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South Atlantic Coastal Study - SACS

SACS South Atlantic Coastal Study map graphic

Technical Study Products

There will be a total of 12 study products in this study. Information on each technical product will be provided here when available.

RSM Optimization Update

State Appendices

An appendix will also be provided for each state and made available here

Alabama
Georgia
Florida
Mississippi

North Carolina
South Carolina
Puerto Rico
U.S Virgin Islands

Measures & Costs Library

Detailed list of CSRM measures and their costs developed to a screening level for use in USACE and stakeholder planning

Focus Area Action Strategies (FAAS)

FAAS will use SACS products in combination with other resources to develop actionable risk reduction strategies with stakeholders. FAAS will serve as examples of how vulnerabilities in other high risk locations can be addressed.

Planning Aid Report

Report of priority biological resource habitats in the South Atlantic region that are vulnerable to harm from coastal storms and sea level rise with a focus on areas used by federally-listed species. Report will also include a description of risk to coastal National Wildlife Refuges

Study Overview

The study will be modeled closely after the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS), a Congressional response and precedent-setting vulnerability and flood risk-reduction study completed for the north Atlantic coastline in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The study will conduct regional analyses of coastal risk and identify initial measures/costs that can address vulnerabilities with emphasis on regional sediment management (RSM) as an actionable strategy to sustainably maintain or enhance current levels of coastal storm risk reduction.

Study Goals

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1. Provide a Common Operating Picture of Coastal Risk
- Provide decision-makers at all levels with a comprehensive and consistent regional assessment of coastal risk.
2. Identify High-Risk Locations and Focus Current and Future Resources
- Enable resources to be focused on the most vulnerable areas.
3. Identify and Assess Risk Reduction Actions
- Assess actions that would reduce risk to vulnerable coastal populations.
4. Promote and Support Resilient Coastal Communities
- Ensure a sustainable coastal landscape system, considering future sea level rise scenarios and climate change.
- Provide information to stakeholders to optimize existing efforts to reduce risk.
5. Promote Sustainable Projects and Programs
- Develop and provide consistent foundational elements to support coastal studies and projects.
- Regionally manage projects through Regional Sediment Management and other opportunities.
6. Leverage Supplemental Actions
- Multiple supplemental studies and construction efforts will inform, and be informed by, the SACS.

Authority

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Section 1204, WRDA 2016
- Identify risks and vulnerabilities of [coastal areas within SAD AOR] to increased hurricane and storm damage as a result of sea level rise (SLR).
- (b)(1) Conduct a comprehensive analysis of current coastal storm risk management measures with an emphasis on regional sediment management practices to sustain/enhance current storm protection.
- (b)(3) Recommend measures to address coastal vulnerability of areas affected by SLR.
- (b)(4) Develop a long-term strategy to address increased hurricane/storm damages resulting from SLR and identify opportunities to enhance resiliency and lower risks in –
  - populated areas
  - areas of concentrated economic development; and
  - areas with vulnerable environmental resources
- (c) Submit a report recommending specific and detailed actions

Statement of Study Area

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Over 65,000 miles of tidally influenced coastline in the South Atlantic Division area of responsibility affected by sea level rise (SLR) where hurricane and storm damages are occurring, or are forecast to occur.
- Areas that are not subject to hurricane and storm damage associated with coastal processes are outside the scope of the study (i.e., areas subject to inland/freshwater flooding).

Playlist

Latest Updates

August 2020 SACS Newsletter
Get the latest project updates via our monthly newsletter

Environmental and Cultural Resources Workshops
Workshops were recently held to present the environmental and cultural resources at risk to increased coastal storm damages. Slides from the workshops are available here for the environmental session and here for the cultural session.

Quarterly Progress Briefing
A quarterly progress briefing on the SACS project was held for all interested stakeholders on June 29^th. Slides from the presentation are available here and a video recording is available in the playlist at the bottom of this site.

Shared Vision

"The SACS vision is to provide a common understanding of risk from coastal storms and sea level rise to support resilient communities and habitats. This collaborative effort will leverage stakeholders' actions to plan and implement cohesive coastal storm risk management strategies along the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast shorelines, including the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

Study Schedule

August 2018 – Study Initiation
August 2019 – Shared Vision Milestone
August 2021- Recommendations Milestone
October 2021 – Draft Watershed Plan/Report
August 2022 – Final Watershed Plan

Newsletters

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August 2020

July 2020

June 2020

May 2020

April 2020

March 2020

February 2020

January 2020

Presentations

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SACS FSBPA Presentation
South Atlantic Coastal Study Team members present at FSBPA Tech Conference, in Sarasota, February 5-7, 2020.

Environmental Resources Workshop

Cultural Resources Workshop

Links and Resources

SACS Review Plan

SACS Tier 1 Risk Assessment

SACS Key Products Placemat

Receive SACS Email Updates

To receive SACS updates by email, send us a message at SACS@usace.army.mil

Contact Us

SACS@usace.army.mil