Our Work
Coastal Resilience
About
Rhode Island’s 400-mile coastline is experiencing accelerating impacts from erosion, stronger storms, sea-level rise, and development pressures.
Building coastal resilience requires communities to prepare for and adapt to evolving environmental, economic, and social conditions unique to the state’s shoreline.
Rhode Island Sea Grant supports this work by providing science-based tools, technical assistance, and training that help municipalities, practitioners, and residents understand risk, strengthen coastal ecosystems, and plan for long-term adaptation.
This work spans Sea Grant’s focus areas in climate adaptation, coastal ecosystems, and waterfront sustainability.
Our Mission
To build vibrant waterfront communities resilient to a changing climate.
Focus Areas
Climate Adaptation
Issues that affect how coastal communities to plan for and adapt to climate-related hazards and extreme weather events.
Coastal Ecosystems
Issues that relate to development and activity that impact coastal wetlands, beach systems, salt ponds, and Narragansett Bay.
Waterfront sustainability
Issues that impact the present and future use of our waterfront such as pollution, marine transportation, marine debris, and maritime heritage.
Current Projects & Initiatives
PREP-RI: Resilience Training
PREP-RI (Providing Resilience Education for Planning in Rhode Island) equips municipal leaders with practical tools and training to advance coastal resilience planning.
Project materials coming soon.
Natural Hazards Tools Collaborative
Empowering communities with vital tools for emergency management, planning, and resilience decision-making across the state.
Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities
The RISCC project gives communities the tools they need to adapt to changing coastal conditions, helping local leaders create a roadmap for more resilient towns. In Rhode Island, our focus is on the town of Warren.
RI Coastal Resilience Learning Network
Connecting municipal staff, planners, and coastal practitioners to share tools, data, and strategies that strengthen coastal resilience.
Community-Driven Coastal Climate Research & Solutions
A regional partnership advancing research, coordination, and actionable resilience strategies across Rhode Island and Maine.
Reducing Flood and Wind Risk in Bristol & Newport Counties
This project evaluates combined risk from coastal, riverine, and pluvial (stormwater) flooding, high winds, and sea-level rise in Bristol and Newport Counties. Results will inform updated risk maps and support local hazard mitigation planning.
Project materials coming soon.
PREP-RI: Resilience Training
PREP-RI (Providing Resilience Education for Planning in Rhode Island) equips municipal leaders with practical tools and training to advance coastal resilience planning.
Project materials coming soon.
Natural Hazards Tools Collaborative
Empowering communities with vital tools for emergency management, planning, and resilience decision-making across the state.
Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities
The RISCC project gives communities the tools they need to adapt to changing coastal conditions, helping local leaders create a roadmap for more resilient towns. In Rhode Island, our focus is on the town of Warren.
RI Coastal Resilience Learning Network
Connecting municipal staff, planners, and coastal practitioners to share tools, data, and strategies that strengthen coastal resilience.
Community-Driven Coastal Climate Research & Solutions
A regional partnership advancing research, coordination, and actionable resilience strategies across Rhode Island and Maine.
Reducing Flood and Wind Risk in Bristol & Newport Counties
This project evaluates combined risk from coastal, riverine, and pluvial (stormwater) flooding, high winds, and sea-level rise in Bristol and Newport Counties. Results will inform updated risk maps and support local hazard mitigation planning.
Project materials coming soon.
Meet Our Team
Casey Tremper
Coastal Project Manager
Tel: (401) 874-6493
Email: casey_tremper@uri.edu
Eliza Berry
Coastal Project Manager
Email: eliza.berry@uri.edu
Casey Tremper
Coastal Project Manager
Tel: (401) 874-6493
Email: casey_tremper@uri.edu
Eliza Berry
Coastal Project Manager
Email: eliza.berry@uri.edu