CCAMP: Open Pacific Coast Study

FEMA Region IX is conducting a detailed open-coast study (modeling and analyses) to remap the coastal flood, wave hazard and risk for the California coast in two phases, as follows: northern California from Point Conception to the California/Oregon border, followed by southern California from Point Conception to the California/Mexico border.  Phase I counties include: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo.  Phase II counties include: Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ventura. Currently, BakerAECOM is performing a review and analysis of available data for consideration and use in new coastal hazard studies of the Pacific Ocean coast of California, excluding the San Francisco Bay area.  Data gaps will be determined during this process and filled, as necessary.The coastal study will be conducted in accordance with FEMA’s November 2004 Pacific guidelines for new coastal studies, Guidelines and Specifications for Flood Hazard Mapping Partners, Appendix D.  Accepted and alternative modeling approaches will be identified and FEMA Region IX will initiate coastal studies in future years.  An Open Pacific Coast study fact sheet is available for download here (PDF).

Coastal studies will be conducted by mapping blocks of varying but unique locations of coastal features, such as shoreline geological units, armored shoreline segments, and backshore types for the entire California Pacific Ocean coastal region.

A separate study to be conducted by Region IX will incorporate a detailed sheltered waters coastal study (modeling and analyses) to remap the coastal flood and wave hazard and risk for the San Francisco Bay Area.

General Information Regarding FEMA’s Coastal Mapping Efforts

• FEMA’s coastal mapping efforts benefit from new technologies, such as, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR).
• FEMA is using two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic and wave models to perform storm surge water level determination, wave height and run-up analyses to develop new coastal flood and wave elevations for total water level determinations throughout the coastal areas.
• The new studies will be based on current conditions, more up-to-date and detailed topographic data and, therefore, new Base Flood Elevations will be presented in the new Flood Insurance Study reports and on the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs).
• FEMA is coordinating with Federal, State, Indian Tribal entities, regional and local stakeholders and will continue to coordinate with these stakeholders as the study progresses.