Black

70%

White Population (%) (2009 - 2018)

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Figure 19 Aquidneck’s White Population

Other Race

Figure 17 Aquidneck’s Residents

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CONTEXT

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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STORM EVENTS Though Aquidneck Island’s fortunes have long been tied to the ocean, so are its greatest existential threats. Many of the island’s residents and physical assets are left exposed to sea level rise and increasingly common and destructive storm events. While the island has a long history of adapting to the sea, sea level rise is changing this relationship at a faster rate than ever before. This poses a unique threat to Aquidneck Island’s economy and way of life.

Hurricane Bob (1991) Tropical Storm Irene (2011) Hurricane of ‘38

Precolonial & Colonial

19th Century

20th Century

Recent Past

Climate Change SEA LEVEL RISE

Hurricane Carol (1954) Hurricane Sandy (2012)

Figure 20 Storm Events

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CONTEXT

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

As measured at the Newport tide gauge, the sea level has risen over 10 inches since 1930. Aquidneck residents are already seeing the effects of these changes through increasingly common flooding and coastal erosion. According to NOAA’s 2017 “high curve” projection, shaded in red, the sea level is projected to rise by 3.25 feet by 2050, 6.69 feet by 2080, and 9.6 feet by 2100, (Figure 21). Despite localized differences, the three sea level rise scenarios look relatively similar; therefore the studio chose to utilize the 10 feet of sea level rise plus storm scenario as the basis

Figure 21 NOAA 2017 Sea Level Rise Change Scenarios for Newport

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SLR 3

SLR 10

SLR 3

SLR 10

SLR 10 with storm

SLR 10

SLR 10 with storm

SLR 10 with storm

Common Fence Point

Common Fence Point

Common Fence Point

Island Park

Island Park

Island Park

Melville Commercial Area

Melville Commercial Area

Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Middletown

Middletown

North End

North End

North End

Newport Harbor

Newport Harbor

Newport Harbor Easton’s Beach

Newport

Newport

Point Neighborhood 0

Figure 22 SLR3_SCENARIO

Easton’s Beach

Newport

Point Neighborhood

CONTEXT

Portsmouth

Middletown

Easton’s Beach

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Melville Commercial Area

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Figure 23 SLR3_SLR7_SCENARIO EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Figure 24 SLR3_SLR7_SLR10_SCENARIO.pdf CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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for its analysis. This allows the studio to plan over a longer time horizon and prepare the island for a worst-case scenario.

INCREASED STORM ACTIVITY Another effect of climate change is increased storm activity. According to scientific research, hurricanes and tropical storms are likely to increase in frequency and intensity in the Atlantic basin, including along the East Coast. Intense rainfall events have increased 71% since 1958 in New England and the average annual precipitation has grown by more than 10 inches since 1930 in Rhode Island, (Figure 25).

CHANGING BIODIVERSITY Climate change is also altering the ecology and distribution of plants and animals.

Cold-water iconic fishery species (e.g., cod, winter flounder, hake, lobster) are moving north out of Rhode Island waters. This change in the environmental biodiversity could impact recreational fishing, the commercial catch, and other tourism-related industries.

Figure 26 Since 1980, winter flounder in the Narragansett Bay watershed have declined by 90 percent

Figure 25 Average annual precipitation in Rhode Island

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CONTEXT

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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NEWPORT PRIORITIES While Newport is still completing the MRP process, its participants have released a drafted summary of their top priorities.

A few common themes are apparent: the need for additional planning, particularly related to drinking water reservoirs and updates to zoning in identified vulnerable areas; the need for an evaluation of flood protection infrastructure; and the need

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CONTEXT

Middletown is also completing the MRP process and has released a drafted top priorities summary. The town’s priorities emphasized stormwater management as a main issue, outlining needs such as the creation of a stormwater management plan, a stormwater utility, and stormwater management educational outreach. Other top priorities include dedicated funding sources for resiliency projects and land acquisition.

PORTSMOUTH PRIORITIES Portsmouth has completed its MRP process and has released a finalized Summary of Findings report. Many categories of priorities were identified, including the need for further capacity building, additional green stormwater infrastructure projects, the identification and prioritization of natural restoration projects, the establishment of a command post, the broad need for land acquisition (for enhanced resiliency, watershed protection, and for potential managed retreat), and enhanced island-wide communication efforts.

EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MRP Priorities:

mo uth Po rts

MIDDLETOWN PRIORITIES

The studio’s assessment of Aquidneck Island’s existing conditions, issues, and opportunities were framed in part by the priorities found through the MRP process.

Some of the priorities are incorporated at a high level into all of the studio’s final projects, such as the understanding of the importance of community outreach and engagement, the need for clear financing mechanisms, the need for flood mitigation infrastructure and techniques, and the need for updates to zoning to allow for resilience measures. Other studio projects address specific priorities found through the MRP, including: • Portsmouth’s priority to assess property risk and explore strategic retreat, transfer of development rights, and zoning modification through the “Managed Retreat” project • Newport’s priority to utilize the North End redesign to increase multimodal facilities and incorporate green water infrastructure improvements through the “North End Redesign” project • Island-wide priorities to plan for, and finance, drinking water protection through the “Enhancing Source Water Protection” project

Increase emergency shelter spaces

Update zoning to comply with resiliency measures

n ow

At the local level, Aquidneck Island communities have begun organizing around the need for increased resiliency, notably through the Municipal Resilience Program (MRP). The MRP is a state-wide program funded by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) and is implemented at the city level. Through the program, communities organize their top priorities for climate resilience and selected programs are considered for RIIB funding. Portsmouth participated in the 2019 cohort and Newport and Middletown participated in the 2020 cohort. This work at the state and local levels is incredibly important and has informed much of the work of this studio.

STUDIO INCORPORATION

let dd Mi

Municipal Resilience Program

to identify available financing mechanisms.

More than the MRP findings from the other localities, Newport had a clear social equity lens on their priorities. These include increased broadband accessibility and affordability, increased support for public education, addressing economic mobility and small business challenges, and an increased supply of affordable housing.

Identify locations for green stormwater infrastructure and other flood mitigation Enhance Island-wide communication Tree canopy coverage equity/maintenance Enhance public outreach and education Coordinate utility efforts across entities Secure financing streams Protect reservoirs from saltwater intrusion

Newport Figure 27 Island Priorities

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Existing Conditions

23 Demographics Housing and Development Economy Environment Infrastructure Current Planning Actions

24 27 31 34 38 44

The Existing Conditions section provides an in-depth look at the people, infrastructure, and Island assets that are exposed to sea level rise on Aquidneck Island. With a substantial number of residents living in areas projected to be exposed to sea level rise by 2100 and billions of dollars in property value estimated to be exposed, this is a major concern for Aquidneck Island.

PEOPLE OF COLOR AND POOR FAMILIES

Who is At Risk with Sea Level Rise?

On Aquidneck Island, sea level rise will impact residents across racial and economic lines. Both white and non-white residents currently reside in areas that will be inundated and experience storm surges, (Figure 30). This also holds true for families of varying economic status with households both above and below the poverty line exposed to sea level rise, (Figure 31).

However, there is a sizable area in the North End neighborhood of Newport that has a higher share of families experiencing poverty and minorities. This area is exposed to sea level rise under the SLR 10 + storm surge scenario. These residents may not have the resources to protect themselves from a storm event or relocate if necessary, so any planning efforts must take care to ensure that this area has the proper resources and assistance.

Demographics ELDERLY POPULATION People aged 65 and older are more likely to suffer storm and flood-related fatalities. Residents within this age bracket are also more likely to live in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and to suffer from disabilities, limited mobility, or chronic medical conditions. In the case of an evacuation, health impacts could be worsened by interruptions in medical care and challenges associated with transferring these residents, their medication, and their medical records. 19% of Aquidneck Island’s population is 65 and older and more than half of these older residents live in areas that will be inundated under the SLR 10 + storm surge scenario. As the SLR 10 + storm surge scenario is a good indicator of temporary inundation in the near future, this population may be at risk far sooner than 2100.

Figure 28 Residents ages 65 and older have a higher risk of being negatively impacted by SLR due to preexisting health conditions

Legend

Aquidneck Island’s older residents are vulnerable to sea level rise

57%

SLR 10 with Storm Surge North End Neighborhood

of residents 65 & over

live in indundated areas in SLR 10 + surge scenario

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4,000

6,000

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Figure 29 Elderly Demographics

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Minority Population 0- 9 % 9 - 18% 18 - 27% 27 - 36% 36- 45%

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Figure 30 North End has a higher concentration of families experiencing poverty and people of color exposed to SLR CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Housing and Development A HERITAGE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION Over one-third of Aquidneck Island’s 30 thousand housing units are historic homes built before 1940, (Figure 32). The Island’s historic housing encompasses an array of architectural styles, including simple woodframed structures built by the Quakers, early barns and farmhouses, and large colonial summer homes. Many of these houses date back to the mid-17th century.

This unique collection of houses is important to the Island’s identity and character and is a collective asset that the community is very motivated to preserve.

Legend SLR 10 with Storm Surge North End Neighborhood Families below Poverty Level 0- 8% 8 - 16% 16 - 27% 27 - 32% 32 - 40%

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

1 Dot = 6 housing units 0

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Figure 31 North End has a higher concentration of families experiencing poverty and people of color exposed to SLR VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Built in1939 or earlier Built in1940 and later

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Figure 32 Historic Housing on Aquidneck Island is clustered in Newport.

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Island’s rapid development. Other factors contributing to this sprawling development may be decreasing household size, a general churn in the housing market, and the “Airbnb effect”, in which homeowners acquire property to use as short-term rentals. If this trend continues and the Island does not act to conserve its unprotected open space, Aquidneck could be entirely built up by 2050. This development pattern would put additional strain on infrastructure and resources, as well as threaten the natural space valued by the Island’s residents and visitors.

Figure 33 Example of a Historic Home in ‘The Point’, Newport THE POINT, NEWPORT Of the three municipalities, Newport has the largest share of older homes, with 53% of the housing stock being built before 1940. In comparison, only 11% of homes in Middletown and 15% of homes in Portsmouth were built before 1940. In fact, Newport has the highest concentration of colonial-era historic homes in the entire country. These homes are largely located in The Point neighborhood directly north of Newport Harbor, though many of the structures are not actually original to the neighborhood. They were instead moved to The Point through the Newport Restoration

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Figure 34 Overdevelopment Scenario Per Aquidneck Island Build-Out Study

ABOUT 1,800 HOUSING UNITS ARE EXPOSED Island-wide sprawl may also lead to increased development within the area exposed under the SLR 10 + storm surge scenario, placing more people and property in harm’s way. Overdevelopment also compromises the availability of safer ground available to replace housing and other structures destroyed by sea level rise and coastal storms.

Housing units exposed to SLR 10 + surge

newport north (the point)

Figure 35 Newport North (the Point)

As is, About 1,800 housing units on Aquidneck Island stand to be permanently inundated by the SLR 10 scenario, resulting in an estimated 3,600 residents being impacted.

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PLANNED GROWTH AND SEA LEVEL RISE Related to Aquidneck Island’s development, the state defined an Urban Services Boundary in the State of Rhode Island’s Land Use 2025 plan. On Aquidneck Island the Urban Services Boundary encompasses much of the Island’s west side. The boundary indicates areas where more public services are anticipated to accommodate more intensive development.

Foundation’s efforts to preserve much of the city’s 18th and 19th century housing stock in 1968. Today, many of the homes are used as rental housing.

UNPROTECTED LAND IS UNDER THREAT Aquidneck Island faces an overdevelopment problem. According to the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, 6,200 new housing units have been built since 1980, all while the population has remained relatively flat. This new development has largely taken the form of residential sprawl. Given that Aquidneck Island is a summer destination, growth in the second home market is a likely contributing factor in the

In effect, the boundary demonstrates the island’s capacity to absorb future growth.

The Land Use 2025 Plan directs the State and local communities to concentrate growth inside the Urban Services Boundary and within locally designated centers in rural VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Figure 37 Inundation of residential properties under 10 ft. Sea Level Rise Scenario

newport south (large u-shaped concentration of points

Figure 36 Newport South (large u-shaped concentration of points)

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Figure 39 Island Park

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Figure 38 Inundation of residential properties under 10 ft. Sea Level Rise Scenario in Portsmouth

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Economy

areas. However, certain areas within the Urban Services Boundary are projected to be vulnerable to sea level rise, (Figure 39).

This includes the northern tip of Portsmouth, specifically the neighborhoods of Common Fence Point, Island Park, and The Hummocks, as well as commercial areas near Newport Harbor.

DEFENSE, HEALTHCARE & EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND TOURISM ARE AQUIDNECK’S PRIMARY EMPLOYMENT SECTORS Aquidneck Island’s economy is driven by a few main sectors: the defense cluster, institutions, and tourism, (Figure 40). There are also a number of smaller industries, such as agricultural and manufacturing, that are historically important to the cultural identity of the island and its separate municipalities.

At the state-level, the top five economic sectors in 2019 make up about 60% of overall employment. Similar to Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island’s maritime and defense industries represent a substantial share of the economy and are historically important to identity; the U.S. Navy is the third largest employer in the state. Other major strengths are healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism, all of which are seen as having significant growth potential.

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Urban Services Boundary SLR10ft with Storm Surge

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

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Employment by Sector, 2019 Government (including Navy) (5%)

Middletown

Professional & Technical Services (22%)

Retail (13%)

Healthcare & Social Assistance (12%)

Accommodation & Food Services (15%)

All other sectors (33%)

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (5%)

Newport

Retail (8%)

Healthcare & Social Assistance (9%)

All other sectors (22%)

Goverment (including Navy) (32%)

Accommodation & Food Services (24%)

Accommodation & Food Services (8%)

Portsmouth

Retail (9%)

Manufacturing (24%)

Goverment (including Navy) (11%)

Healthcare & Social Assistance (15%)

All other sectors (33%)

Retail (9%)

Aquidneck Island

Retail (10%)

Professional Healthcare & & Social Technical Assistance Services (11%) (9%)

Accommodation & Food Services (18%)

Goverment (including Navy) (20%)

All other sectors (32%)

Manufacturing (8%)

Rhode Island

Retail (10%)

0%

Healthcare & Social Assistance (17%)

20%

Accommodation & Food Services (11%)

40%

Goverment (13%)

All other sectors (41%)

60%

80%

100%

Figure 40 Employment by Sector

°

Figure 39 Urban Services Boundary VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS THE DEFENSE CLUSTER Comprised of U.S. military activity and private companies working in the defense sector, this economic cluster draws on the strength of Naval Station Newport. The Navy is the largest employer in Newport County; Naval Station Newport has roughly 5,800 military and civilian employees. The private defense industry also continues to grow.

However, all of Aquidneck’s municipalities have expressed concern that their economies are overly reliant on naval operations and should diversify to increase resilience.

AGRICULTURE Farming activity on Aquidneck Island began in the 1630s and continues to be a vital part of the Island’s identity.

However, farmland has slowly been converted to other uses and still faces significant development pressure.

Middletown and Portsmouth have taken steps to preserve their agricultural land by promoting direct-to-consumer marketing and agritourism among farmers. Aquidneck Land Trust, a local land preservation and stewardship organization, has permanently conserved over 1,100 acres of farmland across 30 properties. For the farms that remain, the biggest commodities on the Island are vegetables, beef cattle, poultry and eggs, and aquaculture.

TOURISM & RETAIL Tourists are attracted to Aquidneck Island’s historic charm and recreational opportunities. Newport famously attracts roughly 3.5 million tourists annually to see its Gilded Age mansions and attend festivals. Tourism-related jobs have grown in the last decade across the island, and the sector has spurred investment in hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-dependent business. Retail serves local demand, especially in Middletown (the Island’s primary retail center); seasonal tourists are also important to the vitality of the Island’s retail, especially on Newport’s Thames Street corridor.

WHAT’S AT RISK WITH SEA LEVEL RISE? A number of key economic centers across Aquidneck Island are vulnerable to sea level rise due to their coastal locations, including the working waterfronts of Melville and Newport Harbor; the defense cluster zone near Naval Station Newport; and the commercial Thames Street corridor and Atlantic Beach District. A number of these economic centers double as major tourist destinations. Diverse employment opportunities are needed to attract and retain residents--the Island’s population is currently declining--but with major sectors of the economy vulnerable to SLR, Aquidneck Island could struggle to attract talent in the future.

Over 600 parcels across Aquidneck Island that generate $21 million in annual commercial property taxes will be exposed to sea level rise and storm surge by 2100.

THE WORKING WATERFRONT & THE BLUE ECONOMY The blue economy includes everything from marine construction and transportation to tourism, manufacturing, and aquaculture. Aquidneck Island’s West Side, especially Melville in Portsmouth, boasts a large concentration of recreational boat building businesses, such as large yacht building and repair. These working waterfronts and the larger blue economy continue to evolve, including around entrepreneurship and innovation. Aquidneck Island is poised to make connections between industries such as the Navy, research and educational institutions, defense contractors, and marine manufacturing companies.

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Environment RECREATION SITES WILL BE INUNDATED Aquidneck Island is home to 82 recreational sites that host a variety of educational, entertainment, and nature-based activities.

Fort Adams in Newport, for example, preserves and interprets the area’s long history of military activity and is also the site of the world-renowned annual Newport Jazz Festival. Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge contains important breeding and nesting sites for migratory birds, including the threatened piping plover, and visitors can enjoy its 2.5 miles of trails and coastal vistas. These recreational sites add to Aquidneck Island’s vibrant character and are important to the local ecosystem.

Local organizations are working to preserve these recreational sites against development pressures and to better connect residents and visitors to Aquidneck Island’s natural resources. One such organization is the Aquidneck Land Trust, which holds 11% of the total land area of the Island under conservation. Another notable organization is the Newport Open Space Partnership, which works to make Newport’s recreational sites more equitable, connected, and resilient.

addressed many immediate issues around recreational space, coastal recreation sites are also threatened by sea level rise. Twenty-three sites will be exposed to sea level rise as soon as 2050, (Figure 45). Four of these sites are held in conservation by the Aquidneck Land Trust.

Figure 43 Kings Beach

Recreation Sites Affected by SLR Recreational Sites under ALT Conservation

Figure 42 Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

Figure 41 Battery Park

Although these organizations have

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Figure 44 Fort Adams State Park

Recreation Sites from State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan SLR 10ft with Storm

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Figure 45 Current Recreation Sites CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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IMPAIRED FRESHWATER The three municipalities on Aquidneck Island (along with Naval Station Newport) source their drinking water supply from nine reservoirs, seven of which are located on the Island. According to the 2014 Status of Island Waters report released by the Aquidneck Island Planning commission, all seven local drinking water reservoirs have impaired water quality prior to treatment.

The primary causes of impairments are high levels of total phosphorus, total organic carbon, and bacteria; major pollutant sources include residential and agricultural land uses proximal to drinking water sources. In response, the Aquidneck Land Trust and several other local organizations have protected more than 1,400 acres of open space within the reservoirs’ watersheds with the goal of reducing pollutants entering local waterways.

Separately, water managers are also concerned about the threat of saltwater intrusion and structural integrity of coastal reservoirs as sea levels continue to rise. Both topics are the focus of ongoing research.

Surface Soil Rating

Impaired; requires TMDL Flow Paths Fresh Water Streams Facing Sea Water Intrusion

36

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Buildings Affcted by Soil Erosion

Fresh Water Ponds Facing Sea Water Intrusion Surface Water Affected by SLR 3ft SLR 10ft with Storm

Figure 50 Minor landslide at Lambie Cir.

Bailey Brook

Paradise Brook

0

Maidford River

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Figure 48 Surface Soil Erosion Map SOIL EROSION

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Figure 47 Drinking Supply Reservoirs

Roads Affcted by Soil Erosion

Very Severe Severe Moderate Slight Not Rated or Not Available

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Figure 46 Current Surface Water Conditions VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Although relatively unaffected by sea level rise, Portsmouth’s east coast is increasingly affected by soil erosion. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this region is experiencing severe soil erosion, Figure 48. Labels of severe soil erosion denotes those areas where frequent maintenance and costly erosion control methods are

2 Miles

Figure 51 Road damage at McCorrie Ln.

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Figure 49 Buildings and roads under severe soil erosion in East Portsmouth needed due to the degree of erosion occurring. well as minor landslides around residential The topography of Portsmouth’s east coast is properties. relatively steep compared to the rest of the Island. The combined effects of steep slopes and soil erosion can exacerbate flooding and landslides and commonly damage roads.

Approximately 440 buildings and 50 roads are located in areas subject to severe soil erosion, (Figure 49). A visual survey of the area reveals cracking and scars on the roads, as CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Infrastructure TRANSPORTATION On Aquidneck Island, automobile transportation remains the primary means of conveyance. As is shown in the stacked column graph, over 80% of people commute by car, (Figure 52).

Travel and parking demand also greatly fluctuate across seasons due to tourist flow, contributing to additional congestion.

Further, the few number of bridges represent a bottleneck where transportation on and off-Island can be impeded or cut off entirely.

