Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

<<Go Back

Nonstructural Projects in the 2012 Coastal Master Plan

The 2012 Coastal Master Plan developed and tested a comprehensive suite of 112 nonstructural projects to determine the effectiveness of a coast-wide nonstructural approach. The nonstructural projects were determined in relation to current 100-year flood depths as measured by FEMA’s preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).

Nonstructural projects were defined for 56 community areas and were evaluated at two target elevations above FEMA’s 100-year flood depths or the Base Flood Elevation (BFE): BFE +1 and BFE +4.

The risk reduction measure to be implemented (floodproofing, elevation, or acquisition) was determined by the difference in the average ground elevation and the base flood elevation at the census block level. For example, in census blocks where the difference in the average ground elevation and the base flood elevation was less than three feet, homes and businesses were recommended for floodproofing; alternately, in census blocks where the flood depth was greater than three feet, homes were recommended for elevation. If flood depths were greater than 17 feet, structures would be recommended for acquisition. Nonstructural projects in the 2012 Coastal Master Plan are assumed to be voluntary in nature.

After in-depth analysis, the 2012 Coastal Master Plan selected projects in 42 communities across the coast based on the BFE +1 elevation standard. It is important to note that the nonstructural project recommendations are at the community level and are not directed towards a specific home or building.

For more information on the nonstructural project types, please see Appendix A: “Project Definitions.” For more information on the flood risk assessment process, please see Appendix D-25: “Risk Assessment (CLARA) Model Technical Report.”