Assessing vulnerability to sea level rise in Beaufort County, S.C., using facilitated dialogue and visualization tools

April 14, 2015

South Carolina Sea Grant

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the Beaufort County Planning Department, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, Social and Environmental Research Institute, and North Carolina Sea Grant, provided a participatory opportunity for Beaufort County to begin preparing for flooding associated with sea level rise. The project team utilized several available tools to engage local stakeholders in the process. A focus group participated in the Vulnerability and Consequences Adaptation Planning Scenarios process to identify local consequences of sea level rise and explore potential adaptation strategies. Sea level rise visualizations developed with data from NOAA’s Digital Coast Sea Level Rise Viewer tool helped stakeholders understand the risks of future coastal flooding due to rising seas. Public workshops were held to get broader input on adaptation strategies. A final report has been compiled for consideration by Beaufort County Council. This project has initiated a process of community learning that will increase the capacity of Beaufort County to adapt to sea level rise.

Marine Debris

Sea Grant Marine Debris Grantee PolyGone Announces the Grand Opening of its Microplastic Removal Pilot

PolyGone Systems is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Microplastic Removal Pilot Project and the Educational Pavilion at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA)! The Grand Opening will take place on September 12, 2024, at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The event will showcase PolyGone Systems’ industrial-scale microplastic removal pilot project within the Atlantic County Utilities Authority’s Wastewater Treatment Facility. Alongside the pilot deployment, PolyGone will unveil the Microplastic Educational Pavilion, an on-site exhibition for public visitors and students to learn about microplastic pollution and PolyGone’s environmental mission. Keynote speakers from the NOAA Sea Grant Office will be featured at the Grand Opening.

Catch up with Sea Grant and USCRP at ASBPA National Coastal Conference

The American Shore & Beach Preservation Association’s National Coastal Conference welcomes all coastal stakeholders and managers to learn the latest science, engineering and policy needed

Sea Grant programs receive awards through NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge is funding projects to increase resilience to extreme weather events and address longer-term, chronic climate hazards. This one-time, $575 million competitive grant program is providing the opportunity to collaboratively implement transformational regional projects that will build immediate and long-term resilience in coastal areas.