Abstract
Managed retreat refers to the relocation of population or infrastructure to address sea-level rise, climate-driven flood risk, and other threats. One variety of managed retreats involves the wholesale relocation of communities. The focus of retreat and relocation projects is to make the retreating communities more resilient to future losses; add-on benefits may include environmental enhancement and broad potential social goals such as promoting equity. Facing spiraling flooding and other climate-change impacts, the United States has been planning and implementing new retreat projects, but without full awareness of past relocations. This study reviews more than 50 relevant community relocations in U.S. history. These endeavors represent millions of taxpayer dollars and enormous investment of personal effort, leadership, triumph, and frustration by residents. And these case studies represent real-world, context-specific expertise needed to guide future U.S. retreat and relocations efforts. This study reviews U.S. relocation history as a resource for scholars of managed retreat, disaster management professionals, and local stakeholders contemplating retreat.
Highlights
Managed retreat refers to the abandonment of occupied land and the removal or relocation of population and/or infrastructure out of areas subject to repeated flooding, rising sea level, or other natural hazards (e.g., Hino et al, 2017; Siders et al, 2019; Government Accountability Office [GAO], 2020)
Trends in climate-change impacts suggest impending inundation that may compel, among other adaptations, large-scale retreats from at-risk coastlines and river floodplains
Churchs Ferry and Minnewaukan, North Dakota Understudied examples of U.S managed retreat include the towns around Devils Lake, North Dakota
Summary
The lost history of managed retreat and community relocation in the United States. One variety of managed retreats involves the wholesale relocation of communities. Facing spiraling flooding and other climate-change impacts, the United States has been planning and implementing new retreat projects, but without full awareness of past relocations. This study reviews more than 50 relevant community relocations in U.S history. These endeavors represent millions of taxpayer dollars and enormous investment of personal effort, leadership, triumph, and frustration by residents. These case studies represent real-world, context-specific expertise needed to guide future U.S retreat and relocations efforts.
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