Commuting Modes on Aquidneck Island 100

% of Work from Home % of Other Modes

80

% of Walk

60

% of Bike 40

% of Public Transit % of Car

20 0

Rhode Island

Aquidneck Island

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Roads impacted by SLR 10+ storm surge Main roads Secondary roads Collectors and other roads

Part of Community Services and Facilities are Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges

Figure 52 Auto-centered commuting modes

Figure 53 Auto-oriented transportation lacking bike facilities

Bridges impacted by SLR 10+ storm surge

COMMUNITY SERVICES & FACILITIES

The Island’s heavy reliance on car travel combined with a compact urban form and aging transportation facilities results in a high-volume system that has outgrown the Island’s current capacity and puts a lot of pressure on roads that may be vulnerable to flooding. Figure 55 shows the roads and bridges that are vulnerable to 10 feet of sea level rise and storm surge.

Flooding issues on roadways in tourist and commercial districts as well as the general disruption of traffic circulation throughout the Island will negatively impact Aquidneck Island’s economy. The Transportation Revisions report from the University of Rhode Island identified a number of roads that are particularly vulnerable to sea level

rise and storm surge, including Aquidneck Avenue, Purgatory Road, and Hanging Rock Road in Middletown; America’s Cup Avenue, the on-ramp to RI-138 West, and West Marlborough Street in Newport; and State Highway 24N in Portsmouth. All of these vulnerable roads are either freeways, principal arterials, or major collectors and provide essential mobility for daily commuting, freight transportation, and cross-Island circulation. Many bus routes and bikeways are also vulnerable to sea level rise, further impeding mobility.

Figure 54 Roads facing flooding issues

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Aquidneck Island is well-served by educational and healthcare institutions and community facilities. Several facilities are located in coastal areas that are exposed to sea level rise and storms, Figure 56.

Two schools, two medical facilities, a fire station, and a police station will be exposed to sea level rise and storms in Newport--this exposure impedes public safety officials response during emergency events and compromises facilities important to community life. Likewise, three schools and a retirement center, as well as a recreational campground site, are exposed in Middletown. Although residential neighborhoods in Portsmouth are severely exposed to sea level rise--most notably

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Figure 55 Vulnerable roads and bridges across the island

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Island Park and Common Fence Point-community facilities are largely located away from the coast and are less exposed to sea level rise and storms, (Figure 57).

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Aquidneck Island’s Energy System is at Risk of Multiple Hazards Most energy on the Island is provided by National Grid and produced by five power plants (one solar and four wind power).

Power infrastructure is directly vulnerable to damage caused by storm surge, flooding, and extreme wind. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, Aquidneck Island’s communities were the only municipalities in the state to experience a total power outage-which then lasted for multiple days. The Aquidneck Island Reliability Project, better known as “OnIsland,” began in 2015; National Grid is investing $93 million to improve the local energy system. This project includes the construction of two new substations, rebuilding a substation, and upgrading electrical transmission lines.

Mobile Home Park School & College

Stormwater Infrastructure Capacity May be Overwhelmed

Fire and EMS Hospitals Other Medical Institutions Police Town Halls 10ft SLR plus100-year Storm Surges

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

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Figure 56 Community Services and Facilities on Aquidneck Island VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Most stormwater infrastructure in Rhode Island was built over 75 years ago and designed for less intense storms than the state currently experiences. Local stormwater infrastructure has been subject to decades of deferred maintenance, which

Newport Naval War College St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters’ School Naval Health Clinic New England St. Claire Home Newport Fire Department Station 1 Newport County Sherrifs Office

School School Medical Facilities Medical Facilities FireEMS Police

Middletown Kinder Art Shining Star Preschool Twice as Nice Child Care Center John Clarke Retirement Center Sachuest Campground

School School School Medical Facilities Mobile Home Park

Portsmouth Elmhurst School Island Park

School Mobile Home Park

Figure 57 Community Facilities exposed to 10ft SLR and 100-year storm surges has reduced its effectiveness in controlling stormwater. The capacity of the current system is frequently exceeded during significant precipitation events; with the threat of sea level rise and storm surge, the stormwater system on Aquidneck Island faces increased pressure that could lead to property damage and water quality decreases. Like other infrastructure challenges, a major obstacle to improving stormwater management is the lack of adequate and sustained funding at the state and local levels to support retrofitting and

ongoing maintenance.

Combined Sewer Overflows are an Issue The majority of Newport and most residences in Middletown are connected to central sewer; many areas of Portsmouth still rely on on-site septic systems. However, the Island’s central sewer system is often overwhelmed by stormwater during heavy precipitation events and discharges untreated sewage, along with stormwater,

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into local waters. These Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are contributing to worsening water quality around the island.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency established a Combined Sewage Overflow Control Policy to expedite compliance with the requirements of the Clean Water Act in 1994, the Island’s three communities are frequently out of compliance with the policy standards.

Combined Sewer Outfall Locations Water Pollution Control Plant Power Plant Electric Transmission Line SLR 10ft Plus Storm Surge

Figure 59 Rain Garden

Aquidneck Island is Adapting In response to the increasing pressure of climate change, Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth are turning to green infrastructure. Figure 63 shows recently completed and in-progress green stormwater infrastructure projects, including residential rain gardens, bioretention areas, wetland restoration, stormwater infiltration sites, and shoreline protection areas. These projects increase the Island’s resiliency by helping absorb and filter significant amounts of stormwater; capturing precipitation run-off alleviates the strain on the conventional hard stormwater infrastructure. Investment in green infrastructure delivers environmental benefits, such as flood mitigation, pollution reduction, and improved water quality, and creates social and economic co-benefits through job creation and improved public health.

Water Quality Projects Flood Protection Projects Natural Floodplain Restoration Brownfield Remediation Figure 61 Stabilization

Major Intersection Reconstruction and Upgrade Resiliency Streetscape improvements

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Figure 58 Sustainable Infrastructure on Aquidneck Island CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Figure 62 Restoration

Melville Dam Rehabilitation

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Figure 60 Infiltration

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Newport Bridge Reconstruction & North End Improvements Green Stormwater Projects SLR 10 + surge

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Figure 63 Completed and Ongoing Green Infrastructure Projects on Island CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Current Planning Actions INVESTMENT PIPELINE The State and City governments of Aquidneck Island have identified several infrastructural investments and upgrades necessary for enhanced livability and resident safety; many of these investments would also aid flooding and sea level rise mitigation efforts. Aside from being listed in communities’ Capital Improvements Programs, these projects also appear in documents that make the projects eligible for federal and state funding, including the State Transportation Improvements Program and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Project Priority List. A number of areas with a significant need for infrastructural investments are identifiable, including Newport’s North End neighborhood and the Harbor, Middletown’s Atlantic Beach District, and Portsmouth Common Fence Point and Island Park neighborhoods. A selection of project areas are discussed below.

Water Quality Projects Flood Protection Projects Figure 64 Aquidneck Avenue Slated for Streetscape Improvements

Brownfield Remediation Melville Dam Rehabilitation Major Intersection Reconstruction and Upgrade Resiliency Streetscape improvements

North End, Newport The state Department of Transportation is in the process of realigning the Clairborne Pell Bridge to free up space for development and enhance pedestrian and car safety.

Newport has also initiated a community planning process for the neighborhood

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Natural Floodplain Restoration

Newport Bridge Reconstruction & North End Improvements Figure 65 Newport Pell Bridge Reconstruction in North End, Newport VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

SLR 10 + surge

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Figure 66 Resiliency and Infrastructural Planning Pipeline for Aquidneck Island CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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intended to facilitate new public and private investment and support the Island’s innovation economy. Future investments in this area may include improvements and installation of stormwater infrastructure.

Newport Harbor, Newport

TEXT (to be formatted in InDesign)

WHAT’S AT RISK WITH SEA LEVEL RISE?

For every $1 of public-sector investment in hazard mitigation, taxpayers save $6 in disaster-related costs

Flood mitigation projects and repairs to the existing seawall are expected to be funded through Newport’s Capital Improvements Program. Resiliency streetscape improvements along sections of Thames and Spring Street are eligible for federal funding.

Atlantic Beach District, Middletown Middletown wants to implement a number of streetscape improvements in the Atlantic Beach District, an important commercial hub in the town. Some of the desired improvements are eligible for federal funding, while a number of aesthetic improvements like the addition of street furniture and trees are expected to be funded via a local tax-increment financing scheme.

Evacuation Route Fire and EMS

Two Mile Corner, Middletown

Hospitals Other Medical Institutions Police Town Halls Emergency Shelter SLR10 and Storm Surge

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

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Figure 67 Emergency response facilities and SLR

VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

The Two Mile Corner project at the intersection of East and West Main Roads in Middletown is included in the State Transportation Improvement Program, making it eligible for federal funding, and involves planned replacement of pavement

For every $1 of publicsector investment in

hazard mitigation, tax-payers save $6 in disaster-related costs.

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structures, road widening, installation of new drainage systems, and installation of traffic signals. The project is projected to cost $3.9 million.

Island Park & Common Fence Point in Portsmouth These neighborhoods have both received flood protection projects funded by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank following Portsmouth’s involvement in the Municipal Resilience Program. Implemented projects include rain garden installations and improvements to local stormwater management systems. Community-based resiliency planning in Common Fence Point is also underway in coordination with the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT What is Emergency Management?

TThere are four components to emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Being prepared before a disaster strikes minimizes the costs of disaster response and recovery. Hazard mitigation can take many forms, including public education, physical interventions, and regulatory and planning strategies to build disaster resilience and decrease hazard risk.

Emergency Management on Aquidneck

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS

Island Emergency management on Aquidneck Island is decentralized and each community has its own agency and managers. Formed in 2014, the Aquidneck Island Emergency Volunteer Alliance is a volunteer body that helps facilitate regional response during disasters. The 2017 Aquidneck Island Resilience Strategy advises regionionalizing aspects of the communities’ emergency response system, recommending actions like establishing a planning coordinator and funding regional emergency preparedness positions.

Hazard Risk and Concerns Severe weather events, hurricanes and tropical storms, and flooding are medium to high risk events across Aquidneck Island, all of which may intensify due to climate change and sea level rise. High winds can impede disaster response, damaging power and communication infrastructure and isolating the island by closing bridges. Other areas of concern include the vulnerability of evacuation routes to flooding and risk communication with the public.

The communities’ hazard mitigation plans collectively list seven emergency shelters, but capacity counts and estimates on the vulnerable populations are not consistently reported.

and accessibility of Aquidneck Island’s evacuation route and critical facilities, and storms will severely expand the extent of future inundation. Under the 3-foot sea level rise scenario, 5% of the evacuation route will be inundated; storm surge increases the extent of inundation to 27%.

Similarly, the extent of inundation increases from 16% to 33% if storm surge is added to the 10-foot sea level rise scenario.

While only two critical facilities are at direct risk of inundation (the Newport Fire Department Station 1 and Naval Health Clinic), the accessibility of other facilities during a disaster event may be reduced: 28% of all roadways will be inundated under the 10-foot sea level rise and storm surge scenario.

THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MITIGATION Communities lessen their risk by preventing or reducing the cause of hazards and their subsequent impacts and consequences. It is common to see elevated structures in Aquidneck Island, a mitigation strategy that makes structures more resilient to flood hazards.

PREPAREDNESS Communities and residents can plan, train, and educate themselves to better respond to future disasters. Portsmouth, for example, has released hurricane preparedness brochures to educate its residents and all three communities have updated hazard mitigation plans to assess their current risks.

RESPONSE It is critical for communities to respond quickly and effectively after disasters to ensure public safety and minimize social and economic disruption. Operating emergency shelters, evacuating residents, and conducting search and rescue missions are all response actions.

RECOVERY The consequences of a disaster can long outlast the event itself. A community might need to repair damaged structures and infrastructure and reduce the financial burdens on its residents by seeking relief money. Identifying additional ways to reduce damage from future disasters is also part of the recovery process.

WHAT IS AT RISK WITH SEA LEVEL RISE? Evacuation Routes and Critical Facilities Sea level rise will compromise the function VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

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Vision & Goals

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Vision 52 Goals 53

Vision

Goals

Newport, a center of maritime tradition and tourism; Middletown, known for diverse natural landscapes and farmland; Portsmouth, home to shipbuilding and agricultural activities alike; and Naval Station Newport, the “fourth community” and a driver of the local economy, all call Aquidneck Island home. Each has its own deep sense of place and cultural heritage, yet all are socially and economically interconnected.

The effects of sea level rise will reach beyond local political boundaries. Aquidneck Island must collaboratively plan for resilience to ensure the region is well-prepared in a changing environment.

Aquidneck Island recognizes that the effects of sea level rise will not be felt or shared equally amongst its residents and landscape.

Because of this, an ethos of shared responsibility and equity will guide its future action. Proactive planning will enable Aquidneck Island to manage this change while maintaining its core identity and way of life. To achieve this vision, Aquidneck Island will pursue diverse actions that

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

protect residents, diversify the economy, maintain critical infrastructure, preserve undeveloped land, and celebrate identity.

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS

PROJECTS

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Projects

55 Overview Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection Enhancing Source Water Protection Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth Atlantic Beach District Redesign North End Redesign

56 57 87 111 139 167

Overview

Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth

Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection

Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection

Linhan Fu Kellie King Xintian Li Yilin Ren

Enhancing Source Water Protection

North End Redesign Atlantic Beach District Redesign

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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ROAD EXPOSURE TO SLR Maintaining the integrity of Aquidneck Island’s road network is necessary to support public health, safety, and welfare and enable dayto-day life. The Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection project evaluates the vulnerability of the existing road network, proposes a decision-making model, and uses case studies to explore future asset-scale adaptation choices. The project envisions a road network that balances Aquidneck Island’s immediate transportation needs against the need to adapt in the long-term to changing environmental conditions.

More than 20% of all roads on Aquidneck Island are projected to flood during the SLR 3 + storm surge scenario. Almost 30% of roads will be inundated by SLR 10 + storm surge in 2100, (Figure 68).

Already, major storm events and high tides cause localized flooding across the island, (Figure 70). Adapting to this exposure will be challenging. Multiple agencies and communities own transportation across the island, making coordination complicated.

Overall, transportation on the island is heavily automobile oriented, with over 80% of residents commuting to work by car. This reliance on cars creates congestion issues; seasonal spikes attributable to tourism make congestion even worse, especially during the summer.

BIKES AND BUS ROUTES

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Roads that support multimodal transit are also exposed, (Figure 71). Adaptation challenges include a lack of state funding, aging infrastructure, and a general lack of bike and pedestrian amenities across the island.

30%

SLR SLR + Surge

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

SLR3

SLR7

SLR10

Figure 68 Percent of roads inundated

Figure 69 JT Connell Highway flooded in Newport following a summer rainstorm in 2020

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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Common Fence Point and Island Park

Common Fence Point and Island Park

Newport Harbor and the North End

Newport Harbor and the North End

Bus Routes impacted by SLR 10+ 100 year storm

Bikeways & Trails impacted by SLR 10 + storm surge Bikeways & Trails Bikeways & Trails impacted by SLR 10 + storm surge

Bus Routes

Roads and Bus Routes impacted by SLR 10 + storm surge Main roads SLR 10 + storm surge

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Figure 70 Vulnerable Roads Across The Island

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Bikeways & Trails Bus Routes Bus Routes impacted by SLR 10 + storm surge SLR 10 + storm surge

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Figure 71 Vulnerable Bikeways and Bus Routes Across The Island CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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BIKE NEWPORT PROPOSED ROUTES Bike Newport has proposed an expansion of bike routes on the island, (Figure 75).

Proposed routes take advantage of scenic coastal vistas but several will be exposed to permanent inundation at SLR 3 and SLR 7. Decision-makers should confirm that the benefits of installing bike routes on these roads outweigh the costs. Alternative routes that may experience some temporary flooding but remain accessible for most of the year could also be considered.

Figure 73 Proposed “Most suitable bike road” on Hanging Rock RD that will be exposed to SLR3

Figure 76 Existing Bike Sharrow on Fall River Expressway that will be exposed to SLR3

Existing Sharrows

Figure 72 Existing bike sharrow in Newport Harbor that will be exposed to SLR3

Difficult Connection Proposed Most Suitable Road Proposed Suitable Road Figure 74 Proposed “Most suitable bike road” on Ocean Ave that will be exposed to SLR3

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Affected by SLR 3 Affected by SLR 7

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Figure 75 Bike Newport Proposed Map CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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OTHER VULNERABILITIES Simple exposure to sea level rise and storm surge is not the only criteria local decisionmakers should consider when assessing vulnerabilities in the road network. The importance of any given road should also be considered. With so much at stake, certain roads must be prioritized over others--evacuation routes, for example, should take precedence over roads less important to public safety.

Aquidneck Island’s road network is also vulnerable to environmental hazards beyond sea level rise and storm surge. A range of hazards, such as inland flooding and soil erosion, should also be considered, as should the combined effects of multiple hazards.

Figure 78 51 roads and 442 structures subject to severe soil erosion

Coastal Erosion

Soil Erosion

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS In addition to sea level rise and storm surge, this project also considers the effect of coastal erosion, soil erosion, and inland flooding. These multiple hazards are incorporated into the following proposed decision-making model and examined at the asset-scale through a case study approach.

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Figure 79 33% of evacuation route exposed to SLR 10 + storm surge

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Figure 77 Evacuation routes and roads affected by soil erosion

Sea Level Rise

64

SLR 10 + storm surge

Evacuation routes

Roads affected by soil erosion

Evacuation route affected by soil erosion

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Flooding

Storm Surge

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DECISION MAKING MODEL As noted previously, approximately 30% of roads on Aquidneck Island will be exposed to SLR 10 + storm surge. However, due to funding and resource limitations, it is difficult for the Island’s communities to take action to protect all vulnerable transportation assets. In response, localdecision makers must prioritize where interventions are most needed. This project proposes a decision-making model to help prioritize interventions and make investments more efficient.

Figure 80 outlines the proposed decisionmaking process. The process begins with a spatial analysis that generates a score to indicate how roads would be prioritized using quantitative data only. Decisionmakers should then adjust the spatial score using qualitative data based on their professional judgement and knowledge of local factors. Finally, decision-makers set priorities and identify appropriate adaptations to translate the spatial and qualitative analysis into action.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS The spatial analysis is a quantifying process. The analysis proposed by the studio assesses roads based on three general attributes: exposure, connectivity, and capacity. Each attribute has multiple indicators. More important indicators are assigned higher scores. The score

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Figure 81 Spatial Analysis

Figure 80 Decision Making Model for each individual attribute is summed and then all three are aggregated to generate the overall spatial analysis score. As shown in Figure 81, the studio chose to weight SLR 3 and the Special Flood Hazard Area the highest under the exposure attribute. The studio also determined that roads essential to public safety (i.e. evacuation routes) and those that carry high traffic volumes are most important under the connectivity and capacity/volume attributes. It should be noted that decisionmakers can add indicators or change the internal importance of these indicators to tailor the model better to local factors.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS The qualitative analysis brings a human touch back into the model. Decisionmakers can manually adjust the road scores generated by the spatial analysis to make them more responsive to local social factors, such as funding availability or economic importance. The studio proposes four general attributes to assess: sensitivity, feasibility, connection to existing policy, and typology. Again, these attributes can be tailored to the needs of different municipalities based on local concerns.

Figure 82 Qualitative Analysis

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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SPATIAL ANALYSIS OUTPUT The output from the spatial analysis categorizes roads into five tiers (Figure 83). Roads that had the highest aggregate exposure, connectivity, and capacity/ volume scores are given the highest priority for interventions. As compared to mapping of simple exposure to sea level rise, the spatial analysis brings additional nuance to help guide decisions.

Waterfront Arterial Memorial Blvd

Waterfront commercial main roads

Tier 1: Regular maintenance

Thames St

Tier 2: Low priority Tier 3: Moderate priority

Waterfront medium-high density residential local roads

Tier 4: High priority Tier 5: Highest priority

Pope St

ROAD TYPOLOGY Common hazards and examples of different road typologies that will help inform score adjustment are shown in page 69 and 70. Parts of Thames Street, for example, were labeled Tier 2 from the version of the spatial analysis used here and would be considered low priority maintenance. Knowing its economic importance, local decision-makers could adjust its score to prioritize adaptations in this area.

68

Tier 1: Regular maintenance Tier 2: Low priority Tier 3: Moderate priority Tier 4: High priority 0

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Figure 83 Decision Making Model Spatial Analysis Output

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ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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ADAPTATION OPTIONS Medium-high density residential local roads

The state identifies six general adaptation options available for roads exposed to sea level rise although the framework is also applicable to other hazards, (Figure 84).

Park Ave

A Do Nothing approach does not adapt assets to changing conditions; maintenance or replacements are done in-kind.

Protecting assets can involve hard structural responses or nature-based interventions.

Rhode Island prohibits hard armoring in some areas of the state and enhancements to existing hard armoring is not always permitted. In general, the state’s Coastal Resources Management Council prefers natural interventions.

