Here are five important points for Virginia policymakers to consider as they move forward with a coastal resilience plan.<\/p>\n
1. Create a comprehensive, forward-looking plan<\/strong><\/p>\n The pending development of Virginia\u2019s first Coastal Resilience Master Plan is a great initial step, and it is imperative that the plan be comprehensive in scope. Building on the executive order, the plan should set forth a strategy to live better with water and flooding.<\/p>\n To reduce impacts from flooding on communities and businesses, better building codes and managed retreat are important tactics to include.<\/p>\n The plan needs to address environmental issues, like floodplain habitat loss and land use changes that aggravate flooding impacts, as well as social issues, like equitable access to project funding.<\/p>\n The plan must also address the root causes of flooding, such as climate change, poor development decisions and poor drainage.<\/p>\n 2. Use Louisiana as a model<\/strong><\/p>\n The developers of Virginia\u2019s plan can look to Louisiana\u2019s Coastal Master Plan<\/a> as a model for how to create a comprehensive, future-looking coastal resilience plan \u2013 and how to build support for implementation of the plan.<\/p>\n Louisiana\u2019s 50-year, $50-billion plan includes coastal protection, restoration and community resilience efforts. EDF staff and our Restore the Mississippi River Delta<\/a> coalition partners continue to help build public support for the plan as it includes significant efforts to restore wetlands and other natural infrastructure that buffer the coast from storms. A comprehensive plan that addresses environmental challenges will result in broader stakeholder support.<\/p>\n 3. Recognize that <\/strong>plans alone won\u2019t solve everything<\/strong><\/p>\n When Virginia\u2019s flood-prone communities indicate they need clear authority, state leaders need to provide it. This will help ensure the plan has the support and momentum it needs to be implemented.<\/p>\n In addition to public support, financing is another critical component. Virginia policymakers can encourage the use of new options for financing coastal resilience projects, like tax incremental financing \u2013 which is being used in Virginia Beach \u2013 and environmental impact bonds<\/a> that can help finance green infrastructure and wetland restoration projects.<\/p>\nHow Virginia is positioning itself to become a leader in coastal resilience <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n 4. Don\u2019t wait <\/strong>to act<\/strong><\/p>\n Another key to Virginia\u2019s success will be timeliness. State and community leaders must move quickly to get out in front of rapidly increasing flooding challenges to lessen the physical, economic and social impacts of floods.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2018\/12\/8451381249_2c842de485_o-300x200.jpg\")
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