Coastal adaptation and resilience
The degradation of coastal infrastructure is a major concern for both the economy and public health.
Flooding diminishes the value of coastal properties and insurance companies are often unwilling to offer coverage for residents. This can devalue the revenue of tourist-based towns and lead to ghost towns.
Another concern is how factors like sea level rise lead to increasingly dangerous storms. Heavy flooding and high wind gusts are associated with the effects of climate change.
This can also have indirect effects on water pollution. For instance, saltwater intrusion can erode at septic tanks, which a majority of rural coastal areas use as their primary form of sewage disposal. This can lead to fecal bacteria contamination of neighboring waterways.
