Coastal Services Center

---

CSP Project Areas

---

Overview of Regional Project Areas

The Coastal Storms Program (CSP) works through the establishment of regional programs to produce tools and products that state and local organizations use to prepare, predict, and respond to coastal storm events.  Currently, five CSP regions have been established: Northeast Florida, Pacific Northwest, Southern California, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Islands. Each has a different core focus that changes in response to the local needs and partners. If you want to learn more about how to become a CSP Region, refer to Regional Selection and Implementation Process.

Northeast Florida

CSP was initiated in fiscal year 2002 with the establishment of the Northeast Florida regional pilot area. The pilot was wrapped up in fiscal year 2004 and more than $6.79 million was invested in product development, and operations and maintenance costs.  The efforts of CSP resulted in improved navigational safety of the region’s multi-billion-dollar shipping industry with several million bathymetric soundings, along with new models and data on real-time and forecast riverine and marine conditions.

Pacific Northwest

CSP expanded into Pacific Northwest beginning in fiscal year 2004 and completed product development in fiscal year 2007.  To date, $3.83 million has been invested in product development, and operations and maintenance.  The ecological health of marine resources is extremely important to the economy of the Pacific Northwest.  Salmon fishing brings in over $25 million in direct income to the region’s residents.  The CSP pilot in this region sought to improve the region’s ecological resilience through assessments of the region’s pesticides and stormwater runoff and how each affects the region’s aquatic species, especially salmon.

Southern California

Initiated in 2005, the project development phase for Southern California program will be completed in fiscal year 2009. To date, $2.16 million has been invested in product development, and operations and maintenance.  CSP is mitigating the impacts of coastal inundation to the region’s economy and 16 million residents by deploying and developing tools that aid in the preparation and response to inundation.

Gulf of Mexico

Due to the tremendous need to rebuild after the damaging effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Gulf of Mexico was established as the fourth CSP region in 2007.  CSP efforts have focused on developing an outreach program and small grant awards to assist communities in rebuilding and planning for future growth and development in light of the significant storm risks faced by this region.  To date, approximately $1.5 million has been invested in product development, small grants awards, and outreach/training.  A total of $615K was provided directly to local communities and universities through the small grants awards.

Pacific Islands

Wave induced impacts from distant storms, tsunami inundation, and flash floods from strong rain storms cause significant damage each year to Pacific Island communities.  In flatter atoll based island systems, sea level rise represents a significant planning challenge for the future of these unique cultures.  These hazards combined with the remote nature of many of these populations pose series threats to the citizens and natural resources of the Pacific Islands.  In FY10, the Coastal Storms Program will be transitioning resources to this region to begin addressing coastal storm and climate based risks.