Medium density residential local roads McCorrie Ln

Accommodating change can mean adapting in-place or rerouting roads elsewhere. Retreat involves giving up assets that are infeasible to maintain in the long-term. Municipalities that choose to elevate, realign, or retreat must be particularly careful about the “takings issue.” Should such a strategy result in local property owners having no reasonable or substantially impaired access to their property, municipalities must provide compensation.

Waterfront commercial local roads Alexander Rd

Tier 1: Regular maintenance Tier 2: Low priority Tier 3: Moderate priority

Deciding which adaptation option is most appropriate must account for a variety of financial and social factors. Secondary effects of adaptation should also be considered. For example, coastal armoring

Tier 4: High priority Tier 5: Highest priority

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

PROTECT: ARMOR Examples: sea walls, bulkheads, groins, and revetments Construction and maintenance is expensive, so unrealistic coast-wide May adversely affect natural environment

Functionally resembles retreat; road is not adapted to new environmental conditions

Typically most financially efficient option, but politically and legally complicated

Smaller interventions include increasing culvert size or enhancing bridge scour protection if facilities not exposed regularly to high tides

than hard armoring with fewer negative ecological consequences

PROTECT: ARMOR

Retreat involves cedeing ownership of a road; a private party often assumes responsibility if the road is not abandoned

Examples: roadbed elevation or bridge construction

ACCOMMODATE IN PLACE Often provide similar or better protection

Can create economic and social stress on communities; expensive to maintain in-kind

RETREAT

ACCOMMODATE IN PLACE

Must be aware of “takings issue”

Must be aware of “takings issue”

Elevating the road could protect the can involve rerouting a road Realignment in the existsing road longusing termredudancies but

road in the Can buy time but often not from a finalSLR solution would everywhere be expensive. against SLR or appropriate

RETREAT

network or constructing an entirely new route

DO NOTHINGNew seawall is prohibitedExamples: dune and Eventual managed retreat in and beach nourishment THROUGH Smaller orinterventions likeACCOMMODATE permeable wetland restoration Portsmouth will remove the need for replacement of seawall requires pavement can mitigate effects of REALIGNMENT permit.

Maintaining the existing seawall could protect the road from SLR in the short term.

precipitation-related flooding.

the road in the future.

PROTECT: ENHANCE NATURAL PROTECTIONS

Natural interventions could help with precipitation-related flooding.

Figure 84 Adaptation Options

DO NOTHING

PROTECT: ENHANCE NATURAL PROTECTIONS

AMENITY IMPROVEMENTS ACCOMMODATE THROUGH REALIGNMENT

Shared bike lanes would improve multi-modal access.

or road elevation may increase wave action to surrounding areas. Retreat is typically the most fiscally sound option but, as noted earlier, can create complex political and legal challenges.

Separate from adaptations, this project also considered amenity improvements that would improve the user experience of a road.

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MEMORIAL BOULEVARD Memorial Boulevard is a wide, multi-lane road that accommodates multi-modal transit. The topography of the area of the surrounding area is extremely flat and the road is only roughly 5-7 feet above mean sea level. Memorial Boulevard is exposed to permanent inundation at SLR 7 in 2080, and is projected to be under 6 feet of water by SLR 10 in 2100.

Figure 85 Protect: Armor

Figure 86 Protect: Enhance Natural Protections

Figure 87 Accommodate in Place

The boulevard sits landward of Easton’s Beach, a narrow strip of sand that acts as a buffer against storms. The beach is susceptible to coastal erosion; the rate of shoreline change across Rhode Island is an estimated 1.9 feet per year.

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Figure 91 Memorial Boulevard location

Easton Bay Figure 92 Aerial view overlooking Memorial Boulevard at Easton Bay

Future adaptations are expected to be made in consultation with the Aquidneck Island communities but as a state-owned and -maintained road, final decisionmaking power lies with the state.

ADAPTATION OPTIONS

Figure 88 Accommodate Via Realignment

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Figure 89 Enhance Natural Protections & Amenity Improvements

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Figure 90 Amenity Improvements

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Evaluating the range of adaptations options available reveals no perfect solution.

Hard armoring is prohibited in this area of Aquidneck Island by the Coastal Resources Management Council. Enhancing natural protections would likely mean beach nourishment which would require continued investment over time as sand washes away.

Beach nourishment at Misquamicut Beach along the state’s South Coast, for example,

6ft Bike Lane

15ft

8ft Shoulder

20ft Median

8ft Shoulder

25ft

6ft Bike Lane 8ft Pedestrian

SLR 10 (6ft of inundation) Memorial Boulevard at Easton Pond Reservoir, Newport (F1)

0

2

6 ft

Figure 93 Existing Section of Memorial Boulevard CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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ACCOMMODATE IN PLACE Building an elevated causeway is expensive and may require day-to-day management.

Might also negative affect viewsheds.

PROTECT: ARMOR Hard protection structures are prohibited by the Coastal Resources Management Council around Memorial Boulevard.

Would maintain integrity of beach buffer but may not affect Memorial Boulevard’s ultimate exposure to SLR.

Projected to be inundated under SLR7. The SLR3 + storm surge could flood the road with >14 ft of water.

DO NOTHING

Roadbed elevation may exacerbate wave impacts to the surrounding area; however, the sturcture may provide an additional buffer between Easton’s Pond Reservoir and the ocean.

PROTECT: ENHANCE NATURAL PROTECTIONS

RETREAT Ceding responsibility for a road is poltically and legally complicated. Compensation for damages sustained due to retreat must be paid to nearby property owners.

Existing road network provides alternative access around the reservoir but roads are not of a comparable size or typology.

Existing Conditions

Accommodating the road in place would require elevation in the long-term. Roadbed elevation, as depicted in Figure 95, is not a feasible option for long-term adaptation.

Building an elevated causeway could be pursued instead, but construction and maintenance is expensive. For example, Pinellas County, Florida estimates that

74

replacing the main bridge of the Dunedin Causeway (a roughly 2/10 mile stretch of road) would cost between $60-81 million depending on the elevation and type of replacement chosen. Ultimately, retreating from Memorial Boulevard will likely be the longterm solution given the existence of alternative (although not entirely comparable) access routes between Newport and Middletown and potential adaptation costs.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Berm

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

8 ft AMSL

Memorial Blvd

Parking Lot

Easton Bay

~430 ft (high tide)

Dense development in the area means no path of undeveloped space is available to construct a replacement road.

Figure 94 Range of Options for Memorial Boulevard

5-7 ft AMSL

Seawall

Reservoir

35 ft AMSL

ACCOMMODATE THROUGH REALIGNMENT has occurred since the 1950s and total known costs exceed $3 million to date.

10 ft AMSL

Slope grade is 55-60°!

Depth of inundation, SLR 10 + storm surge Roadbed Elevation MSL will rise ~6ft under SLR10 Reservoir

Memorial Blvd

Easton Bay

Figure 95 A side-by-side comparison of Memorial Boulevard’s existing topography and changes if the roadbed was elevated to the STORMTOOL’s SLR 10 Suggested Design Elevation. Elevating the roadbed to 35 feet above mean sea level is not realistic from a space and engineering perspective.

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PARK AVENUE Park Avenue is a medium to high density residential road located in north Portsmouth.

Due to its proximity to the coast, Park Avenue experiences storm-related flooding that can cause road damage. Most sections of Park Avenue are projected to be frequently affected by storms and there are some sections that will be permanently inundated by sea level rise by 2050. Since Park Avenue is a major road connecting different neighborhoods in Portsmouth and is essential to community life, adaptations to sea level rise are needed.

Park Avenue is a 20-foot wide two-way road that supports street parking and pedestrian walkways on both sides. It is projected to be under eight feet of inundation at SLR 10 in 2100. A small seawall provides some protection against storm surge, but precipitation and larger storms can still lead to flooding on the roadway. The single transportation mode is not friendly to local residents.

ADAPTATION OPTIONS The existing seawall might be sufficient under SLR 3 but is less effective against storm surge. According to the Coastal Resources Management Council’s guidelines, replacing seawalls requires a permit and is expensive, which makes enhancement of hard protections an infeasible option.

Nature-based adaptations against

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ACCOMMODATE IN PLACE Elevating the road could protect the road from SLR in the long term but would be expensive.

PROTECT: ARMOR New seawall is prohibited and replacement of seawall requires permit.

Figure 96 Park Avenue Location

Figure 97 Mild flooding caused by storm surge on Park Avenue 5ft Pedestrian 8ft Shoulder

20 ft

8ft Shoulder 5ft Pedestrian

Eventual managed retreat in Portsmouth will remove the need for the road in the future.

Natural interventions could help with precipitation-related flooding.

Maintaining the existing seawall could protect the road from SLR in the short term.

DO NOTHING

Smaller interventions like permeable pavement can mitigate effects of precipitation-related flooding.

RETREAT

PROTECT: ENHANCE NATURAL PROTECTIONS

SLR 10 (8ft of inundation)

AMENITY IMPROVEMENTS ACCOMMODATE THROUGH REALIGNMENT

Shared bike lanes would improve multi-modal access.

Figure 99 Range of Options for Park Avenue

Park Avenue, Portsmouth (A1)

0

2

6 ft

Figure 98 Existing Section of Park Avenue

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

precipitation- and storm-related flooding could include installing bioretention areas and bioswales to slow water flow and provide additional buffers between the roadway and pedestrians. Since not all parking spaces are occupied, small-scale bioretention-areas could be installed between street parking spaces. Replacing impervious pavement with porous materials would allow rainfall to move through the pavement to the underlying soil as an

accommodate in place intervention. Amenity improvements like shared bike lanes could serve local residents and provide alternative transit options. If there are sufficient funds, raising the road could be an option to extend Park Avenue’s lifespan to 2080. However, given the extent of inundation caused by sea level rise in the surrounding residential areas, Park Avenue will most likely be abandoned in the long-term as part of a larger managed retreat strategy for this area.

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MCCORRIE LANE

Figure 101 Seawall

Figure 102 Shrub Buffer

5ft Pedestrian 8ft Shoulder

Figure 103 Permeable Pavement

20 ft

2ft 1ft

Figure 104 Bike Lane

8ft Shoulder 5ft Pedestrian 1ft 2ft

McCorrie Lane is a medium density residential road in east Portsmouth subject to severe soil erosion. The east end of the road terminates at McCorrie Point Beach, which will be exposed to future sea level rise. Poor drainage and high precipitation are the primary factors contributing to soil erosion on the road. The U.S. Department of Agricultural Web Soil Survey indicates that water movement in the surrounding soils is extremely restricted and run-off is high in this area. Average annual precipitation on Aquidneck Island is also nearly 20 inches higher than the national average.

Figure 105 McCorrie Lane Location Figure 106 McCorrie Road Conditions

Because of the steep slopes surrounding McCorrie Lane, the chance of road damage due to soil erosion during and after storms is increased. A visual survey of the area reveals existing road surface and lawn damage attributable to soil erosion.

0

2

6 ft

The road surface on McCorrie Lane itself is generally flat and lacks adequate drainage. There is a minimal amount of vegetation bordering the road which, if present would help stabilize the surrounding soils.

ADAPTATION OPTIONS Better drainage is necessary to prevent water from sitting on the road surface and instead percolate efficiently into the ground. Enhancing natural protection, such

Figure 100 Proposed Section for Park Avenue

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

4ft to 9ft Buffer

20 ft

4ft to 9ft Buffer 30ft from Rd to Buidlings

SLR 10 (2.5ft of inundation) Riverside Street, Portsmouth (A3) Anthony Road, Portsmouth (A4) McCorrie Lane, Portsmouth (C) Oliphant Lane, Middletown (D4) Sachuest Point Road, Middletown (F3) Ocean Avenue, Newport (F4)

0

2

6 ft

Figure 107 Existing Road Section 20ft McCorrie Lane CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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IN PLACE PROTECT: ARMOR

PROTECT: ARMOR

Elevating the road could protect the ACCOMMODATE but RETREAT IN PLACE road from SLR in the long term would be expensive.

RETREAT

Hard protections against SLR are Retreat is unncessary because very Increasing the road arc or adding unncessary because McCorrie Ln will limited inundation is expected and Eventual managed New seawall is prohibited Smaller interventions like permeable strips would improve face very limited inundation only on and gravel drainage the road can remain functional for retreat in Portsmouth will remove the need for replacement of seawall requiresdrainage performance. pavement can mitigate effects of its eastern end. day-to-day activity.

permit.

precipitation-related flooding.

the road in the future.

Figure 110 Gravel Drainage

Natural interventions could help with Realignment is unncessary because Continuing to repair damage without precipitation-related flooding and very limited inundation is expected upgrading is possible would be Natural interventions could help with Maintaining thebutexisting seawall stabilize the soil. and the road can remain functional expensive in the long-term. precipitation-related flooding. could protect the road from SLR in for day-to-day activity.

the short term.

DO NOTHING

DO NOTHING

PROTECT: ENHANCE PROTECT: ENHANCE ACCOMMODATE NATURAL PROTECTIONS NATURAL PROTECTIONS THROUGHACCOMMODATE REALIGNMENT

THROUGH REALIGNMENT

AMENITY IMPROVEMENTS

Figure 111 Shrub Buffer

4 ft

1ft

Figure 112 Bioswale

20 ft

1ft

Figure 113 Amenity Improvements

4 ft

Shared bike lanes would improve multi-modal access.

Figure 108 Range of Options for McCorrie Lane as adding bioswales, is recommended in the short-term to increase drainage and reduce flooding. Adding vegetation decreases the force of precipitation on the ground and slows water flow, both of which will help stabilize the soil to prevent further erosion. Shrub buffers added next to bioswales will also help stabilize soils and mitigate stormwater runoff. Because private homes are in close proximity to the roadway, these adaptations would have to be accomplished with the support of local property owners; special attention should be paid to their design so they fit the character of the neighborhood. In the longterm, accommodating the road in place by

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increasing the road arc will improve drainage performance. Gravel drainage strips on either side of the roadway will further increase drainage performance. Amenities like shared bike lanes, bike docks, and direction signs will facilitate alternative transit modes and improve wayfinding.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

0

2

6 ft

Figure 109 McCorrie Ln Proposed Road Section 20ft ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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ALEXANDER ROAD Alexander Road is a local, commercial road along the Portsmouth’s western coast. Given the road’s proximity to the waterfront, it is projected to be impacted by sea level rise, storms, and other flood hazards. The road provides access to Portsmouth’s working waterfront and blue economy, connecting two large boatyards and other related businesses in the area.

ADAPTATION OPTIONS McCorrie Point Beach

Direction Signage

Direction Signage Shared Bike Lane Direction Signage Bike Lock

rie Ln

McCor

Direction Signage

Some of the State’s general adaptations may apply to Alexander Road. The “Do Nothing” strategy could work here since the road is not projected to be inundated until 2080 and will likely function adequately for the next 60 years without substantial intervention. In the meantime, enhancing the road’s natural protections is another adaptation that would make the road more resilient. Small-scale shrub buffers and additional trees could be planted

Figure 114 McCorrie Ln Improvements for Better Connectivity

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Currently, Alexander Road supports two-way traffic with parking spaces on each side. The road’s arc is flat and the impermeable, concrete pavement causes the road to accumulate water when it rains.

While there are open spaces and grass alongside the road, there is a general lack of greenery. According to the spatial analysis model, Alexander Road will suffer partial inundation under SLR 7 and will be fully inundated under SLR 10 plus storm surge.

ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Figure 116 Alexander Road Location

Figure 117 Hinckley Boat Yard

6ft Shoulder

20 ft

6ft Shoulder

SLR 10 (2.2ft of inundation)

Boyds Lane, Portsmouth (A2) Alexander Road, Portsmouth (B2) Hanging Rock Road, Middletown (F2)

0

2

6 ft

Figure 115 Existing Road Section 20ft Alexander Road CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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ACCOMMODATE IN PLACE

PROTECT: ARMOR Hard protection option is very limited and also unnecessary

The road will not be inundated until 2080. Do nothing will work in the short term.

DO NOTHING

Elevating the road could protect the road from SLR in the long term but would be expensive.

Smaller interventions like shrub buffers can improve stormwater management

RETREAT Eventual managed retreat of the boat bussiness will remove the need for the road in the future.

Natural interventions could help with precipitation-related flooding and can prevent costal soil erosion.

PROTECT: ENHANCE NATURAL PROTECTIONS

Figure 120 Gravel Drainage

Figure 121 Shrub Buffer

6ft Shoulder

ACCOMMODATE THROUGH REALIGNMENT

Figure 122 Bioswale

6ft Shoulder

20 ft

1ft

1ft

Figure 118 Range of Options for Alexander Rd along the road’s parking lanes to increase stormwater filtration and protect the road from soil erosion over time. Adaptations under the “Accommodate in Place” strategy that can apply to Alexander Road involve adjusting the road’s arc and installing a bioretention system to collect stormwater runoff. Ultimately a retreat strategy may work for Alexander Road, depending on the status of the marine businesses. If the boat industries decide to relocate by 2080, it would be reasonable to fully abandon the road once it faces severe inundation.

Given that the road will only be impacted in the distant future and that its use is limited to local boat building industries, the “Protect” strategy does not make sense here. With Alexander Road’s limited use, it is likely that a sea wall will be too costly. The “Accommodate Through Realignment” strategy is also not a feasible option as nearby arteries are projected to face similar inundation conditions.

In contrast, other State strategies are not feasible solutions for Alexander Road.

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

0

2

6 ft

Figure 119 Alexander RD Proposed Section ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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Enhancing Source Water Protection

Figure 123 Municipal Actions (strategies supported by the proposed decision-making model and asset-scale evaluations are outlines in orange) MUNICIPAL ACTIONS In summary, the state has proposed five key areas where communities can improve their transit risk exposure communication and analysis. While the Aquidneck Island communities are already incorporating some of these recommendations into their planning efforts, the proposed decisionmaking model and asset-scale evaluations are useful tools to better align community action with statewide goals. Both seek

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Huidi Hu Ejiro Ojeni Yilin Ren

to understand how adaptations should be prioritized on roads exposed to multiple hazards and include different short- and longterm management goals.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Source: Alltrails.com ISLAND-WIDE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

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Middletown houses principal streams that feed into Aquidneck Island’s drinking water reservoirs. Due to surrounding land uses, these streams are impaired by various upstream pollutants that threaten the quality of drinking water supplies. As climate change progresses, the frequency and intensity of floods and thus pollutant runoff into the rivers will increase if actions are not taken now. This project explores new ways of protecting the watershed, creating sustainable financing mechanisms, and centralizing community tools to ensure improved water quality.

Bailey Brook

Figure 125 A glimpse of the Bailey Brook River Maidford River

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

Paradise Brook

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 126 Ducks enjoying a swim in the Maidford River Figure 124 Study Area Watershed AQUIDNECK DRINKING WATER SUPPLY AT RISK Aquidneck Island’s drinking water supply comes from nine reservoirs, seven of which are located on the Island. The current conditions of these freshwater reservoirs and their tributary streams, however, are concerning. This project focuses on the three

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

most impaired tributary waterways: Bailey Brook, the Maidford River, and Paradise Brook. All three of these waterways feed into reservoirs in Middletown.

Figure 127 Paradise Brook as seen from the Norman Bird Sanctuary CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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BAILEY BROOK CONDITIONS

Bailey Brook’s mean total phosphorus level is 68 times greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, and the Enterococci level is 22 times greater than the acceptable standard.

3000 2500

Total Phosphorus (μg/L)

An overabundance of nutrients like phosphorus can cause the harmful overproduction of algae in waterways.

These algal blooms can be toxic to aquatic organisms and humans alike. The presence of high loads of fecal bacteria can cause various irritations and negatively affect the recreational and economic value of the river.

Major Pollutant Sources

Residential

Maidford River

Bailey Brook EPA Standard

1000

0

Commercial and Industrial

Paradise Brook

Figure 130 Bailey Brook’s Total Phosphorus Level Is 68 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard 800 700

Airports (and associated facilities) Agricultural Commercial

0

0.5

1

2 Miles

Figure 128 Land use in Bailey Brook Watershed

Forest and Brushland Industrial

Residential

500 400

Bailey Brook EPA Standard

300 200

0

Vacant Land

Figure 131 Bailey Brook’s Enterococci Level Is 22 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Wetland

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

600

100

Recreational and Institutional

90

1500

Bailey Brook

Cemeteries

Figure 129 Residencies are one of the main sources of enterococci entering into Bailey Brook

2000

500

Total Enterococci (CFU/100ml)

Phosphorus and the bacteria Enterococci, which is an indicator of fecal matter in water, are the primary pollutants found in Bailey Brook. The major sources of these pollutants are residences and commercial and industrial land uses, including the Newport State Airport.

