Pathways for Coastal Adaptation in
Metro Vancouver
Alexandra Rutledge
a3rutledge@uwaterloo.ca
University of Waterloo
IDRC DAVOS 2016

Outline
 Introduction
 Background
 Research Question
 Research Methods
 Initial Findings
 Summary
 References
 Acknowledgments

Study site: Metro Vancouver
Purpose: to identify the barriers that underpin the
uptake of managed retreat as a coastal adaptation
method to sea level rise and coastal flooding in Metro
Vancouver
Source: metrovancouver.org
Adaptation Options:
 Protect
 Accommodate
 Avoid
 Retreat
Metro Vancouver Municipalities

Managed Retreat
Managed retreat is an adaptation strategy
whereby a planned decision is made to
relocate people or infrastructure in the
anticipation of a coastal hazard (Turbott &
Stewart, 2006)
Managed Retreat

Coastal British Columbia
Source: Ausenco Sandwell. (2011). Draft policy discussion paper .
Provincial Flood Construction Level
recommendations:
– ~0.5m by 2050
– ~1.0m by 2100
– ~2.0m by 2200

Flood Management
challenges
 2003 Local
Government
Act
 4% of dike
segments meet
current
provincial
standard
 71% of dikes
are vulnerable
to failure by Source: Delcan. (2012).

Research question
What are the barriers to managed retreat as
a coastal adaptation strategy in Metro
Vancouver?

Methodology
 Qualitative research strategy
◦ Literature review
◦ Semi-structured key informant interviews
 25 total interviews
 Actors: engineers, planners, academics, politicians,
sustainability managers
Seawall Stanley Park
Dike maintenance in Delta

Key Informant Interview
Hierarchy

Initial Findings

Barriers to Managed Retreat in
Metro Vancouver
 High-value land
 Political will
 Funding
 Loss of sense of place
 No Canadian examples
of retreat
 Complexity of
implementation
 Education of public &
politicians
 Time & uncertainty
 Jurisdictional authority
 Lack of existing policy
Port of Vancouver
Crescent Beach community

Summary
 Managed retreat has not gone beyond a
desk-top conversation
 Short-term economic conditions and
perceived social hardship are strong
barriers
 Managed retreat needs long term
commitment and political and public
support
 Legacy of historic reliance on dikes
continues
 Support needed from higher levels of

Acknowledgements

References
 Alexander, K.S., Ryan, A. & Measham, T.G (2012). Managed retreat of coastal
communities: understanding responses to projected sea level rise, Journal of
Environmental Planning and Management, vol. 55, no. 4, pp. 409-433.
 Ausenco Sandwell (2011). Draft policy discussion paper, BC Ministry of
Environment. British Columbia.
 BC Ministry of Environment (2010). Preparing for climate change: British
Columbia’s adaptation strategy. Ministry of Environment. British Columbia.
 Delcan (2012). Cost of adaptation - Sea dikes and alternative strategies. Ministry
of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. British Columbia.
 Gibbs, M (2013). Asset anchoring as a constraint to sea level rise adaptation,
Ocean and Coastal Management, vol. 85, pp. 119-123.
 Gibbs, M.T (2015). Pitfalls in developing coastal climate adaptation responses,
Climate Risk Management, vol. 8, pp. 1-8.
 Hallegatte, S., Green, C., Nicholls, R. & Corfee-Morlot, J (2013). Future flood
losses in major coastal cities, Nature Climate Change, vol. 3, no. 9, pp. 802-806.
 Lyle, T. S & Mclean, D. G (2008). British Columbia’s flood management policy
window – Can we take advantage? Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd.,
Vancouver, British Columbia.
 Turbott, C. & Stewart, A (2006). Managed retreat from coastal hazards: Options for
implementation. Environment Waikato Regional Council.