Multi-objective Assessment of Flood Adaptation Options in Los Angeles County
About the Project
Los Angeles County, home to 10 million people and a $712 billion annual economy, faces flood risks 20 times greater than suggested by federally defined floodplains, and Black, Hispanic, and disadvantaged populations are disproportionately exposed to these risks. There is a need for transformative flood infrastructure that simultaneously reduces flood risk, captures more stormwater, restores impaired ecosystems, builds climate resilience across the region, and advances equity.
This project will simulate three flood adaptation approaches (raising levees, widening rivers with habitat restoration, and capturing additional stormwater with more green infrastructure and parks) and analyze the costs and benefits of each to provide actionable information to regional government. The project is led by Dr. Brett Sanders at the University of California, Irvine, in collaboration with Dr. Katharine Mach at the University of Miami, and is funded through the NOAA Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Program. Read more about the project via NOAA and media coverage from LAist.
Research Team
UC Irvine
University of Miami
Workshop Series
In 2024 and 2025, LARC will host a series of workshops to facilitate the co-creation of three county-wide flood risk adaptation strategies: (a) raising levees, (b) widening channels, and (c) capturing stormwater. Participants at LARC’s February 2024 network meeting provided feedback on the adaptation strategies. Workshop #2 was held on May 30, 2024 at 10:00-11:00 am— learn more about the event here. If you have any additional questions about this project, please contact us.
