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December 23, 2022
Formerly a stretch of bare concrete, the sidewalk along Franklin Square Park is lined with shrubs and trees in West Baltimore on April 11, 2019. Green infrastructure projects in the city have increased tree canopy and replaced impervious surfaces with plants to better manage stormwater runoff. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The ability of communities to rebound, or positively adapt to natural disasters is rapidly becoming a priority for local governments. As concerns around climate hazards grow, such as flooding and extreme heat, ensuring resilience is the key to a thriving community for present and future generations.
A feasible way local governments can prioritize resilience is to incorporate it into existing local plans, such as those for hazard mitigation, stormwater management or parks and recreation, just to name a few. Resilience planning would address known flood areas, analyze changes in climate and use data projections to inform potential risks.
Identifying opportunities to integrate resilience into planning processes like these can provide many benefits to a community such as increased efficiency of environmental projects, a positive impact on the local economy and the development of mutually beneficial goals across planning departments.
To discuss this strategy further, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) convened local decision-makers, planners and climate experts from across the Chesapeake Bay region for its annual Local Government Forum focused on Integrating Resilience into Local Planning.
In partnership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, this one-day problem-solving forum examined the barriers to building support for resilience, undergoing the planning process with resilience in mind and carrying out the plans successfully. Representatives from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Hampton Roads, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland also joined the forum to share how they have seen success in adapting this strategy within their own communities.
The overarching goal of these Local Government Forums is to develop solution-oriented recommendations that combat issues local governments face. These recommendations are used to advise the Bay Program’s leadership including the Chesapeake Executive Council.
This year, five recommendations addressing local government’s highest priority needs for integrating resilience into planning efforts were identified:
This year’s Local Government Forum offered a dedicated opportunity for local leaders and subject matter experts throughout the Chesapeake Bay region to discuss shared challenges and exchange knowledge surrounding solutions to resilience planning. The recommendations identified will serve as a catalyst to support local governments as they build their community’s resilience, and continue to strengthen the Bay, its tributaries and surrounding lands.
For more information on the 2022 Local Government Forum: Integrating Resilience into Local Planning, or past forums, please visit LGAC’s webpage to access and download the full forum reports.
Originally posted on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s blog.
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