Lunenburg Part 1 - Introduction and Background August 30.pdf

scenarios for the years 2025 and 2100. In this project, we developed scenarios for each of
these two years using the best available peer-reviewed studies to date of sea level rise
predictions globally and locally combined with LiDAR elevation data and elevation models
compiled for the ACAS project areas. We calculated and illustrated local coastline retreat with
rising sea surface elevation and the reach of storm surge flood waters during extreme and
benchmark storms.
Section 2 presents the spatial analysis of the extent and types of physical infrastructure
potentially impacted by sea level rise and storm surges under the worst case scenarios
presented in Part 2, Section 1. The analysis includes impact to hard infrastructure such as roads
and sewers as well as soft infrastructure such as parks and beaches. The discussion
emphasizes the error, known as representation error. The error arises where linear features,
such as a road, in reality also have a surface area but in the cartographic (or GIS) environment
are represented as a line. The work provides guidance to the municipalities on setting priorities
to protect, reinforce or move infrastructure at risk and plan for future infrastructure development.
Section 3 presents the work of identifying social assets vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The inventory and assessment involved residents in naming and mapping assets they consider
important to the character, experience and quality life in the communities that comprise the
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Residents identified a very wide range of assets from
physical structures such as community centres and trails, to environmental spaces such as
beaches and wetlands, to experiences such as coastal hikes. We overlaid the inventory of
assets with the inundation and flood scenarios to interpret what assets could be impacted by
higher water levels and storm surge flooding in 2025 and 2100.
Section 4 presents the work of valuing the assets using a ranking approach. Residents identified
and ranked assets important to them through a questionnaire survey. Interviews with decision
makers revealed priorities for social assets among this group. We compared the valued assets
and rankings of the public and the decision makers to determine convergence and divergence in
priorities. Knowing where there is agreement or differences is important for establishing priorities
in addressing climate change impacts. The material presented in this section is adapted from an
independent study research paper prepared by graduate student Zoe Wollenberg as part of the
Master of Planning degree at Dalhousie University.
Section 5 presents the analysis of social vulnerability in the District of Lunenburg, focusing on
vulnerability to sea level rise and storm surge flooding. The section presents an overview of
social vulnerability and determinants, and presents the results and analysis of using Statistics
Canada census data to map the spatial distribution of vulnerable populations in the study area
and relate the existing distribution to flood prone locations. It also considers associated concerns
such as impacts to physical access (e.g. routes to emergency centres, community centres,
health care centres) that might increase vulnerability for certain populations. The discussion
considers the application of the findings to planning supports for vulnerable populations or
avoidance strategies through land use planning. The material presented in this section is
adapted from an independent study research paper prepared by graduate student Michaela
Cochran as part of the Master of Planning degree at Dalhousie University.
Section 6 is an examination of municipal capacity in the District of Lunenburg to adapt to climate
change. This study considered the capacity inherent in existing planning and related policies and
legislation, administration structure and external partnerships (such as links to other
municipalities, other levels of government or service agencies). Documents analysis and
consultation with municipal staff and professionals in other government agencies of relevance to
climate change adaptation were used to determine existing planning tools available to address
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