Coastal Hazard Mitigation and Placemaking

About Study Areas Researchers and Collaborators Contact

Changing precipitation and temperature patterns, along with increased flooding sensitivity, pose significant vulnerabilities to species, habitats, the built environment, the economy, and public health and social systems in and around the City of Bandon and the Coquille River watershed. The Coastal Hazard Mitigation and Placemaking Project is working with the City of Bandon to address coastal hazards in the low-lying South Jetty area and help the community continue to build a more resilient and vibrant future.

South Jetty in Bandon, Oregon

Hub Researchers

• Michael Howard, Project Director

• José Meléndez, Associate Professor

• Ellee Stapleton, Visiting Assistant Professor

• Cameron Coronado, UO Graduate Consultant

• Dani Dolphin, UO Graduate Consultant

• Dylan McCarthy, UO Graduate Consultant

Michael Howard, mrhoward@uoregon.edu

Project Objectives:

  • Identify resilience strategies for this coastal community in the face of present and future hazards, such as sea level rise, flooding from king tides, and tsunamis.
  • Develop strategies to inform, gain trust, and learn from the public about coastal hazard resilience.
  • Design conceptual master plan for Redmond Pond and the South Jetty Park to become accessible, beautiful, and engaging elements of the community.

Our Research

Guiding Questions

  • How can local expertise guide planning efforts to maximize safety and utility in the face of coastal hazards?
  • What strategies can combine to expand effective mitigation of coastal hazards?
  • How can a StoryMap act as both a public engagement tool and a means of securing funding?

Coastal communities, like South Jetty in Bandon, Oregon, face distinct challenges related to hazards, such as sea level rise, flooding from king tides, and tsunamis. Local governments address these challenges while dealing with funding and political constraints. Our research looks to experts within the local community, as well as from state agencies and regional partners to understand how to prioritize the community’s needs, and what solutions fit best for a more resilient and sustainable future.

Our methods include surveying the local community to understand how they are affected by coastal hazards and their preferences for paths forward, as well as interviews with state and regional experts to explain the effects of the different options the City could pursue. In addition, our team’s focuses on the opportunity for placemaking in the redeveloping of underutilized public lands into a park. We seek to find ways to engage with the local community and start a dialogue about hazard mitigation and safety that can continue after the conclusion of the project.

Our research will conclude with a StoryMap of coastal hazards resilience recommendations for Bandon and the South Jetty Community on the City of Bandon website. The City of Bandon can use this tool as they look for funding sources to implement these solutions.

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