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

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MAIDFORD RIVER CONDITIONS

800

1400

1200 Maidford River 1000 EPA Standard 800

600 400

Maidford River EPA Standard

600 400

200

200

Maidford River Bailey Brook

Figure 133 Maidford River’s Total Phosphorus Level Is 27 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Agricultural

0

0.5

1

2 Miles

Figure 132 Land use in Maidford River Watershed

Forest and Brushland Industrial

Residential Vacant Land

6000

100000

5000

80000

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

4000

60000

Maidford River 3000 EPA Standard

40000

2000

20000

1000

0

0

Figure 135 Maidford River’s Total Suspended Solids Level Is 4 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Wetland

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

120000

Fecal Coliform (MPN/ml)

Agricultural Commercial

Figure 134 Maidford River’s Total Nitrogen Level Is 3 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Paradise Brook

Airports (and associated facilities) Cemeteries

0

0

Recreational and Institutional

92

1600

Total Nitrogen (μg/L)

Total Phosphorus (μg/L)

1000

Residential

Total suspended solids (TSS) are large particles that are found in the water.

High levels of total suspended solids will drastically change the water conditions and cause aquatic organisms to suffocate.

Like phosphorous, high amounts of Nitrogen could lead to overproduction of algae which is harmful to aquatic life. Fecal coliform are bacteria that are found in waste and if found in high amounts could cause diseases such as typhoid fever and hepatitis.

The Maidford River’s TSS value is four times greater than the EPA standards. Its total phosphorus and nitrogen levels exceed the EPA standards by a factor of 27 and 3 respectively. The river’s fecal coliform level was 25 times the acceptable standard.

1800

Major Pollutant Sources

Total Suspended Solids (μg/L)

Levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, total suspended solids, and fecal coliform in the Maidford River far exceed EPA standards and mainly originate from surrounding residential and agricultural areas. Residential pollutants include lawn fertilizers, septic systems, and pet waste; similarly, agricultural pollutants include fertilizer and animal wastes.

2000

1200

Maidford River EPA Standard

Figure 136 Maidford River’s Total Fecal Coliform Level Is 25 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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PARADISE BROOK CONDITIONS

1400

Total phosphorus levels in Paradise Brook are 36 times greater than the EPA standards. Its TSS, total nitrogen, and fecal coliform levels exceed the EPA standard by a factor of 4, 3, and 80, respectively.

Residential

2000

1200

Total Nitrogen (μg/L)

Major Pollutant Sources Total Phosphorus (μg/L)

Paradise Brook, located immediately adjacent to the Maidford River, has a similar pollution breakdown. The surrounding area is also dominated by residential and agricultural land uses.

2500

1600

1000

1500 Paradise Brook

800 600 400

500

0

0

Bailey Brook

Figure 139 Paradise Brook’s Total Phosphorus Level Is 36 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Agricultural

Figure 140 Paradise Brook’s Total Nitrogen Level Is 3 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Paradise Brook

Agricultural Cemeteries Commercial

0

0.5

1

2 Miles

Figure 137 Land use in Paradise Brook Watershed

Forest and Brushland Industrial Recreational and Institutional Residential

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

80000 60000 40000 20000

Figure 141 Paradise Brook’s Total Suspended Solids Level Is 4 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard

Wetland

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

16000

100000

0

Vacant Land

18000

Fecal Coliform (MPN/ml)

Airports (and associated facilities)

Total Suspended Solids (μg/L)

120000

94

EPA Standard

EPA Standard 1000

200

Maidford River

Figure 138 Septic systems, lawn fertilizers, and mixed livestock farms all contribute to high pollutant yields in the Maidford River and Paradise Brooks

Paradise Brook

14000 12000

10000 Paradise Brook

Paradise Brook

EPA Standard 8000

EPA Standard

6000 4000 2000 0

Figure 142 Paradise Brook’s Total Fecal Coliform Level Is 80 Times Greater Than The EPA Standard CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES In response to the impaired water quality of these streams, Aquidneck Island has been proactive in proposing Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are local stormwater management projects or techniques intended to prevent polluted stormwater runoff from entering waterways. A number of local and regional organizations have been active in planning and implementing BMPs on Aquidneck Island. As shown in Figure 139, over 50 BMPs have been proposed in Middletown since 2013.

However, a lack of funding means many of these proposals have not yet been implemented. Additionally, a lack of public awareness and stilted coordination between organizations means tracking the status of projects is difficult.

Figure 144 Kempenaar Valley Stormwater Infiltration.

Bailey Brook

Maidford River

Paradise Brook

BMPs Completed or In Progress BMPs Proposed as of 2018 Surface Water Impaired 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

0

0.5

1

2 Miles

Figure 143 There are many BMPs that have not yet been implemented due to a lack of sustained funding CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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PROPOSED BMP SITES Despite the fact that Bailey Brook has high pollutant loads, few BMPs are currently located in the watershed. Intervention to treat overloaded nutrients and bacteria is necessary, especially near the Newport State Airport and surrounding industrial areas. The studio proposes three new BMP sites near the airport (Figure 145). Additionally, the studio proposes that Middletown pursue wetlaculture systems within each of the three streams’ watersheds.

Additional BMPs & “Wetlaculture” Systems

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS To further support Aquidneck’s current efforts in these rivers, we propose a three-pronged solution. First, we suggest additional stormwater management projects that supplement the existing and proposed BMPs and a new multipurpose water treatment system that coincides with the island’s strong farming identity. Second, we discuss sustainable funding streams that both current and future stormwater management proposals could readily use at the implementation stage. And finally,

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Sustainable Funding Streams

Centralized Communication Tools

Wetlaculture (a combination of the words “wetland” and “agriculture”) is an ecological technique that saturates soils in a controlled environment; local soils mimic a wetland’s ability to recycle nutrients from agricultural runoff. Recent innovations in wetlaculture have optimized this constructed treatment in removing phosphorus and nitrogen from impaired water, making it a possible solution for Middletown’s local streams. As an added bonus, the removed phosphorus and nitrogen from stormwater runoff becomes concentrated in soil, which can then be reused as fertilizer.

we recommend a centralized communication system, so that all parties can easily stay informed on the status of these projects

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

“WETLACULTURE” - MAXIMIZE PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN REMOVAL FROM WATER

0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard New BMPs Possible Wetlaculture Sites Surface Water Impaired

Newport State Airport

Bailey Brook

Maidford River

Middletown Valley Park

Paradise Brook Norman Bird Sanctuary

Paradise Valley Park

0

0.5

1

2 Miles

Figure 145 Proposal Water Managements ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

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Wetlaculture systems remove excess nutrients from stormwater and recycles them into local soils for productive reuse

Figure 148 Wetlaculture Mesocosm

Fertilizer Figure 146 Newport State Airport

Stormwater Runoff

Figure 147 Newport State Airport aerial view

Farming

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

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CO-BENEFITS OF CONSTRUCTED TREATMENT WETLANDS

Potiential sites for constructed treatment wetlands in Aquidneck Aquidneck Constructed Treatment Wetlands

Dr. William Mitsch, an ecological engineer, created the wetlaculture concept in 2016.

His work led to the creation of Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTW) in the Lake Erie watershed to are helping improve local water quality and recycle nutrients.

The studio proposes that the island officials consult with Dr. Mitsch and his team (contact information is in the Appendices), who work with organizations to convert their land into experimental CTWs, to determine how much water can be treated from each river as well as how much enriched soils could be produced to meet some of Aquidneck Island’s fertilizer demand. From there, the size and cost of the CTWs would be determined. Results of these trial CTWs should be recorded and assessed before they become scaleable.

These experimental CTWs could double as centers were local gardeners purchase fertilizer already adapted to the Island’s soils. To further link sustainable farming to watershed management, CTW sites could also function as education centers that host watershed management programming via partnerships with a local farming nonproject, Aquidneck Community Table, and each municipality’s Office of Public Works.

Aquidneck Community Table would be an ideal partner because they already host a variety of community events and

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Figure 152 Paradise Valley Park Host Watershed Management Education

Meet portion of region’s fertilizer demand

Provide enriched soils for local gardeners/farmers

Figure 149 Co-benefits of Aquidneck Island’s Constructed Treatment Wetlands programming centered on strengthening the Island’s sustainable food system.

provided enough space is available that would not adversely impact bird habitats.

PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR WETLACULTURE CONSTRUCTED TREATMENT WETLAND Specific test sites by surveying each watershed to find large, publicly-owned open spaces as far downstream (where pollutant concentrations are highest) as possible. Middletown Valley Park and Paradise Valley Park were identified as ideal locations for the Bailey Brook watershed and the Maidford River Watershed.

There is no publicly-owned land within Paradise Brook’s watershed, so we selected Norman Bird Sanctuary as the project team suggests the Norman Bird Sanctuary as a possible site

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Figure 151 Middletown Valley Park

Figure 150 Norman Bird Sanctuary could be a valued partner in testing CTW’s suitability in Aquidneck ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

Figure 153 Norman Bird Sanctuary CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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There are a numbre of funding mechanisms available to build and maintain stormwater projects

ISLAND-WIDE FINANCING APPROACH Reliable funding streams are necessary to ensure that BMPs make it from the proposal to implementation stage. A case study review of successful funding mechanisms in comparable communities is presented in this section.

Based on the case study research, the studio suggests that Aquidneck Island apply an island-wide financing system to support BMPs. By expanding the scope, the Island increases the potential funds available for projects. Additionally, protecting the Island’s water supply is a priority that goes beyond political boundaries, so close financial collaboration is appropriate.

Sales Tax

RECOMMENDED FUNDING TYPES

Figure 154 Everyone on the Island drinks from the same source; therefore, all Aquidneck Island communities should support protecting watershed quality.

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

The Island could levy a sales tax. The money collected from a sales tax on purchased goods and services within the Island would be directed to funding stormwater projects. Communities could also establish a third-party endowment fund, where an initial donated amount of money is invested and all accumulated interest is used to fund projects.

Alternatively, communities could enact

Endowment Fund

Development Charge

a capital development charge to require developers to pay a designated amount for all newly constructed dwelling units; the collected payments are then dedicated for water management program funding. Finally, a stormwater utility fee could be implemented.

This operates like other utility fees and essentially is a payment that covers the cost of managing stormwater runoff from a customer’s property--note that both individuals and other entities can be charged stormwater utility fees.

Stormwater Utility Fee

Aquidneck Island’s communities can adopt one or several of these funding types. In addition to securing a sustainable funding source, innovative community engagement and clear communication about the use and parameters of each BMP is essential for public approval.

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CASE STUDY 1: Sales Tax, Capital Development Charge and Stormwater Fee Lenexa, Kansas used funds collected from local sales tax, capital development charges, and stormwater fees to fund its $61,000,000 BMPs. The town constructed lakes that, for most days of the year, function primarily as recreational spaces; the lakes also function as stormwater retention basins that capture water before it runs into local waterways. To gauge public interest in stormwater management projects, Lenexa city officials conducted a public survey on planning priorities which revealed that 80% of residents were willing to pay for a project that incorporated public green space. Following such strong public support, local decision-makers and a citizen group championed the project and held additional meetings and public speaking engagements to inform, involve, and excite the public.

To solidify public support, Lenexa organized an annual free public event called Waterfest that showcases environmental education opportunities alongside fun activities. The first Waterfest was held prior to the vote on the tax increase and served as one of the tools to justify the need for watershed management.

The sales tax was approved by an overwhelming 78% margin and an annual stormwater utility fee was also adopted.

Through conversations with development community stakeholders, the City also set a capital development charge.

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CASE STUDY 2: Hospitality Tax and Private Endowment

Public Survey

Mayor Support

Waterfest

Citizen Support Groups

Result

1/8-Cent Sales Tax Increase

Capital Development Charge

Stormwater Utility Fee

Application RI Coalition for Green Infrastructure

Interactive Outreach

Applying this case study to Aquidneck Island, a similar water festival could be held that incorporates education, providing opportunities for residents to learn about their watersheds and the value of stormwater management.

Support from a trusted public official is essential to building resident support. To facilitate community outreach, municipalities should partner with the Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition. This organization already has dedicated funds for public engagement around stormwater management.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Showcase Multi-Use

Figure 155 Lenexa residents enjoying one of the many water activities at Waterfest 2011 ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

Greenville, South Carolina used effective community engagement to build support for the daylighting of the Reedy River and the construction of a pedestrian bridge and park. Initially, citizens were hesitant to support daylighting the river because it would mean demolishing a perfectly functional bridge. However, public opinion shifted after the former city parks director marketed the city’s vision for the project at public meetings by distributing postcards featuring a painted rendering of the pedestrian park. Additionally, the Garden Club, a private citizens group interested in enhancing the city’s green space, engaged the community in their own circles through events to garner support. As a result, Greenville ultimately funded the $13.5 million project with a portion of its food and beverage tax. The Garden Club also created an endowment fund to cover the costs of educational programs, park amenities and enhancements not funded by the city’s operating budget. In total, the Garden Club raised $3.6 million for the new park.

In the context of Aquidneck Island, the Norman Bird Sanctuary could serve as a potential partner to establish an endowment fund for the Island’s stormwater management projects. The Norman Bird Sanctuary is located along Paradise River and has a shared appreciation of

Active City Parks Director

Club Organizing

Result

Private Club Endowment

Hospitality Tax

Application

Norman Bird Sanctuary

Vision Tools

Citizen Lead Outreach

the watershed as an essential ecosystem.

Additionally, similar outreach strategies that emphasize citizen-lead groups and advocacy, as seen in Greenville, should be pursued. Lastly, all outreach should be accompanied by strong visuals to generate excitement about the vision of the project.

Figure 156 Greenville’s hospitality tax largely covered the $13.5 million cost of restoring the Reedy River and creating the pedestrian bridge and park CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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CASE STUDY 3: STORMWATER FEE

NOTABLE FUNDING PROGRAM

Hampden Township, Pennsylvania relied on coordinated action between its local sewer authority and township government to create a stormwater authority responsible for administering a Stormwater Management Fee. The township created a stormwater management program to emphasize that the fee rates reflected the service provided and were necessary to fund the upkeep of the sewer system.

The township also created a Stakeholder Advisory Committee that included representatives from the community to meet during the fee evaluation period. Although not a decision-making body, the committee provided valuable feedback on policy and messaging decisions. Lastly, the city held multiple public meetings (including two specifically focused on how the fee would apply to non-residential properties), issued newsletter articles, developed a stormwater web page, and distributed informational bill stuffers to build community engagement and support.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a federal program that helps food producers invest in conservation practices that reduce agricultural runoff, promote efficient nutrient utilization, and improve soil health. Some common conservation practices include well-known BMPs like planting cover crops, adding constructed wetlands, and constructing filter strips along waterways. EQIP also provides one-on-one aid to help with implementation.

The EQIP program requires that producers adopt conservation practices prior to receiving financial compensation. As such, a barrier to participation in the program is that some producers may not have upfront capital available to fund conservation practices. There have been recent discussions about how to better connect existing funding streams to lower barriers to participation. An EQIP state representative notes that one possible solution is to coordinate with the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank’s Stormwater Project Accelerator Program, which could provide producers with loans to cover the upfront costs of adopting conservation practices. Producers would then receive funds from the EQIP program to pay off a sizeable portion of the loans.

The Hampden Township’ stormwater management fee has been successful. In the first year, the sewer authority collected approximately $1.1 million, and with the exception of the Navy and PENNDOT, the delinquency rate for the fee is extremely low.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Stormwater Web Page

Bill Stuffer

Result

Stormwater Management Fee (Tax-exempt properties are subject to the fee)

Application Aquidneck Advisory Committee

Public Meeting

farming community may be an effective engagement tool in Aquidneck Island. This committee would host public meetings related to stormwater policies and be a forum for community conversation. Additionally, bill stuffers are a low-effort but effective way to communicate the importance of stormwater management and the benefits of a stormwater fee to local water consumers.

A similar Stakeholder Advisory Committee to interact with local residents and the

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Newspaper Articles

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Bill Stuffer

Figure 157 Part of the public outreach material in a bill stuffer that was included the second quarter 2015 utility bill

ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

The Aquidneck Island communities should join this discussion and help formalize a partnership between EQIP and the Stormwater Project Accelerator Program.

Figure 158 With all organizations working to update one public website, tracking stormwatermanagement projects will be easier and more centralized CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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A streamlined funding process would help significantly reduce agricultural runoff, one of the main contributors to impaired water quality on Aquidneck Island.

Additionally, to inform more producers about the benefits of EQIP, Aquidneck Community Table and each municipalities’ Office of Public Works should coordinate with EQIP to facilitate information sessions, tours, and workshops. EQIP already has its own public outreach team that will distribute information about the program, but local coordination could facilitate more participation in the program.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TOOLS Central STORYMAP Finally, effective and centralized methods of communication are essential to keeping the public and local decisionmakers informed and engaged with stormwater management proposals and progress. The University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resource Center has already published a map of the state’s green infrastructure projects, but not all current BMP programs are included. Updating this important existing tool can be a first step in improving public awareness of stormwater management. Coordinators can draw inspiration from other successful engagement tools like the Chesapeake Bay Watershed BMPs Storymap, which provides a location, photograph, and brief introduction of each project as well as

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information about supplemental resources and involved organizations.

This project has proposed innovative water management projects, sustainable funding mechanisms, and centralized stormwater project tracking and communication systems to enable the Island to improve its drinking water quality.

As climate change leads to more stressors on local drinking water sources, it is imperative that effective methods of stormwater management are developed now to improve future resiliency.

Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE Middletown has already taken significant steps to improve the Island’s overall drinking water quality. However, more progress could be made through coordinated regional action. By implementing innovative constructed wetland treatments, creating sustainable funding mechanisms, and centralizing stormwater project tracking and communications, Aquidneck Island could better manage stormwater runoff and improve its drinking water quality.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Erin Monroe Jingzong Wang Katherine Payne Benita Lily Cheng Maddy Kornhauser

Source: Marinas.com ENHANCING SOURCE WATER PROTECTION

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The Portsmouth neighborhoods of Common Fence Point, Island Park, and the Hummocks will be very exposed to SLR over the next few decades. This project provides policymakers with a decision roadmap to reference when developing a long-term, community-forward adaptation plan that includes retreat as an option. The roadmap highlights important trade-offs that policymakers need to consider at key points in order to build resident buy-in and maximize the natural benefit of the land in flood mitigation.

We hope this framework can be used beyond Portsmouth as a resource for other communities considering retreat.

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

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CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

Figure 159 Sign for local marina on Cedar Island Pond in Common Fence Point

Figure 160 Sign for local marina on Cedar Island Pond in Common Fence Point

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STUDY AREA

The study area is made up of the northernmost points on Aquidneck Island: Portsmouth’s communities of Common Fence Point, Island Park, and the Hummocks.

Including its inland waters, Portsmouth has the longest shoreline of any Rhode Island Town at 49 miles. The area is primarily residential with several smaller commercial strips, including Park Avenue in Island Park.

The Fall River Expressway is a key thoroughfare that bisects the study area and the Sakonnet River Bridge and the Mount Hope Bridge are two of the few off-island access routes.

As of 2018, there are approximately 3,200 residents in the study area. Nearly 90% are non-Hispanic white and are living in singlefamily detached homes. The vast majority of

housing units are owner-occupied, yet 72% have mortgages. Residents skew older with over a third being older than 55. There are also income disparities by neighborhood; the Census block group that encompasses Common Fence Point has a median household income that is over $40,000 greater than that which encompasses Island Park and the Hummocks.

Distinct median incomes by neighborhood

87% NonHispanic White

37% 26%

The Hummocks Common Fence Point Island Park Study Area Sources: RIGIS & Google Maps

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

87% Live in single-family detached homes 79% Homeowners

18%

0

On the older side

Sources: 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Noun Project

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

19%

<18 years

18-34 years

0.125 0.25

35-54 years

0.5 Miles

55+ years

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PORTSMOUTH: A LONG AND VIBRANT HISTORY 17TH - 18TH CENTURY

19TH - 20TH CENTURY

20TH CENTURY

First settled in 1638, Portsmouth is the second oldest settlement in the state.

Its early economy was largely tied to agriculture, especially in supplying produce, meat, and dairy to the rapidly growing Newport. In fact, Common Fence Point got its name from the common grazing land around the original settlersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homesteads.

The establishment of an electric trolley at the turn of the 20th century brought new development interest, including an amusement park. Park Avenue became the center of social activity, featuring everything from a roller coaster to a dance hall to shooting galleries, attracting thousands of visitors. This spurred the development of several summer colonies in the neighborhoods.

The devastating hurricane of September 1938 destroyed the amusement park and many other homes on Aquidneck Island. In total, the storm killed 600 people and damaged 6,000 homes. But as time went on, many of the summer homes that remained gradually became yearround residences.

Figure 161 Portsmouth Farming History

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Figure 162 Island Park Amusement Park MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

Figure 163 1938 Hurricane, Island Park

PRESENT DAY

Today, the neighborhoods are fully modernized yet retain a small-town feel. The Hummocks, Island Park, and Common Fence Point remain primarily residential, keeping locals close to the water.

Figure 164 1938 Park Ave, Island Park CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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SEA LEVEL RISE EXPOSURE & IMPACT As we assessed the impacts of sea level rise in these neighborhoods, we focused on the number of homes and roads exposed to inundation and the estimated property tax lost per year. To perform this tax analysis, we identified which parcels would be under water on a daily basis in the 3, 7, and 10 foot scenarios.

Based on the 2019 millage rate, we calculated the area’s total tax revenue and then subtracted any revenue from parcels inundated under each scenario.

