Emory Wellman, OR&R’s Constituent and Legislative Affairs intern, presented her research into storm protection and its incorporation in Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs).

Wellman’s main finding was that OR&R currently does not explicitly account for lost storm protection benefits in NRDA or in Habitat Equivalency Analyses. A major challenge is that methods available to quantify and measure coastal storm protection are still developing and might face some challenges in the legal process. Other impediments to inclusion are opportunity costs and potential opposition from Responsible Parties (RPs), courts, and communities. Wellman made several recommendations including monitoring scientific developments, beginning discussions internally and with stakeholders, and communicating the storm protection benefits of restoration projects.

See the PowerPoint presentation, “Storm Protection and NRDA.”

To learn more about the presentation and Emory’s research please contact Meg.Imholt@noaa.gov.

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