46 Great Lakes Coastal Processes and Changes

Sunday, 30 March 2025
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
170A

ASSESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE TO COASTAL HAZARDS ON THE GREAT LAKES: AN EXAMPLE FROM SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE

Paper number: 46-9
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM

Authors

Abstract

Western Carolina University (WCU), in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), has developed a methodology for assessing the vulnerability of NPS infrastructure to coastal hazards (i.e., sea-level rise, flooding, and shoreline change) on ocean coastlines. This protocol standardizes the methodologies and data used, allowing managers to compare the vulnerability of assets across local, regional, and national levels. Over the past decade, this protocol has been used to assess approximately 5,000 assets in over 60 national parks.

The Great Lakes experience a wide array of coastal hazards similar to, and distinct from, those of ocean shorelines. To evaluate the vulnerability of NPS buildings and transportation assets in Great Lakes parks, WCU has modified and adapted its ocean coastal protocol. The Great Lakes protocol evaluates vulnerability (as a combination of exposure and sensitivity) based on five coastal hazards: flooding potential, shoreline change, lake-level rise, extreme event flooding, and reported coastal hazards.

A pilot study has been completed at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that evaluated 371 buildings and 106 transportation assets. Less than one-fifth (16%) of assets analyzed had high or moderate vulnerability to the evaluated coastal hazards, while the majority (72%) had minimal vulnerability. A second pilot is underway at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with additional assessments planned at six more Great Lakes national parks. With the completion of these vulnerability assessments, the NPS will have taken a critical step toward developing, and implementing long-term resilience and adaption plans for vulnerable Great Lakes infrastructure.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025NE-408514

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.