Figure 165 Fall River Expwy Figure 99 Point Rd

Figure 166 Anthony Rd

7 FT SLR

Figure 168 Point Rd

4% of properties inundated

Figure 96 Fall River Expwy

20% of properties inundated

Figure 167 Anthony Rd

3 FT SLR

Figure 98 Anthony Rd

Figure 97 Anthony Rd

Figure 100 Boyd’s Ln & Park Ave

Figure 169 Boyd’s Ln & Park Ave 352 parcels exposed to SLR & 1,202 parcels exposed to SS $1.8M lost in property tax revenue per year At 7 feet of sea level rise, we see 352 parcels exposed, with an estimated loss of $1.8 Million in tax revenue each year. Road exposure worsens and an additional 1200 parcels are exposed to storm surge.

73 parcels exposed to SLR & 1,032 parcels exposed to SS $330k lost in property tax revenue per year At just 3 feet of sea level rise, we estimate 73 parcels are inundated, resulting in a tax revenue loss of $330 thousand annually.

An additional thousand parcels would be exposed during storm surge. And already we can see that important roads, such as Park Avenue and Anthony Road, are exposed. These roads encompass the total of neighborhood entry points.

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3ft SLR 3ft SLR + Storm Surge SLR Exposed Buildings Figure 170 Roads and Buildings Exposed to 3FT Sea Level Rise in Portsmouth

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

SS Exposed Buildings Exposed Road

Figure 171 Roads and Buildings Exposed to 7FT Sea Level Rise in Portsmouth CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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10 FT SLR 4% of properties inundated

Figure 99 Point Rd

Figure 98 Anthony Rd

Figure 97 Anthony Rd Figure 96 Fall River Expwy

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH: KEY VISIONS & GOALS VISION Given the neighborhoods’ exposure to sea level rise, residents must manage the changing conditions either by adapting in place or proactively taking steps to retreat.

By outlining key decisions and trade-offs, the community can develop clear goals for the future of the neighborhoods and residents can feel empowered to make informed decisions about the changing neighborhood.

Figure 100 Boyd’s Ln & Park Ave 690 parcels exposed to SLR & 1,291 parcels exposed to SS $4.1M lost in property tax revenue per year And at 10 feet of sea level rise, nearly 700 parcels are inundated resulting in a loss of $4.1 million dollars in tax revenue annually. Road exposure continues to worsen, with a majority of access and local roads impacted. And nearly 1300 parcels are exposed to storm surge.

The Portsmouth neighborhoods of Common Fence Point, Island Park and the Hummocks have a long and vibrant history that is tied to the water.

As the threat of inundation increases with sea level rise, Portsmouth residents will manage the changing conditions, either by adapting in place or proactively taking steps to retreat.

In doing so, Portsmouth residents will minimize their risk from coastal hazards, enabling them to retain their unique history and relationship to the water.

KEY ACTIONS & DECISION POINTS Protects Roads & Assets

3ft SLR 3ft SLR + Storm Surge

Enact Policy

Identifying Receiving Areas

Engage Community

Finance Projects

SLR Exposed Buildings SS Exposed Buildings Exposed Road

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Figure 172 Roads and Buildings Exposed to 10FT Sea Level Rise in Portsmouth

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

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ADAPTATION THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSET...

& SHORELINE PROTECTION

To prolong the viability of these neighborhoods for residents, investments to protect roads and bridges, built structures, and general flood water management is necessary. Portsmouth has already invested in stormwater management, most recently through stormwater projects and rain gardens. However, in order to prepare this neighborhood for viability on a longer timeline, a considerably larger amount of funding would need to be allocated to road and building protection.

Gray or green infrastructure features could also be utilized to protect buildings.

And general flood management would also be required due to the extent of exposure. Stormwater infrastructure projects would need further funding, such as additional pumps or nature-based solutions such as rain gardens.

As shown on this map, substantial investments to protect roads and bridges are necessary. The roads in dark orange are exposed at just 3-feet of sea level rise and must be the top priority for elevation as they are critical neighborhood access points. The remaining roads would need to be elevated according to their estimated inundation timeline. This is a significant collection of roads. Not only would this be expensive and a headache for residents during the ongoing construction, it is a temporary solution for areas that will ultimately be inundated. While it may make sense to elevate targeted roads, the town must decide if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prudent to continue investment as SLR compromises more properties.

Shoreline protection is another important issue. This map shows current hardened shorelines in dark blue, which will not adequately protect structures in the future or allow the coast to naturally adapt. Going forward, Portsmouth can prohibit or restrict the use of hard armoring structures except working waterfronts and promote the use of living shorelines, which grow over time and perform better during major storms.

Wetlands also can play a role in managing stormwater, preserving the many benefits of coastal ecosystems for communities and the environment. As sea levels rise, wetlands are currently at risk of being squeezed between elevating seas on one side and manmade development on the other. Taking action in potential marsh zones to remove structures or restrict human uses will help wetlands migrate inland and maximize their natural stormwater benefits.

Other methods of road protection include permeable pavement and the incorporation of dikes or culvert bridges. The elevation of residential homes, as well as other buildings, would be necessary and costly to private residents.

Top Priority Second Priority Third Priority Fourth Priority

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0

0.25

0.5

1 Miles

Figure 173 Road Elevation Priority Map

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

Hardened Shorelines

Figure 174 Shoreline Protection Map CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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TOOLS TO LIMIT & REFOCUS DEVELOPMENT There are numerous policy tools available to limit development in exposed areas and keep structures back from the shore.

In Rhode Island, CRMC already mandates erosion-oriented setbacks and Coastal Buffer Zones, as well as issues permits for any coastal development to reduce hazards and promote informed decision-making.

However, these policy tools largely apply to new development, and may not be applicable to the already built-up study area.

Rebuilding restrictions through overlay zones and zoning changes may be more effective at phasing out development from high-risk areas. While these tools can help mitigate risk along the coast by requiring owners rebuild higher and more resilient, they can also shift development away from the coast by prohibiting repetitive repairs or simply requiring that owners rebuild further inland. Towns can also increase zoning density elsewhere to accommodate and incentivize development away from the coast.

Figure 175 A home on Marine Avenue overlooking a cove in Portsmouth

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

To maximize the effect of hazard mitigation through the zoning code, towns should enact changes as soon as possible to ensure that few developments as possible are grandfathered in under older regulations.

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

MANAGED RETREAT CASE STUDY: OAKWOOD BEACH, STATEN ISLAND Portsmouth could begin to purchase property from private owners to promote a more deliberate, long-term managed retreat strategy. This approach is usually less expensive than costly structural projects which may only be a temporary solution and helps maintain natural shoreline dynamics.

Though managed retreat is inherently complex and challenging, there are successful precedents showing that it is doable. One such precedent is the Oakwood Beach neighborhood of Staten Island, New York, which achieved a large-scale state buyout driven by the community. Having dealt with flooding for decades, damage from Superstorm Sandy spurred residents to form a committee to advocate for better coastal protection.

One resident served as the neighborhood champion for the buyout plan, evaluating post-Sandy disaster recovery options that would benefit the broader community and relaying that information to neighbors. This grassroots education effort grew over time, eventually resulting in regular meetings, proactive outreach, and word-of-mouth communication that government buyouts were a viable option for homeowners.

Figure 176 Wildlife begins to return to Staten Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oakwood Beach neighborhood following the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large-scale buyout.

The committee developed a voluntary buyout plan that had the support of nearly 200 Oakwood Beach households and led to a partnership with the State of New York to purchase properties at their appraised prestorm value and return the properties to their natural state. A major motivating factor for residents to participate in the buyout program was the promise of ecosystem restoration.

Bought-out neighborhoods were replaced with natural flood and coastal buffers and portions

of the land have been converted to hiking trails, walkways, and wildlife observation areas.

The program was funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants, as the availability of funds was not contingent on a presidential disaster declaration or supplemental appropriations by Congress, allowing the State to expedite the buyout process.

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10 ft 7 ft 3 ft

3 FT

NOW Take stock of inundated and community assets at each SLR scenario Conduct analyses on parcels/property tax risk Explore potential receiving land areas Community awareness and understanding of risk Identify groups/people that can serve as champions locally

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Incorporate SLR into planning documents Explore funding options for adaptations; establish local buyout funding mechanism Incentivize inland development Create plan for road adaptation or discontinued maintenance

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Prep receiving land

Community-building based on resident feedback

Start of retreat (where water intrusion daily occurs in lowest-lying areas) Homeowner education on program options Cesspool replacement according to Cesspool Phaseout Act of 2007 Prep now-vacated land for living shoreline

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

7 FT

10 FT

TIMELINE FOR RETREAT

IDENTIFYING RECEIVING AREAS

Should Portsmouth pursue managed retreat, we have proposed a timeline for the town to proactively plan. In the early preparation phases of retreat, the town should begin identifying and preparing receiving areas, engage the community, and explore funding mechanisms. This will prepare the town for the actual retreat process once water intrusion happens on a daily basis starting at the 3-foot sea level rise scenario.

One of the first actions the town can take is to identify land as receiving areas for the retreat. Here we summarize key considerations when identifying receiving areas, or areas where residents will be relocating within Portsmouth to maintain the town’s community and tax base.

During the subsequent transition phase, Portsmouth should continue to educate the community on the retreat process and engage stakeholders and key community members to begin converting vacated land towards a living shoreline. Eventually, once retreat is complete, this land will be turned into an asset the entire community can enjoy for years to come.

Using these considerations as a framework, we engaged in some preliminary analysis to determine two possible options for Portsmouth receiving areas. It is important to note that community feedback will be extremely important in this process, and that these options were considered solely focusing on land use patterns.

Continued and/or proactive retreat based on community needs Conversion of land to public asset

• Identify opportunities for rezoning • Future land use plans • Identify growth centers • Consider redefining Urban Service Boundary • Determine current parcel ownership • Request a Coastal Environmental Risk Index from CRMC • Identify desired housing types • Consider timing and phasing of retreat: all at once or phased over time?

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PROPOSED OPTION 1: PRESERVING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS

PROS • Preserves lower density housing types • Potential to maintain coastal views, at a higher elevation CONS • High potential for scattered development • Difficult to concentrate public services, infrastructure, and utilities

Research shows that residents prefer to relocate to areas with similar housing types and characteristics as their original homes, so this first option prioritizes lower density housing and maintaining coastal views. The medium and lower density residential areas shown in yellow have room to expand and incorporate more housing.

The area closest to the Growth Center, shown in the dark orange circle, would be the most ideal as it has the potential to maintain coastal views. We also highlighted the Portsmouth Redevelopment District as another potential site for lowdensity housing. However, this option may encourage scattered development, adding to the island’s sprawl, and making it difficult for the town to concentrate public services, infrastructure, and utilities. With hundreds of households eventually needing to relocate, there is a question of scale. Can these areas, some of which support existing development, accommodate that much more?

Land Use Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential

Redevelopment District Conservation Areas Growth Center

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

°

Existing CFP/IFP/Hummocks residences

0

0.25

0.5

1 Miles

Figure 177 Receiving Area Option 1: Preserving Development Patterns CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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PROPOSED OPTION 2: DENSIFYING AROUND GROWTH CENTER

PROS • Denser housing allows concentration of public services • Located near identified Growth Center • Located near major roadways and commercial center • Potential to build out commercial center • Easier to facilitate community bonding CONS • Less opportunity for single-family housing • Less opportunity for coastal views

The second option we propose would be a phased retreat, focusing on denser housing and the creation of a centralized downtown area, which Portsmouth currently lacks.

Beginning around the growth center, then expanding to the light industrial district and finally to the redevelopment district, this option would concentrate public services, decrease the impact on traffic congestion, and potentially make it easier to facilitate neighborhood and community bonding.

Further investigation would need to be conducted on feasibility of residential development and rezoning within the light industrial district. While this option would allow the Town to plan growth smartly and provide a connected corer of housing and development in Portsmouth, this option would likely create fewer opportunities for single-family housing and coastal views.

Figure 179 Current View of the Growth Center

PHASE I - Town Center PHASE II - Light Industrial District PHASE III - Redevelopment District

°

Existing CFP/IFP/Hummocks residences Redevelopment District Conservation Areas Growth Center

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

0

0.25

0.5

1 Miles

Figure 178 Receiving Area Option 2: Densifying Around the Growth Center CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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MUTUAL AGREEMENT IS MOST SUCCESSFUL Broader society benefits from relocation

GREATER GOOD

Residents do not initiate retreat

Residents feel risk is tolerable

Residents feel risk is intolerable

Benefits accrue to broader society

Benefits accrue to broader society

Political will for retreat is high

Political will for retreat is high

Societal benefit-cost ratio justifies relocation

Societal benefit-cost ratio justifies relocation

Moderate likelihood of occurring

High likelihood of occurring

Residents feel risk is tolerable

Residents feel risk is intolerable

Benefits accrue only to residents, if anyone

Benefits accrue to residents

Political will for retreat is low

Political will for retreat is low

We propose that the town of Portsmouth proactively engage in steps to inform residents of the benefits of retreat and further the political will to prepare for retreat.

Educate the public on risk by showing the impact of SLR & different adaptation options

Low likelihood of occurring

Moderate likelihood of occurring

SLR Projections

SELF RELIANCE Only residents benefit from relocation

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Work with the community to develop an adaptation plan

ENGAGEMENT TOOLS

Societal benefit-cost ratio does not justify relocation

Figure 180 Managed Retreat Options Diagram

In these cases, there were benefits to the broader society, such as reduced expenditures on disaster relief, improved environmental protection, or minimized exposure to natural hazards.

Residents initiate retreat

Societal benefit-cost ratio does not justify relocation

HUNKERED DOWN

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MUTUAL AGREEMENT

In an examination of 27 managed retreat cases around the world, instances where resident and policymaker interests were aligned -- the mutual agreement cases, represented in the top right of this chart -- were the most successful and helped municipalities overcome regulatory obstacles to retreat.

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

Timelines with Benchmarks

Community Interviews/Surveys

Resident Champion

To engage residents in a conversation about retreat, policymakers must first help them understand their level of risk by demonstrating the impact of sea level rise and coastal storms on their community using sea level rise projections maps and other visualization tools. They should also outline the tradeoffs of different resiliency methods and ensure homeowners understand how insurance will or will not cover losses due to sea level rise and coastal storms. These methods will help residents come to conclusions about adaptations on their own. Once residents understand their level of risk, leadership should work with the community to develop a long-term adaptation plan that incorporates their values and priorities. Having a resident champion may also help to promote engagement with the planning process.

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There are various options for funding buyout programs, each with its own set of trade-offs. At the federal level, HUD and FEMA provide large grants to cover a portion of a municipality’s buyout expenses.

However, since these funds tend to only become available after a nationally-recognized disaster, they are unsustainable for long-term programs. Additionally, federal programs tend to be more bureaucratic and work on a longer timeframe, which can negatively impact a program’s participation. The longer residents stay in their home following a storm, the more likely they are to invest in repairs, and therefore not follow through with the buyout.

Discuss managed retreat as an option alongside protection strategies Involve inland residents in planning conversations Market the co-benefits of retreat Acknowledge the human side of retreat Figure 181 71% of Hampton, NH residents were in favor of incorporating managed retreat into their climate plan.

When discussing managed retreat, leaders should frame it as an option alongside protection and accommodation strategies— not as the sole strategy to pursue. Residents in potential receiving areas should also be included in those conversations.

Helping residents see the co-benefits of retreat, such as improved access to nature or better storm protection, and individual benefits, such as retreating as a group to limit the depreciation of property values, may also help to bring people on board.

And addressing the ‘human side of retreat,’

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not just the necessary clinical steps, will likely lead to a more productive conversation.

In Hampton, New Hampshire, for instance, town started its long-term climate planning process by presenting residents with three distinct adaptation options: protection (“keeping the water out”), accommodation (“living with the water”), and managed retreat or relocation (“get out of the water’s way”). By increasing awareness of the benefits and tradeoffs of retreat across a broad spectrum of adaptation strategies at the outset of their community-

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

driven decision-making process, Hampton was ultimately able to generate buy-in for incorporating retreat into the town’s climate plans. 71 percent of residents either agreed or strongly agreed that managed retreat could be a component of their longterm adaptation strategy.

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

Most programs leverage federal dollars at some point, but eventually turn to more sustainable, local streams. To name a handful of examples, the New Jersey Blue Acres program funds buyouts through a state corporate business tax. Charlotte-Mecklenburg County in North Carolina funds their buyout program almost entirely through a stormwater utility fee as their flooding is localized and does not qualify for federal aid. Finally, Houston and Austin, Texas levy an ad valorem property tax and a drainage fee, respectively.

Fundamentally, local funds are more flexible and less bureaucratic, so municipalities can process buyouts quickly and at any time. The downside of these funds is that they may place an additional burden on the tax base and overall be less of a resource than federal grants.

FEDERAL

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES:

FINANCING BUYOUT PROGRAMS

STATE LEVEL

TALKING ABOUT RETREAT WITH RESIDENTS

HUD

FEMA

NJ Corporate Business Tax

CharlotteMecklenburg Stormwater Utility

Houston Ad Valorem Property Tax

Austin Drainage Fee

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CREATING NEW PUBLIC ASSETS: THE TRANSITIONAL PHASE...

& A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

During the transitional phases of retreat, some residents will choose to leave while others remain behind, resulting in a patchwork effect for some time. Turning those empty spaces into productive assets, such as a pollinator habitat or small garden, can help to mitigate stormwater and flooding and maintain access to the waterfront while starting the process of returning the land to nature.

Ultimately thinking of the retreated land as a public asset that reflects Portsmouth’s culture and identity, we envision the retreated land as a wetlands preserve park, which could be used for recreation and education as well as serve to protect the town from rising sea levels and flooding from coastal storms. In recognition of the historical importance of farming, the land could also be used for aquaculture. This vision retains public access to the waterfront and a connection to Aquidneck Island’s maritime culture.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

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Atlantic Beach District Redesign

Linhan Fu Kellie King Maddy Kornhauser

Source: Booking.com

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

MITIGATING RISK IN PORTSMOUTH

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THE ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT The Atlantic Beach District is a commercial hub in Middletown at Easton’s Beach. This project evaluates the district’s long-term viability relative to SLR. Proposed adaptations are intended to extend the district’s lifespan, explore what changes are reasonable in the shortterm, and present possible alternative futures that preserve the area’s unique sense of place. The Atlantic Beach District Redesign project addresses the studio goals of protecting residents, celebrating Aquidneck Island’s identity, and fostering a resilient economy.

Ultimately, the district will be markedly changed by SLR but the businesses and people that make the Atlantic Beach District a vibrant destination have multiple pathways to adapt to this change.

The district is home to roughly twenty businesses, mostly hotels and restaurants.

These are heavily reliant on tourism, a result of the area’s close proximity to downtown Newport and local beaches. In total, the district’s property value is estimated to be $55 million.

Green End Pond Reservoir

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Aquidnec

Middletown has emphasized investment here to boost tourism and passed an ordinance in 2018 establishing as a taxincrement financing district. The town is also in the process of establishing a design overlay zone to make it “more pedestrianoriented, attractive and vibrant”.

k Ave

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

d rial Blv

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Figure 182 Existing Business Mix

Hotel

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

Restaurant

Retail & Services

Event Space

Other ABD Buildings

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SLR 3 Green End Pond Reservoir

Green End Pond Reservoir

SLR 7 SLR 10 2ft Contour Line Hotel Restaurant

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Aquidn

e eck Av

e eck Av

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Retail & Services Event Space

0

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Figure 183 Impact of SLR (3ft, 7ft, 10ft)

°

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

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or

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Green End Pond Reservoir

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Note that FEMA recommends applying the higher V Zone regulatory standards to coastal A Zones because the lower standards are not considered protective enough for these areas. Middletown does not currently have such a requirement.

Regardless, the projected 2100 limit of wave action indicates the district will eventually become a V Zone as it becomes more exposed. Concurrently, the district will also come under the regulatory authority of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resource Management Council.

Aquidnec

Other Buildings d ial Blv

elevation. Buildings are also not allowed to be built over water.

°

Figure 184 Impact of SLR (3ft, 7ft, 10ft) & 1% Storm Surge

d rial Blv

PERMANENT & TEMPORARY INUNDATION The Atlantic Beach District will be directly affected by sea level rise. Daily exposure to inundation will be limited along the corridor until SLR 10 in 2100. However, major storms could be disruptive in the Atlantic Beach District as soon as SLR 3.

Also concerning is the fact that the cluster of hotels at the district’s southern edge, a major source of foot traffic and business

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along the corridor, will be inundated the earliest, beginning at SLR 7 in 2080. As many of the other businesses depend on traffic from visitors staying in these hotels, this reduction in tourism activity could have an outsized impact on other business in the area.

