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USDOT Workshop on Impacts of Global Climate Change
on Hydraulics, Hydrology and Transportation
Washington, D.C.
March 7, 2005
Port Planning and
Views On Climate Change
David H. Bierling and Billy L. Edge
Center for Ports and Waterways
and
Sustainable Coastal Margins Program
Texas A&M University System
Our Central Question…
Is planning for climate change
on the radar screen of the U.S.
seaport industry??
Operations
Facility Design
Maintenance
Our “Quick and Dirty” Evaluation…
A simple, one-page questionnaire
distributed to 18 “contiguous”-U.S. ports
East, West and Gulf Coasts,
Great Lakes, Rivers & Tributaries.
Eleven questions about port planning horizons and
opinions on climate change.
February 19 – March 4, 2005
Responses from 12 ports
representing these coastal regions.
Cover
Letter and
Topics
Questionnaire Respondents
Port of Indiana - Burns Harbor
Port of Milwaukee
Duluth Seaway Port Authority
Port of Memphis
Port of Baltimore
North Carolina State Ports Authority
Port of New Orleans
Port of Palacios, TX
Port of Port Mansfield, TX
Port of Long Beach
Port of Oakland
Port of Tacoma
Are ports considering potential
impacts of climate change in
design standards or operations??
11 of 12 ports responding to the
questionnaire indicated “No”.
Are ports considering potential
impacts of climate change in
design standards or operations??
1 of the 12 ports indicated “Yes”.
– Commercial fishing and recreational
boating port on Gulf Coast.
– Areas of consideration:
Shift in markets and population.
Maintenance needs.
Impact on community and
environment.
“Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
5
4
Neutral
Agree
3
2
Disagree
1
0
Strongly
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events is
important in planning for our facilities or operations
“Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
5
Agree
4
Neutral
3
2
Disagree
1
0
Strongly
Agree
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,
USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
“Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
5
4
Agree
3
Strongly
Agree
Neutral
2
1
Disagree
0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency of
extreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
“Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
5
4
Agree
Disagree
3
2
Neutral
1
Strongly
Agree
0
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is something
that needs to be addressed for the port community in
general.
All Responding Ports
5
All Responding Ports
5
Agree
4
4
Neutral
Neutral
3
Agree
3
2
2
Disagree
1
Disagree
1
0
Strongly
Agree
Strongly
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
0
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,
USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events is
important in planning for our facilities or operations
All Responding Ports
All Responding Ports
5
5
4
4
Agree
3
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Disagree
3
Neutral
2
2
Neutral
1
1
Strongly
Agree
Disagree
0
0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency of
extreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is something
that needs to be addressed for the port community in
general.
Port Region Average Response Value
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
Great
Lakes
Gulf
Coast
River &
Tributary
East
Coast
West
Coast
1.0
0.0
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events is
important in planning for our facilities or operations
Port Region Average Response Value
5.0
Gulf
Coast
4.0
River &
Tributary
3.0
2.0
Great
Lakes
West
Coast
East
Coast
1.0
0.0
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,
USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
Port Region Average Response Value
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
Great
Lakes
Gulf
Coast
East
Coast
River &
Tributary
West
Coast
1.0
0.0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency of
extreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
Port Region Average Response Value
Port Region Average Response Value
5.0
5.0
3.0
Great
Lakes
Gulf
Coast
2.0
River &
Tributary
East
Coast
West
Coast
2.0
East
Coast
0.0
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,
USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events is
important in planning for our facilities or operations
Port Region Average Response Value
Port Region Average Response Value
5.0
5.0
2.0
Great
Lakes
West
Coast
1.0
0.0
3.0
River &
Tributary
3.0
1.0
4.0
Gulf
Coast
4.0
4.0
Great
Lakes
Gulf
Coast
East
Coast
4.0
River &
Tributary
West
Coast
3.0
Great
Lakes
Gulf
Coast
East
Coast
West
Coast
2.0
1.0
1.0
River &
Tributary
0.0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency of
extreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
0.0
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is something
that needs to be addressed for the port community in general.
Port interest in climate change
discussions…
11 of 12 ports indicated an interest in
seeing the results of the workshop.
7 of 12 ports indicated an interest in
participating in future dialogues.
Questionnaire responses
suggest…
Port planning horizons range between
5 and 20 years, with consistent averages
across facility types of ~12 years.
Almost no consideration of climate change in
formalized port design or planning processes.
Variable use of historical information and
“well-accepted” guidance in port design and
planning processes.
Questionnaire responses
suggest…
Regional differences in port
concerns about potential climate
change effects.
– Great Lakes, East Coast, and Gulf
Coast ports seem more concerned
than West Coast or Rivers &
Tributaries ports.
Limitations
Small distribution and response populations.
– No more than three responses per region.
– Inability to make strong inferences for the U.S.
port industry based on these very limited data.
– Results may not be generalizeable to port
populations across regions or categories.
Further questions…
Can/should industry and community
planning and decision horizons account for
“long-term” climate change?
Historical and “accepted” information:
– What is its role in design, maintenance, and
operations of coastal infrastructures?
– Can retrospective data account for future
change?
Further questions…
Is climate change an infrastructure issue,
a market issue, or both?
How do perspectives and influences of
insurers and consultants affect those of
coastal infrastructure operators?