Page 124 - Mapping the Nation: Taking Climate Action

123 Cliffs along the Outer Cape from Eastham to Truro are undercut, unstable, and could collapse without warning. Resilience for All A more holistic approach was needed to identify solutions that would be equitable for everyone and every locale—for the 215,000 full-time residents as well as the 38 percent for whom the Cape is a second home. With the assistance of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Regional Coastal Resilience Grant program, the commission launched the Resilient Cape Cod project. To start, it researched various coastline preservation strategies that have been developed around the world. These strategies fall within three broad approaches—those that protect, those that accommodate, and those that retreat. Protection-based strategies—such as creating a living shoreline by adding natural materials to form a barrier that grows over time—focus on shielding the diminishing beach from the waves. Accommodation strategies, including marsh restoration, aim to mitigate local hazards by modifying existing natural systems or infrastructure. Retreat strategies focus on removing built structures and facilities from the advancing tide line. The next step was to present options and listen to stakeholders. Local engagement was key, with regular