FEMA FLOOD ZONES Floodplain management regulations are also relevant to future adaptations in the Atlantic Beach District. Most of the district is currently in

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

a FEMA A Zone; structures in this zone are not required to elevate. A small portion of the district is currently in a designated V Zone. V Zones are exposed to coastal wave action during storms and are regulated the most stringently out of all FEMA floodplain zones: a three-foot high wave carries enough force to tear walls away from a structure. Because of the danger of wave action, all new or substantially improved buildings must be elevated on pilings, posts, piers, or columns above the base flood ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

Memo

Easton Bay 0

Freeboard Base Flood Elevation

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Figure 185 FEMA Flood Zones

Figure 186 New or substantially improved buildings in V Zones must elevate

SFHA Zone VE

SFHA Zone AE

ABD Buildings

Projected Limit of Moderate Wave Action, SLR 10

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FEW STRUCTURAL ADAPTATIONS A visual survey of the district reveals that few buildings are elevated, meaning the majority will not meet future regulatory standards. Aside from the financial costs of insuring such non-compliant structures, the lack of elevation leaves them vulnerable to flooding. Buildings shown in dark orange on Figure 190 are not raised at all. Many structures along Memorial Boulevard and upper Aquidneck Avenue are raised and sit in areas that are projected to have deeper levels of inundation during extreme storms.

Slightly raised buildings typically sit on fill or a foundation 2-3 feet off the ground.

Figure 191 Sea Breeze Inn Eastonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pond Reservoir

Figure 187 Atlantic Beach Hotel

k Ave

d rial Blv

Memo Figure 189 Residence

Easton Bay 0

Figure 188 Newport Beach House

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Aquidnec

Moderately raised buildings tend to be used as residences and typically sit on enclosed walls roughly a half-story tall.

The newer hotels located near Memorial Boulevard are the only structures currently elevated on pillars or columns but only to a height of about ten feet. This may not be sufficiently resilient by 2050: an extreme storm then is projected to bring us much as 13-15 feet of inundation to the lower part of the district.

Green End Pond Reservoir

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

Not Raised

Slightly Raised

SFHA ZoneNot VE Raised

SFHASlightly ZoneRaised AE

SFHA Zone VE

SFHA Zone AE

Moderately Raised Projected Limit of Moderately Moderate Wave Action,Raised SLR 10 Projected Limit of Moderate Wave

0.05

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Figure 190 Few Structural Adaptations Raised on Pillars

Raised on Pillars

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SLR AND STORM EFFECTS OVER TIME

20% of structures within new MHHW

SLR 3 (~2050)

SLR 5 (~2070)

No structures affected by new MHHW

No structures affected by new MHHW

No roads inundated

No roads inundated

SLR 7 (~2080) Memorial Blvd, lower Wave Ave, and lower Aquidneck Ave inundated

0.5-3 ft of inundation relative to ground elevation

57% of structures within new MHHW

SLR 10 (~2100) Memorial Blvd, Wave Ave, Aquidneck Ave, Purgatory Rd, and Crescent Rd inundated

2-6 ft of inundation relative to ground elevation

30 ft 27 ft 24 ft 21 ft 18 ft 15 ft 12 ft

94% of structures affected

9 ft 6 ft

67% of structures affected

76% of structures affected

86% of structures affected

3 ft

SLR 3 + STORM (~2050)

SLR 5 + STORM (~2070)

SLR 7 + STORM (~2080)

SLR 10 + STORM

Figure 192 SLR and Storm Effects Over Time

1% ANNUAL CHANCE STORM 4% ANNUAL CHANCE STORM

(~2100)

Permanent and temporary inundation will affect the long-term viability of the district in different ways. Permanent inundation is not projected until SLR 7, at which point 20% of structures will be within the new mean high higher water mark; this number rises to 57% of structures at SLR 10.

Roadways will also become inundated at the same time, meaning any adaptations to infrastructure are also necessary to enable the district to stay in place.

Property owners’ differing levels of risk acceptance for storms, however, may affect the district’s vitality much earlier than SLR 7.

Storm surge projections show that over 50% of structures will experience flooding during the 4% and 1% annual chance storms as early as 2050. Importantly, structures that sustain substantial damage after the district has converted to a FEMA V Zone (meaning the cost to repair exceed 50% of the structure’s market value prior to damage) will be required to come into compliance with all current floodplain regulations. Thus, structures that are substantially damaged would be required to elevate if building owners decide to build back. Even less damaging storms may disrupt normal business activity by discouraging tourism or impeding access. By 2100, an extreme storm would affect all structures.

Figure 193 Business Exposure to SLR and Storm Surge. Vulnerability to SLR and storm surge varies greatly depending on a structures ground elevation and proximity to Easton Bay and Easton’s Pond Reservoir

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

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OTHER INFRASTRUCTURAL FACTORS

Green End Pond Reservoir

Figure 197 Newport Beach Hotel Aerial Easton’s Pond Reservoir

k Ave

Figure 194 Aerial overlooking the area to the west of the Atlantic Beach District. Note that Easton’s Pond Reservoir and Memorial Boulevard have little separating them from Easton Bay A

ELEVATION TO ADAPT TO SLR

A’

d rial Blv

The Newport Beach Hotel is heavily reliant on tourism and is projected to be one of the first buildings in the district affected by sea level rise. To illustrate how the district would need to change to meet future regulatory standards, the unelevated portion of the Newport Beach Hotel complex and adjacent road (indicated in orange in Figure 196) is used as an example.

Memo

Easton Bay 0

Figure 198 Newport Beach Hotel Street View

Figure 195 Damage near Easton’s Beach after the Hurricane of 1938

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Aquidnec

Interventions to protect nearby infrastructure are also relevant to the district’s vitality. Memorial Boulevard, an important arterial linking Newport and Middletown, and Easton’s Pond Reservoir, a drinking water source for the island, are both exposed tosea level rise and storms.

The reservoir is currently protected by an earthen berm about 10 feet high. Storms have battered this embankment in the past, and Hurricane Sandy’s surge came within a foot of overtopping it. Protecting these pieces of infrastructure may increase the district’s resiliency--fortifying the berm, for example, could prevent overwash along Aquidneck Avenue. On the other hand, a complete abandonment of the two—neither of which are owned by Middletown—would also drastically affect the district.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

0.05

0.1

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Figure 196 Newport Beach Hotel Location

ABD Buildings

Other Buildings

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ADAPTATION TO SLR3

25 FEET STORMTOOLS Sugggested Design Elevation

17 FEET

Ground elevation at site

Recommended structural elevation

26 feet

According to STORMTOOLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suggested design elevation standards, the hotel should be 25 feet above sea level to adapt to SLR 3. Since the site sits 8 feet above sea level, the hotel would need to elevated 17 feet in total. While resilient to SLR 3, the structure would be exposed in future scenarios and require even further elevation. It should also be noted that adapting buildings to SLR 10 suggested design elevations is not a simple process due to current code height restrictions. Instead, building owners would have to elevate multiple times as height restrictions update if they want their buildings to be as resilient as possible barring a code change.

8 FEET

SLR 10 + Storm Surge

17 feet

21 feet

SLR 7 + Storm Surge

6 feet

40 feet

14 feet

17 feet

SLR 3 + Storm Surge

6 feet

Figure 199 Elevation to Adapt to SLR3

6 feet

40 feet

6 feet

Figure 200 Elevation to Adapt to SLR3 (Scenarios)

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

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ADAPTATION TO SLR10

8 FEET

27 FEET

Ground elevation at site

Recommended structural elevation

26 feet

27 feet

SLR 10 + Storm Surge

SLR 3 + Storm Surge

10 feet

14 feet Daily Tides (5 feet)

Daily Tides (5 feet)

27 feet

SLR 7 + Storm Surge

21 feet

To adapt to SLR 10, the hotel must elevate 27 feet and the access road must elevated 10 feet (allowing for five feet of freeboard). At this degree of elevation, the hotel would be above the SLR 10 + storm surge scenario. However, this degree of elevation is not an appropriate solution for the entire district. Not only does this greatly change the appearance of the public realm, Middletown would incur additional costs to elevate and maintain supporting infrastructure like roads. Elevation can also be prohibitively expensive for small business owners and often requires coordinated funding to elevate entire neighborhoods. For example, a 2016 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report proposed elevating 341 homes at a cost of $58 million (roughly $170,000 per home) along Rhode Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Coast, funded through a mix of federal, local, and private money. Instead of investing in widespread elevation, Middletown should rethink how this district can pivot to different uses when it is no longer economically viable for businesses to remain in place.

35 FEET STORMTOOLS Sugggested Design Elevation

10 feet 6 feet

40 feet

6 feet

Figure 201 Elevation to Adapt to SLR10 6 feet

40 feet

6 feet

Figure 202 Elevation to Adapt to SLR10 (Scenarios)

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ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

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BUSINESS MIGRATION

PIVOTING TO MOBILE BUSINESSES One possible future for the district retains commercial activity but reimagines brick and mortar businesses as mobile operations that can move before storms. Businesses in the state are already taking this approach, such as Andrea Beach Bar in Westerly. We believe this option may be particularly attractive to restaurants, and additional space could be set aside for recreation, such as coastal camping.

Atlantic Beach District Potential Expansion Area

Green End Pond Reservoir

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Cor

y Valle Rd

Wynd ha

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ve ck A

idne

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ark eP t a por

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m New

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Green End Pond Reservoir

Easton Bay

Easton’s Pond Reservoir Easton Bay

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Figure 204 Possible Mobile Business Locations 0

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Figure 203 Business_Expansion

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Aquidnec

Rather than elevate as the district becomes more exposed to sea level rise, many of the existing businesses, especially renters, will relocate to other locations. Figure 203 highlights a business cluster directly north of the Atlantic Beach District that may be an attractive alternative for relocating Atlantic Beach District businesses that wish to reduce their exposure to sea level rise while remaining close to their original location. The area is currently is currently home to several office parks and a hotel.

According to 2018 census data, this is one of Middletown’s key job hubs and is less exposed to sea level rise. Keeping businesses in Middletown and close to their original location will also help the area smoothly transition into a more appropriate use given the realities of the SLR 7 and SLR 10 scenarios.

SLR 7

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

SLR 7 + Storm Surge

Potential Sites for Mobile Businesses

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PIER OPTIONS

When Superstorm Sandy hit Scales Grill & Deck Bar in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the restaurant suffered severe flood damage. While the owners had eventual plans to rebuild, they opened the following summer, and subsequent seasons, as a food truck and outdoor bar.

The business set up multiple trailers on the property to support the cooking, administrative, and guest amenities.

Figure 206 Scales Bar

Vautrot’s Cajun Cuisine in southeastern Texas, suffered severe flood damage after Tropical Storm Harvey in 2017. In response, the Bevil Oaks establishment set up a food truck behind the site of their damaged restaurant to continue serving the community as the building was reconstructed.

Vautrot’s reopened its brick and mortar location in January 2020.

Figure 207 Vautrot’s Cajun Cuisine

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

Especially as local beaches recede due to coastal erosion and sea level rise, new recreational assets will be in demand and could be a way for Middletown to continue investments meant to encourage tourism.

Precedents for commercial focused and tourist-serving piers are common in major coastal cities. Smaller recreational focused piers often serve as a scenic amenity or ocean fishing spot, while supporting limited business activity. For example, both Jeanette’s Pier in North Carolina and Fishing Pier in Florida have restaurants clustered around the pier entrances. While inserting a bustling commercial pier may not make sense in the relaxed, beachside neighborhood, a recreational site that accommodates limited commercial and dining activity may be a happy medium.

Suggested Design Elevation = 30 feet Suggested Design Elevation = 30-35 feet

Easton’s Pond Reservoir

Suggested Design Elevation = 35 feet

k Ave

Figure 205 Andrea Beach Bar

Green End Pond Reservoir

Aquidnec

The Andrea Hotel in Misquamicut, Rhode Island has been owned by the Colucci family since the 1940’s. After severe damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the family initially planned to rebuild the hotel and set up a temporary seaside tent to maintain revenue during clean up and construction. Ultimately, the owners decided to demolish the structure (saving the lobby’s fireplace) and converting the site to a beachside bar and restaurant.

A second possible future is to pivot more strongly to recreation. If the town wishes to retain commercial activity, elevation may make sense for a limited number of businesses with funds to elevate to the height required. As indicated on Figure 208, elevated structures could be built on the parcels outside of the SLR 10 extent, and options to further elevate and then integrate the already raised hotels could also be explored.

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Figure 208 Pier Options Parcels Outside of SLR 10 Extent

Parcels Owned by Middletown

SLR 10

SLR 10 + Storm Surge

Buildings Raised on Pillars Potential Site of Pier

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Figure 209 Jeanette’s Pier

Fishing Pier in Venice, Florida is a 720 feet long pier that sits 20 feet above sea level. Originally built in 1966, the pier was reconstructed from scratch in the mid-2000s and funded through a $1.75 million recreational municipal bond. A recent rehabilitation project to include more resilient construction materials and user amenities cost roughly $740 thousand.

Aside from ocean fishing, visitors can enjoy a nearby pavilion and recreational complex or dine at local restaurants.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

sin e Bu ile ob Pier

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Figure 211 Possible Trail Network Extension

Proposed Trail Connections

Figure 210 Fishing Pier

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Possible funding sources could come from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Green Space Grant programs, which provides funding to recreational trail development and improvements. In cooperation with the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, Green Space Grants can fund up to 80% of a project’s construction cost and cover new construction or major rehabilitation. Grants can be up to $100,000.

nd n Po ail o t s Ea ing Tr k Wal

M

Jeanette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina has long been a tourist destination in the Outer Banks area. Originally constructed in 1939, the pier became known as a prime ocean fishing spot. The pier was almost completely destroyed in 2003 during Hurricane Isabel. The state took over ownership and rebuilt the pier at a cost of $25 million; it reopened in 2011 and now includes a North Carolina Aquarium facility. The pier deck sits 25 above sea level, above Hurricane Isabel’s storm surge levels. Today Jeanette’s Pier is an educational and tourist center and supports itself through fishing fees and gift shop revenue.

A pier could also be incorporated into a waterfront trail extension that connects to the area’s existing network. Newport’s Cliff Walk currently ends on the west side of Easton’s Pond, but an elevated boardwalk or walkway along the reservoir berm--if protected in the long-term--could direct visitors into the reimagined Atlantic Beach District Area, where mobile restaurants and a few elevated businesses await. Adding a trail extension around the eastern and northern edges of the reservoir could be explored as an alternative or additional route, depending on the city’s ability to secure public right-of-ways in this area.

Management of this trail extension could occur at the municipal level or at the federal level. The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is nearby, and a more recreational and nature-focused trail could be incorporated as a satellite site.

sse s

TRAIL EXTENSION

Cliff Walk

Easton Pond Walking Trail

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Figure 212 Clam Pass

Figure 213 Briggs Boardwalk

Figure 214 Atlantic Beach Boardwalk Rendering

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ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

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MIDDLETOWN PHASED ADAPTATION: 2050

PHASED ADAPTATION At SLR 7, roughly half of the district will be affected. In preparation, Middletown can encourage alternative uses for the corridor as many of the structures will no longer be viable as is. Experimenting with mobile businesses or returning the site to nature and preparing its integration with a larger trail network would be appropriate during this transitional phase.

The Atlantic Beach District still has years remaining as a commercial hub, but it is not too early to envision a changed future that can be implemented in phases. This project has presented several futures for the corridor and they have the potential to coexist and are implementable over time.

SLR 3 will not affect much of the district and the area can retain its character as a local commercial hub during this time. Interventions like flood-proofing and elevation may make financial sense for a handful of businesses. Importantly, beginning the process of educating businesses about the risks of remaining in the area will lay the groundwork for future and more intrusive interventions.

Previously Inundated Parcels

New Parcels Inundated

by SLR Scenario

Parcels Vulnerable to SLR + Storm Scenario

Figure 215 City Action By 2050

Previously Inundated Parcels

Green End Pond Reservoir

Green End Pond Reservoir

Eastonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pond Reservoir

Eastonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pond Reservoir

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

New Parcels Inundated

by SLR Scenario

Parcels Vulnerable to SLR + Storm Scenario

Figure 217 City Action By 2080

Figure 216 By 2050 (SLR3)

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At this point, the town should have a clear plan of action to manage these impacts and future interventions. Codifying the interventions in official planning documents, whether they are focused on protection and adaptation or retreat, would be a strong goal to ensure the district is adequately prepared.

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

Figure 218 By 2080 (SLR7) CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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And at SLR 10, few options remain for the town to retain the corridorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current physical form. With most parcels along the corridor experiencing permanent inundation and all at exposed to storms, the town is left with limited choices.

Tenant

Are you a tenant or an owner?

Resource allocation?

Less

This phase, however, allows for the next chapter of Atlantic Beach to truly begin.

Whether the town chooses to pursue a commercial, recreational, or natural future for the district, this is the time when that vision can be fully realized.

- Anticipate depth of flood water - Prepare emergency plans - Obtain supplies - Protect inventory & documents - Ask about insurance New Parcels Inundated

by SLR Scenario

More

Structural

- Obtain protection materials - Train staff - Install back-up power - Set up mobile operations - Flexible booking for customers - Move locations

Parcels Vulnerable to SLR + Storm Scenario

No

BUSINESSES NEED ADAPTATION PLANS In the meantime, it is important for businesses to evaluate their options for resiliency. Distinguishing between operations that own versus rent their space, Figure 221 proposes structural and non-structural actions at varying degrees of investment.

Figure 220 By 2100 (SLR10) CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Yes

Resource allocation?

More

Zone A

Zone V

- Elevate - Raise utilities & equipment - Set up mobile operations

- Elevate - Set up mobile operations - Green infrastructure

Figure 221 Business_Adaptations.

Eastonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pond Reservoir

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What flood zone are you in?

Adherence to Zone V standards?

- Waterproofing - Backflow prevention - Raise utilities & equipment

Figure 219 City Action By 2100 Green End Pond Reservoir

Non-structural or structural intervention?

Non-structural

Less Previously Inundated Parcels

Owner

ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

businesses and demonstrate the wide range of actions businesses can take to prepare themselves. Especially prior to the SLR 7, non-structural adaptations can help increase business resiliency to storms and enable them to relocate more easily when the time comes.

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SLR Scenario?

SLR 3

SLR 7

SLR 10

Non-structural or structural intervention?

Non-structural or structural intervention?

Non-structural or structural intervention?

Non-Structural

Structural

- Education & outreach - Small business grants - Low-interest loans

- Stormwater management - Permeable surfaces - Bioretention areas - Bioswales

Non-Structural

- Codify adaptations in planning documents - Downzoning - Overlays

Structural

- Elevate roads - Elevate public utilities

Non-Structural

North End Redesign

Structural

- Relocation assistance - Buyouts

Protect & Adapt

Retreat

Erin Monroe Stewart Scott

Figure 222 City_Action

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changes the reality of the district.

While Middletown will have fewer options to protect and adapt the corridor as rising seas encroach, there are ways to prolong the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifespan. Figure 222 summarizes the structural and nonstructural interventions that Middletown can implement gradually as sea level rise

When the time comes where it no longer makes economic sense to continuously adapt its current physical form, Middletown should embrace new possibilities for the area that have the potential to maintain its role as an attraction and gathering space for visitors and residents.

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Source: NewportRI.com ATLANTIC BEACH DISTRICT REDESIGN

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NORTH END NEIGHBORHOOD The North End is a neighborhood at the northern-most area of Newport, Figure 223. It is bordered by the City of Middletown to the east, Naval Station Newport to the northwest, and Downtown Newport to the south. For the purposes of this project, we define the borders of the North End by the Opportunity Zone census tract boundaries that encompass it.

The Naval Station acts as a physical separation between the North End and the inlet, restricting aggressive sea level rise planning capacity for the city.

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Naval Station Newport

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Newport’s northern-most community, the North End, is home to diverse population and one of the City’s main retail corridors. JT Connell Highway. This area is currently slated for several development projects, bringing in public and private investment. This investment is the result of an ongoing planning process, culminating in the North End Urban Plan, which serves as the basis for the recommendations.

However, with the inevitability of sea level rise and more frequent storm surges in the near future, our project seeks to build on the extensive planning efforts already underway to provide recommendations for how the corridor can accommodate both new development and climate change impacts.

Figure 224 Newport Naval Station s Rd

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The JT Connell Highway is highlighted in orange. This retail corridor serves as an important shopping area for the neighborhood, as well as for residents of Middletown and Newport.

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Newport Pell Bridge, which connects Aquidneck Island to neighboring Conanicut Island, is directly below the study site.

Figure 225 JT Connell Highway

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Figure 223 North End Neighborhood Overivew JT Connell Highway Opportunity Zone

Figure 226 Newport Pell Bridge

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This project is in coordination with several current planning efforts currently underway in North End. The Pell bridge realignment, once completed, will provide a direct connection between North End and downtown Newport. This highway deconstruction will leave ample space suitable for additional development. As suggested in the North End Urban Plan (NEUP), this will have a profound impact on North End’s development trajectory as more visitors, residents, and capital investments are likely to come to the neighborhood.

Figure 230 Subway

Figure 228 RK Towne Center

The NEUP document outlines several character districts that will guide future development in North End. The ‘character districts’ are comprised of the following:

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The west side of the corridor mainly holds smaller commercial, fast-food uses such as Subway and a Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as car dealership.

