North Carolina Conducting Sea Level Rise Poll; Sample Survey Here

by: Eileen

Sun Jul 26, 2009 at 07:20:05 AM EST

North Carolina citizens have a chance to comment on their perceptions of the risk from a rise in sea level and what to do about it.

The state Division of Coastal Management said the online poll will help identify perceptions held by the public as it develops a policy on the issue.

Tancred Miller is the primary author of the survey and says the state is seeking everyone's perception regardless of their knowledge about the topic or whether they believe it.

The survey is here at www.nccoastalmanagement.net. Curious as to the questions, I took the survey - of course identifying myself as a resident of Virginia Beach and the Sierra Club as my affiliate organization. The survey is on the flip. What's interesting is the items suggested as possible adaptations and mitigation. I wonder how well a survey such as this would go over in Virginia.  

3. How much do you think the sea will rise along the NC coast by 2100? (Check all that apply)
__ None
__ Less than 1 foot
__ 1 - 3 feet
__ 3 - 5 feet
__ More than 5 feet
__ I don't know

Other (please specify)

4. How would you rate the vulnerability of the following regions to impacts of sea level rise?
__ Highest risk
__ High risk
__ Medium risk
__ Low risk
__ No risk
__ I don't know

Barrier islands north of Cape Lookout
__ Highest risk
__ High risk
__ Medium risk
__ Low risk
__ No risk
__ I don't know

Barrier islands south of Cape Lookout
__ Highest risk
__ High risk
__ Medium risk
__ Low risk
__ No risk
__ I don't know

Mainland south of the Neuse River
__ Highest risk
__ High risk
__ Medium risk
__ Low risk
__ No risk
__ I don't know

Please use this space to be more specific if you wish.

5. Do you think that the State should be taking steps now to plan and prepare for sea level rise?
__ Yes
__ No
__ No opinion

Other (please specify)

6. Who do you think should be taking action on sea level rise in North Carolina, and in what roles? (Check any that apply)

Federal government
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

NC Coastal Resources Commission
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

NC Governor
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

NC General Assembly
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

State agencies
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Local governments
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Scientists
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Real estate developers
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Private landowners
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

General public
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Non-profit organizations
__ Should play a leading role
__ Should play a supporting role
__ Should play no role

Other (please specify)

7. What measures would you recommend the Coastal Resources Commission and Division of Coastal Management take to address sea level rise.

Decide how much sea level rise is expected in the future and use that prediction for planning and management decisions  
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Increase setbacks for oceanfront development
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Require setbacks for development on estuarine and river shorelines to account for projected sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Require local land use plans to consider sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Produce maps of the areas that are most at risk
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Educate the public about the risks posed by sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Adopt more restrictive standards for development in the most at risk areas
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Limit what types of structures can be built in the most at risk areas
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Permit the use of groins and seawalls on the oceanfront
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Coordinate a managed retreat from the shoreline
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Allow the unlimited use of sandbags to protect property
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Provide technical assistance to local governments for coping with sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Other (please specify)

8. Please describe what else you think should be done in North Carolina to address sea level rise.

Provide incentives for property owners to relocate threatened structures
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Require coastal hazard disclosure statements for real estate transactions
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Allow the use of permanent erosion control structures on ocean beaches (e.g. seawalls or terminal groins)
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Create a state trust fund for beach nourishment projects
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Create a state trust fund for relocating or buying out threatened structures
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Create a state trust fund to pay for all beach and waterway projects, and sea level rise response measures
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Prohibit expenditures of public money for new development in at-risk areas
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Ban the use of any structure that disrupts the natural movement of estuarine or oceanfront shorelines
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Raise insurance rates for property located in at-risk areas
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Increase the height that buildings must be elevated above ground level
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Adopt transportation plans and corridors that avoid at-risk areas
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Prepare relocation plans for communities at risk of chronic inundation
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Update the state building code to consider anticipated sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Update flood maps to consider anticipated sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Decide how much sea level rise is expected in the future and use that prediction for planning and management decisions
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Require all relevant state agencies to prepare sea level rise response plans
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Increase funding for sea level rise research
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Increase funding for sea level rise monitoring
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Purchase and set aside more undeveloped land to allow wildlife habitat to migrate as sea level rises
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Create a sea level rise study commission to prepare recommendations for coping with sea level rise
__ Highly recommend
__ Somewhat recommend
__ Do not recommend
__ No opinion

Other (please specify)

9. Are you and/or your organization doing anything on sea level rise that you would like the Coastal Resources Commission or Division of Coastal Management to be aware of? Do you have any upcoming reports or events that you would like us to be aware of?

10. Do you have any additional comments or information about other ongoing work on sea level rise in North Carolina that the Coastal Resources Commission or Division of Coastal Management should be aware of?