Digital Coast Fellowship

2022-2024 Fellowship Project Summaries

Coastal States Organization: Annika Tomson worked with the Coastal States Organization (CSO) and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) as a Digital Coast fellow to address the complex challenges of coastal property management amid climate change impacts.

Annika developed technical guidance and other resources to help local communities plan for and manage residential coastal properties affected by erosion, inundation, and flooding. She conducted an extensive assessment of existing technical resources, curated a special collection for the ASFPM Library, and developed two case studies on Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission of Virginia. Additionally, she drafted a question workflow and guide for municipalities and their partners.

Annika also led CSO’s programmatic development on climate-driven coastal relocation by identifying best practices and facilitating feedback sessions with members. She played a key role in organizing event programming for the organization’s biannual member meetings, which included panels on tribal sovereignty and coastal resilience and federal agency work on climate-driven coastal relocation. Annika collaborated with ASFPM staff on a grant proposal to support tribal nations in reducing flood risk. She emphasized a relationship-building-first approach and customized training and technical assistance to include tribal traditions, knowledge, and experience.

National States Geographic Information Council: Nadine Doiron worked with the Alaska Geospatial Office and National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a Digital Coast fellow to enhance coastal resilience across Alaska's extensive shoreline. She focused on filling critical geospatial data gaps and engaging stakeholders to support resilient coastal communities. Nadine conducted fieldwork in coastal communities such as Chefornak and Homer by monitoring coastal erosion and engaging with local environmental coordinators. She collaborated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Arctic Coastal Geoscience Lab and participated in community meetings on climate change adaptation.

Nadine coordinated communications for the Alaska Geospatial Council Working Groups. She facilitated the Coastal and Ocean Summit and developed educational resources like the story map "Mapping Alaska: Piecing together the mosaic of Alaska’s coastline" and an interactive ArcGIS map showcasing recent lidar and imagery collections.

Nadine presented at various national conferences, including the NSGIC Annual Conference and Coastal Geotools 2023. Nadine's outreach efforts included designing an outreach booth for the Alaska Geospatial Council at the Alaska Forum on the Environment and assisting in planning the 2023 Alaska GeoSummit. She also supported the development of technical training and resources for floodplain managers, which is featured in the Community Resilience Guide for Repetitive Flood Loss. Her work has significantly contributed to increasing stakeholder engagement, identifying data gaps, and supporting coastal communities in Alaska

The Nature Conservancy: Sabine Bailey worked with The Nature Conservancy's Maryland/DC Chapter and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Chesapeake and Coastal Service as a Digital Coast fellow on initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring the state’s coastal landscapes with a focus on equity and community-engaged adaptation planning.

During her fellowship, Sabine built trust with local Indigenous communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland by conducting interviews to understand their goals and developing recommendations to support their communities. Sabine also contributed to the drafting of an executive order to grant free access to state public lands for Maryland's Indigenous citizens. Sabine's work on resilient protection frameworks included conducting interviews with landowners to incorporate local perspectives in the development of a Coastal Resilience Management Plan template.

Additionally, Sabine’s efforts culminated in significant contributions to the justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion priority for Maryland's Next Generation Adaptation Plan and the SEAFARE report, which addresses funding barriers and provides policy solutions. Through her dedication and collaborative approach, Sabine has significantly advanced the resilience and adaptation efforts of Maryland's coastal communities.