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Urban Village 3 Districts: This character district designation will dramatically alter the current form of the RT Towne Center, with a new height limit of three stories. This character district designation will increase density along the corridor and act as a transitional area between denser development and the residential areas to the east.

Figure 231 Elizabeth Brook

JT

The Elizabeth Brook runs through the corridor and beyond it to the south. Also, the City has a proposed rail trail which runs between the corridor, along the border of the Naval Base.

Figure 229 Motel 6

Business Districts: This character district has stated interest as an innovation district, and a height limit of two to three stories.

Urban Village 5 Districts: These districts are the focus of dense development in the NEUP. Building height limit is set to five stories and will prioritize walkability, enhanced tree coverage, and public amenities.

The Urban Village 5 District along this segment of JT Connell also includes a water retention pond. The pond is near the current exit ramp for the bridge and is encirled by development.

Figure 232 Rail Trail JT Connell Highway Rail Trail Elizabeth Brook 0

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Figure 227 North End Redesign Study Area

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

wy

This project focuses on the JT Connell commercial corridor. The current land use for the corridor comprises of both commercial and retail uses, including RK Towne Center. This shopping center hosts large big box retailers including a Walmart, along with a grocery store, an appliance store, and other retail, making it a popular shopping destination for the city.

Naval Station Newport

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FOCUS AREA

NORTH END REDESIGN

The NEUP is a foundational tool in understanding issues and opportunities in North End. For the purposes of this project, we highlight three key themes highlighted from the plan—resiliency, connectivity, and housing. This project uses these three themes to both support strategies identified in the plan as well as offer alternative strategies to consider. Special consideration was made to the Urban Village 3 District and the Business District, both of which encompass the whole of the JT Connell commercial corridor.

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Figure 233 North End Urban Plan Districts JT Connell Highway

Urban Village 3

Rail Trail

Business District

Elizabeth Brook New Bridge Exit

Urban Village 5 Light Industrial

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Due to the corridorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proximity to the coast and the inlet where the Elizabeth Brook enters the Narragansett Bay, JT Connell is exposed to significant sea level rise.

Storm surge is another important consideration for development on the corridor. There are minimal differences between the three different sea level rise scenarios. Even at the SLR 3 + storm surge, inundation will be considerable and thus will be critical when making development decisions.

Naval Station Newport

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SLR Entry Point

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According to the SLR 3 scenario, water will overflow the Brook and nearly touch buildings to the west of JT Connell. At SLR 7, the water slightly passes to the east of the corridor, fully inundating 3 of the existing parcels. And at SLR 10, eleven commercial buildings are exposed. The total value of the existing buildings which would have at least some of the land of their parcel inundated, is more than $15,400,000.

11 commercial buildings exposed to SLR 10

27 commercial buildings exposed to 10 ft storm surge, including the Towne Center

Collective Building Value of land parcels exposed is $15,406,800

Collective Building Value of land parcels exposed is $17,070,700

JT Connell Highway

SLR 3

Exposed Parcel

SLR 7 SLR 10

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

JT Connell Highway

SLR 3 + storm surge

Exposed Parcel

SLR 7 + storm surge SLR 10 + storm surge

Figure 234 Sea Level Rise Projections

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STORM SURGE IMPACTS

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Figure 235 Storm Surge Projections NORTH END REDESIGN

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POOR CONNECTIVITY

HOUSING MIX

The JT Connell commercial corridor is characterized by its auto-centric form. The sidewalks are currently quite narrow and in some case nonexistent, making for a very unfriendly, if not hostile, pedestrian experience.

As articulated by the North End Urban Plan, the community is socioeconomically diverse with a range of household income levels. However, single family housing is the predominant housing type, followed by affordable multi-family units available to low-income households, leaving little room for housing that is affordable for workingto middle-class residents.

Suburban Form

Figure 236 JT Connell Highway Looking West

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Narrow Sidewalks

Lack of Sidewalks

Figure 238 Narrow Sidewalks Along JT Connell Highway

Figure 239 Lack of Sidewalks Along JT Connell Highway

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Figure 237 JT Connell Highway Looking East

Single Family Housing Typology

Figure 241 Single-family housing typology in the North End

Figure 242 Single-family housing typology in the North End

Affordable Multifamily Housing Tyopology

Figure 240 Lack of Sidewalks

NORTH END REDESIGN

Figure 244 Newport Heights Affordable Housing Development

Figure 243 Park Holm Affordable Housing Development

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Green Barrier Park

Naval Station Newport

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The most foundational recommendation for the corridor, is an alternative land use for area that the NEUP currently designates as a Business District. Instead, the Green Barrier Park could function a barrier for sea level rise and storm water surges, protecting development on the east side of JT Connell, Figure 144. While the land would lose its economic contribution to the corridor, it would allow development on the landward side of JT Connell, to exist and thrive longer.

JT

Resiliency Land Use Connectivity

While the NEUP proposes the use of a flood gate to mitigate sea level rise, this would eventually be overcome with water.

The Green Barrier Park, on the other hand, allows for control of the location and flow of sea water over a longer period of time. Beyond resiliency, this park is an opportunity to connect other public amenities, such as the proposed Rail Trail from the NEUP.

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Figure 245 North End Redesign Vision Overview

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NORTH END REDESIGN

This park should incorporate elements to bolster the existing wetland, be storm and salt water resistant, and have an adaptive sea level rise edge.

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Targeted interventions will be located in the study area by the three themed overlay areas, Figure 158.

Naval Station Newport

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RESILIENCY REDESIGN

NEUP Proposed Flood Gate

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REDESIGN VISION OVERVIEW

Figure 247 Hunters Point South Park, Queens

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Figure 246 Proposed Green Barrier Park JT Connell Highway

Existing Wetland

Rail Trail

Green Barrier Park

Elizabeth Brook

Berms or other sea level rise mitigation measures should be in place along the southern edge of the green space to avoid channeling water south down the corridor.

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The specific stormwater implementations could include infiltration berms and a stormwater retention pond. Infiltration berms are a suggested green infrastructure tool for areas with maximum slopes above 5 or 6%. They are essentially compacted material that is dug out further up hill, creating gentle slopes, that are constructed along a contour. They can be used to slow the velocity of stormwater flow and reduce the flowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concentration, minimizing flood risk.

Berms created in existing wooded areas

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DEVELOPMENT ON JT CONNELL HIGHWAY

Proposed Berms

25 feet 11 feet

tion

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Slope Sec Girard Avenue

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JT Connell Highway

Assessing the slope from the northeast, through the proposed workforce housing developmetn area, the slope is even steeper with a maximum grade of 20.7%.

And again, an implementation furthest west of the park would be ideal, due to the more gentle slope of about 10%.

Naval Station Newport

Max Slope: 18%

Rail Trail

To show how the park would act as as stormwater buffer for runoff and heavy flooding during extreme weather events, the plan assesses the topographical slope from east down to the water. The park, with the incorporation of a green stormwater implementations, could intervene with water running down the slope before it goes through the retail corridor, Figure 182.

While the maximum slope in the stormwater park space is 18% at this section, an implementation could go further west where the slope average is 8%, Figure 202.

are known to have other benefits as well, including enhancing the health of existing vegetation.

At the base of the slope, a narrow stormwater retention pond would capture any remaining water and provide aesthetic benefits along a proposed pedestrian pathway, Figure 208.

Coasters Harbor

Stormwater Park

8% Slope 174 feet

Figure 251 Kempenaar Valley Stormwater Pond Project; Middletown, RI

Figure 248 Slope Sections Trees & bushes planted on berm

Top of lower berm must be even with bottom of upper berm

Enhanced vegetation to help with water absorption

Compacted upslope material or stones Slope must be < 10%

Proposed Pedestrian Path

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Figure 250 Proposed Stormwater Park JT Connell Highway

Stormwater Park

Rail Trail

Slope Section

Berm

Swale for final water retention

Figure 252 Infiltration Berm

Figure 249 Stormwater Park Suggested Implementations

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

NORTH END REDESIGN

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JT

Densifying the site with retail and residential uses will support existing and future retail and promote walkability and non-motor vehicular traffic through the site.

To protect the site from rising seas and strom surges, as well as treat stormwater runoff, the following redevelopment design standards are recommended for retail areas 0

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Figure 253 Proposed Retail Corridor JT Connell Highway

Though the project proposal is for workforce housing to be developed on this site, affordable housing or mixed income housing are also viable options. Due to this area being completely out of sea level rise projections, affordable housing development would not be restricted at this location. Since this project would be located in an opportunity zone, it could take advantage of tax benefits associated with the designation and be competitive for low-income housing tax credit funding.

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As the North End sees more investment, maintaining a mix of affordable and market-rate housing is crucial. To address existing concerns related to the lack of variety in housing typology, as well as affordability for middle income residents, the plan proposes workforce housing development north of the RK Towne Center site.

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This project strongly supports the NEUP’s vision of JT Connell as a dense multi-use commercial corridor. However, with the suggested removal of development on the west side of JT Connell, densification of the RK Towne Center site, perhaps even beyond the 3-story height restriction for the Urban Village 3 ‘character district’, should be considered.

Naval Station Newport

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Retail Corridor

Workforce Housing Development

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LAND USE REDESIGN

Figure 254 South Point Workforce Housing Development; Philadelphia, PA

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Figure 255 Proposed Work Force Housing Development Stormwater Park

Rail Trail

JT Connell Highway

Stormwater Park

Rail Trail

A raised sidewalk that allows pedestrians to traverse the site Green roofs Permeable parking lots

180

CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

NORTH END REDESIGN

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181

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ti Road Sec

To maintain accessibility to pedestrians and non-motor vehicles the plan is proposing a raised pedestrian walkway that will run the length of the retail, and a sloped, or stepped, bioswale that will capture and treat stormwater, Figure 260. The plan also proposes bike lanes that will run on either side of the street to connects cyclists to the redesigned RK Towne Center and the proposed park and rail trail.

Specifically, the plan recommends a pedestrian path that runs the length of the stormwater park, connecting the workforce housing to the Urban Village 5 District in the southern portion of the study area. In accordance with the NUEP, the plan recommends pedestrian paths and additional streets for vehicular traffic that connects the site to the rest of the North End. The plan also recommends enhancements to JT Connell, so it best serves as a hihgly accessible ‘front door’ to the North End that is welcoming to all modes of travel.

Naval Station Newport

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To protect the retail corridor against the threat of sea level rise, the plan proposes raising the site above the SLR 10 scenario, in accordance with Rhode Island’s STORMTOOLS. This means the site will be raised significantly higher to the southern part of the site, which is currently 8 feet above sea level, and will gradually run close to grade with JT Connell towards the northern tip of the site.

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As mentioned throughout the other recommendation concepts; connectivity, walkability, and access are of top priority.

Because the sight is 1,700 feet long and 720 feet wide at its deepest point, it is important to break the site up to a more ‘urban’ scale.

JT Connell Corridor Redesign

Naval Station Newport

JT

CONNECTIVITY REDESIGN

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Figure 258 Location of Road Section through JT Connell

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Figure 259 Existing JT Connell Road Section (north)

Figure 257 Proposed Circulation Enhanced Streets

Proposed Workforce Housing

New Pedestrian Paths

Proposed Retail Proposed Retail

Figure 260 Proposed JT Connell Road Section (north)

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

NORTH END REDESIGN

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NORTH END REDESIGN FINAL OVERVIEW

Naval Station Newport

Lastly, the site plan demonstrates how each of the three themes work together to create a renewed JT Connell commercial corridor.

The plan envisions a corridor that is more connected and accessible to Newport and the rest of the Island, is resilient against sea level rise, and provides more retail options and affordable housing for residents.

JT

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With the redesigned RK Towne Center currently eight feet above sea level, the plan recommends elevating the site twenty-two additional feet. This is in accordance with STORMTOOLSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; recommended design elevations.

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6 ft

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Figure 262 Existing JT Connell Road Section (south)

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Figure 261 Location of Road Section Through JT Connell

10 ft 10 ft

22 ft 22 ft

8 ft

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Figure 264 North End Redesign Site Plan

Figure 263 Proposed JT Connell Road Section (south)

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

NORTH END REDESIGN

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Enhancing Source Water Protection

PROTECTS ITS RESIDENTS

Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection

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CONTEXT | EXISTING CONDITIONS | VISION & GOALS | PROJECTS

Atlantic Beach Redesign

CELEBRATES ITS IDENTITY

PRESERVES ITS LAND

Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth

HAS A RESILIENT ECONOMY

MAINTAINS ITS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

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Appendices FIGURES Existing Conditions Figure 1 on page 2: RIGIS Figure 2 on page 3: RIGIS Figure 3 on page 3: By Teresa Crean and Scott Page Figure 4 on page 3: By Teresa Crean and Scott Page Figure 5 on page 3: By Teresa Crean and Scott Page Figure 6 on page 7: Newport Historical Society, Discover Newport, US Naval War College Figure 7 on page 8: On Aquidneck Island Figure 8 on page 9: https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150627/NEWS/150629501 Figure 9 on page 9: https://www.newporthousing.org/services/ Figure 10 on page 9: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 11 on page 10: https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/things-to-do/village-experiences-shops/thames-street-newport/ Figure 12 on page 10: https://www.newportri.com/news/20190205/whats-best-for-middletown-is-goal-of-atlantic-beach-district-zoning Figure 13 on page 10: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 14 on page 11: https://ailt.org/farmlink-aquidneck/conserved-farms/ Figure 15 on page 11: https://ailt.org/farmlink-aquidneck/conserved-farms/ Figure 16 on page 11: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 17 on page 12: 2018 ACS 5-Year Estimates Figure 18 on page 13: 2018 ACS 5-Year Estimates Figure 19 on page 13: 2018 ACS 5-Year Estimates Figure 20 on page 14: Newport Historical Society, Discover Newport, US Naval War College Figure 21 on page 15: Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan 2018; Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 22 on page 16: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 23 on page 16: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 24 on page 17: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 25 on page 18: Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan, 2018 Figure 26 on page 19: Resilient Rhody, 2018; EcoRI; NOAA Figure 27 on page 21: Portsmouth Municipal Resilience Program Community Resilience Building Workshop Summary of Findings September 2019 Figure 28 on page 24: https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/I_Am/elderly.asp and https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/elderly/

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Figure 29 on page 24: Census data: https://www.census.gov/; Studies cited:https://www.cmu.edu/steinbrenner/EPA%20Factsheets/olderadults-health-climate-change.pdf and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313428/ Figure 30 on page 25: Census data: https://www.census.gov/; https://www.rigis.org/datasets/e-911-sites?geometry=71.325%2C41.492%2C-71.311%2C41.495&selectedAttribute=MCode Figure 31 on page 26: Census data: https://www.census.gov/; https://www.rigis.org/datasets/e-911-sites?geometry=71.325%2C41.492%2C-71.311%2C41.495&selectedAttribute=MCode Figure 32 on page 27: RIGIS, ACS Community Survey 2018 Figure 33 on page 28: By Teresa Crean and Scott Page Figure 34 on page 28: Adquidneck Island Land Trust, Sasaki, Aquidneck Island Development Impact Analysis 2019 Figure 35 on page 29: RIGIS e-911; STORMTOOLS Figure 36 on page 29: RIGIS e-911; STORMTOOLS Figure 37 on page 29: RIGIS e-911; STORMTOOLS Figure 38 on page 29: RIGIS e-911; STORMTOOLS Figure 39 on page 29: RIGIS e-911; STORMTOOLS Figure 40 on page 30: RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 41 on page 31: RI Dept of Labor and Training https://dlt.ri.gov/lmi/datacenter/laus.php Figure 42 on page 34: https://tclf.org/eastons-point Figure 43 on page 34: https://www.cohenphotography.com/ Figure 44 on page 34: http://www.katiewanders.com/2016/06/scuba-diving-kings-beach-newport-rhode.html Figure 45 on page 35: https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-beaches-near-newport-rhode-island-4171531 Figure 46 on page 35: State Conservation Outdoor Recreation Source: Matthew Cohen Photography Planâ&#x20AC;? (SCORP), RIGIS & Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 47 on page 36: Status of Island Waters, RIGIS, Aquidneck Land Trust Figure 48 on page 36: Aquidneck Land Trust Figure 49 on page 37: USDA Web Soil Survey Figure 50 on page 37: USDA Web Soil Survey, RIGIS Figure 51 on page 37: Google Street View Figure 52 on page 37: Google Street View Figure 53 on page 38: ACS 2018 5-year survey Figure 54 on page 38: https://www.newportri.com/news/20190201/dot-eliminates-aquidneck-island-bike-path-funds Figure 55 on page 38: https://www.crc.uri.edu/download/AIRS-2017sm.pdf Figure 56 on page 39: RIGIS https://www.rigis.org/ Figure 57 on page 40: RIGIS, Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 58 on page 41: RIGIS, Rhode Island STORMTOOLS Figure 59 on page 42: RIGIS, Comprehensive Plans, Energy Information Administration Figure 60 on page 43: RI Green Infrastructure Coalition: http://www.greeninfrastructureri.org/project_details.php?id=86 Figure 61 on page 43: RI Green Infrastructure Coalition: http://www.greeninfrastructureri.org/project_details.php?id=10 CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Figure 62 on page 43: Coastal Green Infrastructure in RI: https://uri.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index. html?appid=cbd9d6ae7a9d40b0b648432e95e66aec Figure 63 on page 43: Coastal Green Infrastructure in RI: https://uri.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index. html?appid=cbd9d6ae7a9d40b0b648432e95e66aec Figure 64 on page 43: Rhode Island STORMTOOLs, RI Green Infrastructure Coalition Figure 65 on page 44: The Newport Daily News Figure 66 on page 44: Rhode Island Department is Transportation (dot.ri.gov) Figure 67 on page 45: RIGIS Figure 68 on page 46: RIGIS, Hazard Mitigation Plans Projects Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection Figure 69 on page 59: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 70 on page 59: https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2020/07/14/fast-moving-storm-floods-streets-knocks-out-power-inri/42507063/ Figure 71 on page 60: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 72 on page 61: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 73 on page 62: Google Map Street View Figure 74 on page 62: Google Map Street View Figure 75 on page 62: https://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20190530/freewheeling-bike-adventures-in-newport Figure 76 on page 63: Bike Newport, RIGIS Figure 77 on page 63: Google Map Street View Figure 78 on page 64: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS; RIEMA Evacuation Maps; USDA Web Soil Survey Figure 79 on page 64: Google Map Street View Figure 80 on page 64: Tim Walsh Figure 81 on page 66: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 82 on page 67: By Linhan Fu, Xintian Li Figure 83 on page 67: By Linhan Fu, Xintian Li Figure 84 on page 68: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 85 on page 71: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Figure 86 on page 72: Galveston Seawall in Galveston, TX , Michael Ciaglo Figure 87 on page 72: Living shoreline at Pivers Island Beach, NC , NOAA Figure 88 on page 72: Yolo Causeway across the Yolo Bypass Floodplain, CA , Steve Martaranoo Figure 89 on page 72: Gleason Beach realignment in Sonoma County, CA, Caltrans Figure 90 on page 72: Bioswale in Pittsburgh, PA, Diana Nelson Figure 91 on page 72: https://www.active.com/cycling/articles/8-bike-lane-etiquette-tips-for-cyclists

