The Impacts of Sea Level Rise in the Comox Valley
On British Columbia’s coastline, changing sea levels are influenced by both global and local effects. Global sea level is affected by melting glaciers and ice caps and the warming (thermal expansion) of the upper ocean. Locally, sea level rise is also affected by vertical movements of the land (tectonic movements, rebound and subsidence).
Here in the Comox Valley, local sea levels are projected to rise approximately one metre over the next century along our 77 km coastline.
The Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise
- More frequent and extreme high water levels in coastal areas
- Increased erosion, flooding and related loss of property
- Increased risk to coastal infrastructure, as well as higher maintenance and repair costs
- Loss of habitat and reduced biodiversity
- Saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers
- Loss of cultural and historic sites
Government Resources
The Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer is a resource for local governments and land management authorities, providing information on a range of tools that can be used as part of a sea level rise adaptation strategy.
Shoreline Protection Measures
The Green Shores project, an initiative of the Stewardship Centre for BC, provides a wide range of planning, design and construction resources for those interested in minimizing the environmental impacts of their projects.