Project Director: Tracie Sempier

Funding Organization: National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine: Gulf Research Program

Funding Cycles: Capacity Building 1

Description: GOMA is a regional ocean partnership created by the five Gulf state Governors with the goal of increasing regional collaboration to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. As part of this mission, GOMA is working with the Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice (CoP) to expand its capacity for addressing coastal resilience issues. The CoP is a network of coastal communities and outreach and extension professionals working together to adapt to climate change in the coastal zone through the exchange of ideas, opportunities, and expertise. With this award, project team members plan to work on key environmental and economic challenges associated with flooding. They will develop a survey for CoP members to prioritize actions for community project implementation, form working groups, collaborate with local communities to execute next steps, and develop video case studies to share best practices and lessons learned. This project is intended to help coastal communities become more resilient by pairing climate scientists with practitioners, local decision-makers, and other technical experts to solve real-world problems related to coastal flooding, saltwater intrusion, and climate communication.