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Figure 92 on page 73: RIGIS Figure 93 on page 73: Pinterest Figure 94 on page 73: Google Map Street View Figure 95 on page 74: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Figure 96 on page 75: Google Earth Figure 97 on page 76: RIGIS Figure 98 on page 76: MyCoast Figure 99 on page 76: Google Map Street View Figure 100 on page 77: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Figure 101 on page 78: Google Map Street View Figure 102 on page 78: https://www.orlandofoundationrepairs.com/retaining-wall-and-seawall-repair.html Figure 103 on page 78: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/300404237635249554/ Figure 104 on page 78: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/272960427392590999/ Figure 105 on page 78: See Figure 89 Figure 106 on page 79: RIGIS Figure 107 on page 79: Google Map Street View Figure 108 on page 79: Google Map Street View Figure 109 on page 80: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Figure 110 on page 81: Google Map Street View Figure 111 on page 81: http://www.cwilliampavingandlandscapes.co.uk/drainage.html Figure 112 on page 81: See Figure 101 Figure 113 on page 81: https://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/bioswale-design#gref Figure 114 on page 81: See Figure 89 Figure 115 on page 82: Google Map Street View, https://www.bikedocksolutions.com/mini-bds-cycle-shelter Figure 116 on page 83: Google Map Street View Figure 117 on page 83: RIGIS Figure 118 on page 83: https://www.hinckleyyachts.com/location/portsmouth-rhode-island/ Figure 119 on page 84: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Figure 120 on page 85: Google Map Street View Figure 121 on page 85: See Figure 109 Figure 122 on page 85: See Figure 101 Figure 123 on page 85: See Figure 111 Figure 124 on page 86: Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Enhancing Source Water Protection Figure 125 on page 89: RIGIS Figure 126 on page 89: Google Map Street View CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Figure 127 on page 89: https://publicworks.middletownri.com/2020/12/04/middletown-in-pictures-maidford-river-morning/ Figure 128 on page 89: https://normanbirdsanctuaryblog.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/the-multi-dimensional-significance-of-paradise-valley/ Figure 129 on page 90: RIGIS Figure 130 on page 90: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/655-Aquidneck-Ave_Middletown_RI_02842_M37800-45761 Figure 131 on page 91: Expert Report of Robert Roseen, 2018; CLF RI, EPA Figure 132 on page 91: Expert Report of Robert Roseen, 2018; CLF RI, EPA Figure 133 on page 92: RIGIS Figure 134 on page 93: Maidford RIver Watershed Assessment; BMP DESIGN, EPA Figure 135 on page 93: Maidford RIver Watershed Assessment; BMP DESIGN, EPA Figure 136 on page 93: Maidford RIver Watershed Assessment; BMP DESIGN, EPA Figure 137 on page 93: Maidford RIver Watershed Assessment; BMP DESIGN, EPA Figure 138 on page 94: RIGIS Figure 139 on page 94: https://lawnservicesokc.com/rhode-island/middletown-ri/; https://guide.farmfreshri.org/food/farmersmarkets_ details.php?market=2; https://www.schroederplumbing.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-septic-tanks-insight-from-your-trusted-mesa-az-plumber/ Figure 140 on page 95: Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification National Water Quality Initiative, EPA Figure 141 on page 95: Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification National Water Quality Initiative, EPA Figure 142 on page 95: Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification National Water Quality Initiative, EPA Figure 143 on page 95: Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification National Water Quality Initiative, EPA Figure 144 on page 97: RIGIS; FEMA; Status of Island Waters 2018; Google Maps Figure 145 on page 97: Jessica Pohl, http://www.greeninfrastructureri.org/project_details.php?id=10 Figure 146 on page 99: RIGIS Figure 147 on page 100: https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/listing/newport-state-airport-(uuu)/792/ Figure 148 on page 100: Google Map Figure 149 on page 101: William J. Mitsch, Ph.D., Bingbing Jiang, Ph.D. Figure 150 on page 102: https://www.cbf.org/join-us/education-program/mwee/, https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Poster-Printentitled-Girl-holding-soil-and-plant-Multi-color/16483584/product.html, https://www.atlantamagazine.com/dining-news/female-farmers-arerare-in-georgia-ashley-rodgers-wants-to-change-that/ Figure 151 on page 102: https://www.normanbirdsanctuary.org/ Figure 152 on page 103: Google Map Figure 153 on page 103: Google Map Figure 154 on page 103: Google Map Figure 155 on page 104: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/drink-up-dehydration-is-an-often-overlooked-health-risk-for-seniors/, https://www. eatright.org/fitness/sports-and-performance/hydrate-right/water-go-with-the-flow, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-highest-rated-bpa-free-

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water-bottles-on-amazon_n_5a81cf16e4b044b3821feed7, https://www.shutterstock.com/sv/video/clip-20418133-young-boy-drink-waterafter-sport-park Figure 156 on page 106: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityoflenexa/6128408320/in/photostream/ Figure 157 on page 107: https://www.google.com/search?q=falls+park+on+the+reedy&sxsrf=ALeKk02oZ3yEi4ygP GPudF3tUU-3HdG24w:1607111825599&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi8kuqLjrXtAhU2EFkFHSQhBTIQ_ AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1093&bih=526#imgrc=qt35ph1aYywsDM Figure 158 on page 108: https://www.hampdentownship.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_12415261/File/Government/Sewer%20Authority%20 -%20Stormwater/HTSAInsert-Storm.pdf Figure 159 on page 109: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=409bc832ecb34b9bb59aab7f318674f3, https://uri. maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=cbd9d6ae7a9d40b0b648432e95e66aec Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth Figure 160 on page 113: The Portsmouth Free Public Library Figure 161 on page 113: Common Fence Point Improvement Association Figure 162 on page 116: RI Historical Preservation Commission Figure 163 on page 116: Jim Garman; The Portsmouth Free Public Library Figure 164 on page 117: Jim Garman; The Portsmouth Free Public Library Figure 165 on page 117: Realtor.com Figure 166 on page 118: Google Maps Figure 167 on page 118: Google Maps Figure 168 on page 118: Google Maps Figure 169 on page 118: Google Maps Figure 170 on page 118: Google Maps Figure 171 on page 118: STORMTOOLS; RIGIS; Google Maps Figure 172 on page 119: STORMTOOLS; RIGIS; Google Maps Figure 173 on page 120: STORMTOOLS; RIGIS; Google Maps Figure 174 on page 122: RIGIS; Azevedo de Almeida, 2016 Figure 175 on page 123: RI Coastal Resources Management Council Figure 176 on page 124: https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150627/NEWS/150629501 Figure 177 on page 125: https://ny.curbed.com/2016/10/27/13431288/hurricane-sandy-staten-island-wetlands-climate-change Figure 178 on page 129: RIGIS Figure 179 on page 131: RIGIS Figure 180 on page 131: Google Maps Figure 181 on page 132: Hino, M., Field, C., and March, K.. (2017). Managed retreat as a response to natural hazard risk. Nature Climate Change Figure 182 on page 134: Dave Cleveland

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Atlantic Beach District Redesign Figure 183 on page 141: RIGIS; Town of Middletown Figure 184 on page 142: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS, Google Maps Figure 185 on page 142: RIGIS; STORMTOOLS, Google Maps Figure 186 on page 143: FEMA, RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 187 on page 143: FEMA, RIGIS; STORMTOOLS Figure 188 on page 144: Google Maps Figure 189 on page 144: Google Maps Figure 190 on page 144: Google Maps Figure 191 on page 145: FEMA, RIGIS; STORMTOOLS; Google Maps Figure 192 on page 145: Google Maps Figure 193 on page 146: National Flood Insurance Program Floodplain Management Requirements, FEMA 480 Figure 194 on page 147: Booking.com Figure 195 on page 148: Pinterest Figure 196 on page 148: Newport Historical Society Figure 197 on page 149: RIGIS Figure 198 on page 149: Newport Beach Hotels and Suites Figure 199 on page 149: Google Maps Figure 200 on page 150: Google Maps Figure 201 on page 151: Google Maps, STORMTOOLS Figure 202 on page 152: Google Maps Figure 203 on page 153: Google Maps, STORMTOOLS Figure 204 on page 154: Google Earth; Aquidneck Corporate Park; Wyndham Newport Hotel, 2018 LEHD data Figure 205 on page 155: RIGIS; Town of Middletown Figure 206 on page 156: The Andrea, http://andreaseaside.com/ Figure 207 on page 156: Scales, https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g29750-d2169523-i108396338-Scales_Grill_Deck_ Bar-Atlantic_City_New_Jersey.html Figure 208 on page 156: Vautrotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Vautrot-s-Cajun-Cuisine-makes-comebackafter-12255071.php Figure 209 on page 157: RIGIS; Town of Middletown Figure 210 on page 158: Outer Banks Guide Figure 211 on page 158: City of Venice Figure 212 on page 159: Google Earth; Newsbreak; Discover Newport; City of Venice; photo by Kellie Figure 213 on page 160: Naples Florida Weekly Figure 214 on page 160: Medium Figure 217 on page 162: Google Earth, STORMTOOLS; Town of Middletown

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Figure 219 on page 163: Google Earth, STORMTOOLS; Town of Middletown Figure 221 on page 164: Google Earth, STORMTOOLS; Town of Middletown North End Redesign Figure 224 on page 169: Figure 225 on page 169: RIGIS Figure 226 on page 169: Marinas.com Figure 227 on page 169: The Newport Daily News Figure 228 on page 170: Flickr.com Figure 229 on page 170: RIGIS Figure 230 on page 170: Google Street View Figure 231 on page 170: HotelPlanner.com Figure 232 on page 170: Google Maps Figure 233 on page 170: Scott Page & Teresa Crean Figure 234 on page 171: Scott Page & Teresa Crean Figure 235 on page 172: RIGIS, North End Urban Plan Draft, RIDOT Figure 236 on page 173: RIGIS, STORMTOOLS, Newport Planning Department, Teresa Crean Figure 237 on page 174: RIGIS, STORMTOOLS, Newport Planning Department, Teresa Crean Figure 238 on page 174: Google Street View Figure 239 on page 174: Google Street View Figure 240 on page 174: Google Street View Figure 241 on page 174: Google Street View Figure 242 on page 175: Google Street View Figure 243 on page 175: Scott Page & Teresa Crean Figure 244 on page 175: Scott Page & Teresa Crean Figure 245 on page 175: NewportRI.com Figure 246 on page 176: Trinityfinancial.com Figure 247 on page 177: RIGIS, North End Urban Plan Figure 248 on page 177: RIGIS Figure 249 on page 178: Designing and Planning for Resiliency: Guide for NYC Parks Figure 250 on page 178: Google Earth Pro Figure 251 on page 179: Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Practices Manual Figure 252 on page 179: RIGIS Figure 253 on page 179: Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition (http://www.greeninfrastructureri.org/project_details.php?id=10) Figure 254 on page 180: Permies.com Figure 255 on page 181: RIGIS Figure 256 on page 181: Innova Services, South Point CPLN 705 STUDIO | FALL 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

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Figure 257 on page 182: RIGIS Figure 258 on page 183: RIGIS Figure 261 on page 184: RIGIS Figure 264 on page 185: RIGIS

TEXTS Existing Conditions History page 7: Newport Historical Society, Discover Newport, US Naval War College Municipal Resilience Program page 19: Portsmouth Municipal Resilience Program Community Resilience Building Workshop Summary of Findings September 2019 (https:// www.riib.org/sites/default/files/Portsmouth%20MRP%20CRB%20Summary%20of%20Findings%20Report%20-%20Final%20September%20 2019-compressed.pdf) Demographics page 24: https://www.cmu.edu/steinbrenner/EPA%20Factsheets/older-adults-health-climate-change.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6313428/, https://www.census.gov/ page 25: https://www.census.gov/; https://www.rigis.org/datasets/e-911-sites?geometry=-71.325%2C41.492%2C-71.311%2C41.495&selectedAttribute=MCode Housing and Development page 27: RIGIS and American Community Survey 2018, Selected Housing Characteristics page 28: https://ailt.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Development-Impact-Analysis_Final-Report_Spreads.pdf Economy page 31: SENEDIA, 2017 https://www.senedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Economic-Impact-of-the-RI-Defense-Cluster-August-2017FINAL.pdf, 2017 Census of Agriculture, RI State and County Data https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/, https://ailt.org/farmlink-aquidneck/ farm-conservation-plan/history-conditions/; RI Department of Labor and Training, Newport Comprehensive Plan http://www.planning.ri.gov/ documents/comp/2017/NewportCompPlan2017.pdf; https://www.newportfestivals.org/events-1; RI dept of labor and training, NOAA, The Value of RIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blue Economy https://web.uri.edu/gso/files/ri-blue-economy-report-2020.pdf; https://www.ninigretpartners.com/news--ideas/ittakes-a-village-to-raise-an-innovation-community; https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/data/enow.html Environment page 34: State Conservation Outdoor Recreation Plan, Aquidneck Land Trust, Newport Open Space Partnership; https://www.newportjazz. org/; https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sachuest_Point/wildlife_and_habitat/index.html; https://ailt.org/ page 36: https://aquidneckplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Status-of-Island-Waters_AllSections_Appendices_FINAL_20180629. pdf, Aquidneck Land Trust Infrastructure

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page 41: Resilient Rhody: http://climatechange.ri.gov/documents/resilientrhody18.pdf page 42: Newport Comprehensive Plan: http://www.planning.ri.gov/documents/comp/2017/NewportCompPlan2017.pdf, Eco RI news: https://www.ecori.org/pollution-contamination/2018/8/24/aquidneck-islands-water-pressure-uncompromising, Eco RI news: https://www.ecori. org/pollution-contamination/2018/8/24/aquidneck-islands-water-pressure-uncompromising Current Planning Actions page 44: Portsmouth Community Plan Implementation Draft, Portsmouth MRP Summary of Findings Document, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project Priority List, Capital Improvements Program(https://www.portsmouthri.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/326) page 46: Middletown Capital Improvements Program (https://finance.middletownri.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/09/01Approved-FY2021-CIP.pdf), State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), RIDEM Project Priority List - http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/ benviron/water/pn/ppl21-d.pdf, 2020-2024 Newport Capital Improvements Plan (https://www.cityofnewport.com/CityOfNewport/media/ City-Hall/Departments/Finance/CIPs/FY2020-2024-CIP.pdf), State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) - Project Priority List, Newport Comprehensive (Land Use) Plan - Implementation Plan (https://www.cityofnewport.com/CityOfNewport/media/City-Hall/Departments/ Planning%20Zoning%20Inspections/Planning/Planning%20Documents/NewportComprehensiveLandUs.pdf); Town of Middletown, “Aquidneck Island Emergency Volunteer Alliance (AIEVA)”, https://fire.middletownri.com/aquidneck-island-emergency-volunteer-alliance-aieva/ (2016), Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant, “Aquidneck Island Resilience Strategy,” https://www.crc.uri.edu/download/AIRS-2017sm. pdf (2017), City of Newport, “Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016 Update,” https://www.cityofnewport.com/CityOfNewport/media/City-Hall/ Departments/Planning%20Zoning%20Inspections/Planning/Planning%20Documents Newport_Hazard-Mitigation-Plan_ApprovedPrint-(1).pdf (2016), Town of Middletown, “Strategy for Reducing Risks from Hazards in Middletown, Rhode Island: A Multi-Hazard Mitigation Strategy, 2019 Update,” https://planning.middletownri.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/01/Middletown_RI_HMP_FINAL_22NOV19.pdf (2019) Page 47: Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves 2019 Report from the National Institute of Building Sciences, https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nibs.org/ resource/resmgr/reports/mitigation_saves_2019/mitigationsaves2019report.pdf Page 49: FEMA, “Emergency Management in the United States,” https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/downloads/is111_unit%204.pdf”, Town of Portsmouth, “Hurricane Season,” https://www.portsmouthri.com/1618/Hurricane-Season; Town of Portsmouth, “2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update,” https://www.portsmouthri.com/DocumentCenter/View/2463/2018-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Update (2018) Projects Island-wide Road Infrastructure Protection page 66: Resilience of Transport Infrastructure Systems – Future of Construction; Assessment of Available Tools to Create a More Resilient Transportation System by Southeast Florida Climate Compact (Microsoft Word - Transportation Vulnerability Report 9_21 (southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org) page 71: http://www.planning.ri.gov/documents/sea_level/2015/TP164.pdf (Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, “Vulnerability of Transportation Assets to Sea Level Rise), http://www.crmc.ri.gov/coastalresilience/RI_Coastal_Erosion_Adaptation.pdf (Save The Bay, “Coastal Erosion and Adaptation on the Rhode Island Coastline), https://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1096&context=law_ma_seagrant (Thompson and Porter, “Municipal Options to Address Nuisance Flooding of Coastal Highways in Rhode Island) page 73: http://www.crmc.ri.gov/samp_beach/SAMP_Beach.pdf, http://www.dot.ri.gov/about/maproom/State_Maintained_Roads.php

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page 74: https://gim2.aptim.com/ASBPANationwideRenourishment/, http://www.pinellascounty.org/dunedincauseway/pdf/Project_ Development_Update_2018.pdf; http://www.pinellascounty.org/dunedincauseway/pdf/Project_Development_Update_2018.pdf page 77: https://globaldesigningcities.org/publication/global-street-design-guide/utilities-and-infrastructure/green-infrastructure-stormwatermanagement/ page 79: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm, https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201713#:~:text=The%20 contiguous%20U.S.%20average%20annual,above%20the%20long%2Dterm%20average, http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/263/234/ chapter2.pdf page 80: https://www.nda.agric.za/docs/erosion/erosion.htm#:~:text=Vegetation%20cover&text=Plants%20slow%20down%20 water%20as,to%20soak%20into%20the%20ground.&text=Plant%20roots%20hold%20the%20soil,being%20blown%20or%20washed%20 away.&text=Plants%20break%20the%20impact%20of,the%20soil’s%20ability%20to%20erode.

Enhancing Source Water Protection page 90: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/rest/pdfs/nptstudy.pdf, https://www.potomacdwspp.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/03/RIDOH_ProtectDWFS_Aquidneck_DWAssess_Results.pdf, https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/indicatorsenterococci#:~:text=Significant%20amounts%20of%20enterococci%20in,of%20fishing%20and%20shellfishing%20areas, https://www.clf.org/ wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Statement-of-Facts-Baileys-Brook-and-North-Easton-Pond.pdf; https://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/ environmental_desk_ref/media/desk-ref-chap20.pdf page 92: https://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/turbidity-total-suspended-solids-waterclarity/#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20water%20quality,the%20surrounding%20water%20by%20conduction. https://www.water-research.net/index.php/fecal-coliform-bacteria-in-water#:~:text=Diseases%20and%20illnesses%20that%20can,by%20 treating%20it%20with%20chlorine page 99: https://aquidneckplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Status-of-Island-Waters_AllSections_Appendices_FINAL_20180629. pdf page 102: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105969, Dr. William Mitsch, wmitsch@fgcu.edu page 104: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/592142 , https://www.prwa.com/sites/default/files/editor-images/admin/ funding_stormwater_programs.pdf page 106: https://www.washtenaw.org/DocumentCenter/View/2848/Lenexa-Green-Infrastructure-Cost-Comparison---Examples-PDF, https://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/lenexa-kansas-rain-to-recreation-program.html, https://www.lenexa.com/government/ departments___divisions/rain_to_recreation, http://www.shockeyconsulting.com/pdfs/raintorecreationshockey.pdf page 107: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/315/Hospitality-Tax, https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2014/10/04/libertybridge-falls-park-transformed-downtown/16751269/, https://www.rudybruneraward.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/06-Falls-Park.pdf, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/certificateofparticipation.asp#:~:text=A%20certificate%20of%20participation%20(COP)%20is%20 a%20type%20of%20financing,are%20secured%20by%20lease%20revenues page 108: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/BPNPSM/StormwaterManagement/MunicipalStormwater/PWEA_Magazine_Article.pdf, https:// www.hampdentownship.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_12415261/File/Government/Sewer%20Authority%20-%20Stormwater/HTSAInsert-Storm. pdf

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Mitigating Risk in Portsmouth page 122: “Resilience of Infrastructure Systems to Sea-Level Rise in Coastal Areas: Impacts, Adaptation Measures, and Implementation Challenges” (Azevedo de Almeida, 2016) page 124: https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150627/NEWS/150629501 page 132: Hino, M., Field, C., and March, K.. (2017). Managed retreat as a response to natural hazard risk. Nature Climate Change; Georgetown Climate Center Atlantic Beach District Redesign page 141: RIGIS; Scott Page; Newport Beach Hotels and Suites; Town of Middletown page 143: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1481032638839-48ec3cc10cf62a791ab44ecc0d49006e/FEMA_480_Complete_ reduced_v7.pdf National Flood Insurance Program Floodplain Management Requirements, FEMA 480 page 144: Google Maps page 146: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1481032638839-48ec3cc10cf62a791ab44ecc0d49006e/FEMA_480_Complete_ reduced_v7.pdf National Flood Insurance Program Floodplain Management Requirements, FEMA 480 page 148: Alex Kuffner, “Troubled Waters In Newport,” USA Today https://stories.usatodaynetwork.com/risingthreat/troubled-waters-innewport/ page 154: Google Earth; Aquidneck Corporate Park; Wyndham Newport Hotel, 2018 LEHD data page 156: RIGIS, The Andrea, Trip Advisor, Beaumont Enterprise page 157: Outer Banks Guide, “Jeanette’s Pier” https://obxguides.com/nags-head/jennettespier; City of Venice, “Fishing Pier” https://www. venicegov.com/visiting/fishing-pier; STORMTOOLS page 158: Outer Banks Guide, “Jeanette’s Pier” https://obxguides.com/nags-head/jennettespier; K McKay, “How Jeanette’s Pier Became the People’s Pier,” Our State https://www.ourstate.com/the-peoples-pier/; Jeff Hampton, “Jeanette’s Pier Celebrates Fifth Year” https://www. ncaquariums.com/jennettes-pier-blog/posts/jennettes-pier-celebrates-fifth-year; City of Venice, “Fishing Pier” https://www.venicegov.com/visiting/ fishing-pier page 159: Rhode Island -Department of Environmental Management (ri.gov) page 165: RI Climate Change; Newport Waterfront Overview Summary North End Redesign page 171: North End Urban Plan Draft, RIDOT page 177: Designing and Planning for Resiliency: Guide for NYC Parks page 180: Coastal Climate Resiliency: Resilient Retail, NYC Plnning Department page 182: Storm Tools Recommended Design Elevation page 183: Storm Tools Recommended Design Elevation

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Benita Lily Cheng Linhan Fu Huidi Hu Kellie King Maddy Kornhauser Xintian Stella Li Erin Monroe Ejiro Ojeni Katherine Payne Yilin Ren Stewart Scott Jingzong Wang