Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Coastal Resilience Master Plan contains an analysis of the threat of increasing flooding in Virginia’s coastal region due to sea level rise and changing precipitation patterns. It serves as a location-specific, long-range plan to guide activities to mitigate severe and repetitive flooding in Virginia's coastal region.
Phase II of the Coastal Resilience Master Plan (CRMP) will build on the work completed in the 2021 Phase I plan. It is currently under development and will be released in December 2024.
The CRMP is designed to provide data, tools, and information to help Virginia's governments make more informed decisions for flood resilience. Through a PDF plan and the Coastal Resilience Web Explorer, it provides the Commonwealth with a comprehensive and unified baseline analysis of the threat of increasing flood exposure and impacts. The CRMP Phase II will include anticipated impacts from coastal, riverine, and rainfall-driven flooding.
In addition, the plan identifies opportunities to prioritize impactful flood resilience solutions. This includes:
Development of the CRMP Phase II is a collaborative process led by DCR which involves consulting teams, the Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and other external stakeholders. DCR has contracted with consulting teams led by Dewberry and Stantec to develop the CRMP Phase II, including for modeling future flooding, identifying flooding impacts, and identifying flood resilience opportunities.
The Coastal Resilience TAC is a public body comprised of external stakeholders. The TAC assists DCR with updating the plan by providing feedback on the plan process and products and developing recommendations for future action.
DCR has engaged with many other stakeholders to guide the plan's development. Learn more about engagement activities and their findings by expanding the dropdown menu below. You can also learn more about ways you can stay participate in the process by visiting our "Get Involved" webpage.
An online survey collected feedback from local governments, planning district commissions, state agencies, tribal governments and other stakeholders regarding how they have used the Coastal Resilience Master Plan in the past. It also collected feedback to help us to understand the challenges and opportunities in funding and financing flood resilience action.
End User Survey Report
An updated inventory of ongoing and planned efforts to address the challenges of flooding was developed to inform the Coastal Resilience Master Plan update. Between January and April of 2024, local governments, planning district commissions, tribal governments, state agencies, non-profits and others were invited to submit their projects and initiatives to be included in the inventory via the User Portal for the Coastal Resilience Web Explorer.
Learn more: Projects & Initiatives Flyer
Access the User Portal and View the Inventory
DCR hosted meetings with staff from local governments who have not otherwise been engaged in developing the Phase I or Phase II plan. At the meetings, DCR shared information about the master plan, and requested feedback on planned flood resilience efforts, challenges, and opportunities for state support.
Read the meeting summaries
DCR held four community meetings to inform communities about CRMP Phase II, hear about community experiences with flooding, and share information about other flood resilience resources. Content from each meeting can be found here.
The Coastal Resilience Master Plan Phase I was released in 2021. The plan presented information about the future of coastal flooding In Virginia, including sea level rise, storm surge, and the resulting change in floodplains. However, it did not Include other flood sources, like rainfall-driven flooding and riverine flooding. Phase II updates are primarily focused on including additional sources of flooding.
In addition, other elements of the Phase II plan, including the projects and initiatives inventory, financing and funding information, and TAC subcommittee recommendations, have been updated.
Whether you are an interested resident or represent a local government or community-based organization, we want to hear from you! Visit our "Get Involved" page to learn more.
Contact us with questions, feedback, and requests for more information.
