Suggested Research Topics for Chesapeake Rising Symposium

Below is a list of key issues and topics we believe are worth exploring for the Chesapeake Rising: Innovative Law and Policy Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Coastal Communities symposium.

Topics from this list and new ideas will both be considered during application review. All innovative ideas are welcomed and encouraged! 

Coastal Equitable Adaptation

• Resilience for Indigenous Communities
  • Importance of amplification of these voices
  • Collective resiliency efforts for a better future
• Integrating the Environmental Justice polices of Chesapeake States to facilitate equitable adaptation
• Rural Resilience
  • Lack of funding provided when destruction associated with climate change (ex. Weather events) occurs
• Accommodating water homes (ex. houseboats) vs land homes

Adapting to Wetland Migration

• Post-Sackett Responses of the Chesapeake States
• Blending Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
• Blue Carbon
• Flood Risk Real Estate Proposals
• Abandoned Coastal Property

Laws and Policies that Advance Adaptive Infrastructure

• Built Environment
  • Building Codes and Construction Policies
  • Coastal Infrastructure
  • Infrastructure implications of water vs land dwellings
  • Alternatives to adaptations and the code/regulation changes
• Green infrastructure  
  • Living Shorelines Policies of the Chesapeake States
  • New MDSG analysis of laws around living shorelines
• Antiquated hard and soft infrastructure
  • How these impact the waterways causing toxicity
  • Economic implications of fixing these issues
  • Collective efforts to address these concerns
• Adapting our Energy Infrastructure
  • Offshore wind energy
    • Impacts on coastal communities economies from tourism
    • Land easements for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms
  • Community resilience
    • Diverting derived energy from offshore wind or solar to coastal communities when flooding occurs

Adaptation Through Managed Retreat

• Buyouts and Purchase Options
• Eminent Domain/Takings Liability
• Rolling Easements
• Conservation Easements

Adaptation Across Jurisdictions

• Tribal laws and their interaction with state and federal laws
• Interstate collaboration and the Chesapeake Bay Program
  • Whether they are sufficiently addressing sea level rise
• Proposed changes to rules/laws/regulations

For more information on how to apply, visit the submissions guidelines page, and don't miss our Q&A session December 19. For additional questions, reach out to Kerry McClaughry at kerrymcc@umd.edu.

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