The Sea Level Wise Adaptation Strategy, published in March 2020, outlines a proactive, long-term approach to enable the City of Virginia Beach to adapt to these changing environmental conditions.

Virginia Beach Sea Level Wise Adaptation Strategy, March 2020


View the full Virginia Beach Sea Level Wise Adaptation Strategy document, released in March 2020.
Sea Level Wise Interactive Story Map


Learn about flood risks, explore options, and interact with the maps presented in the Adaptation Strategy.

What's in the Adaptation Strategy?

  • Getting Sea Level Wise: The flooding risks posed by rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns demand City-wide action to protect vulnerable neighborhoods and industries. Over the past several years, the Sea Level Wise program has engaged technical experts, community participants, and regional partners to advance adaptation efforts.
  • Understanding Flood Risks: Sea level rise is occurring at an accelerated rate, increasing the frequency, severity, and extent of many different flooding event types. This is causing wide-ranging impacts on our infrastructure, economy, and community.
  • Adaptation Framework: The multi-layered Adaptation Framework presents a holistic method for addressing flood risks, with high-level strategic objectives to guide adaptation efforts across the entire city. The four layers work together to provide comprehensive flood protection; each layer presents a specific approach to flood risk management that complements the others.
  • Watershed Strategies: The City's four major watersheds (Oceanfront, Elizabeth River, Lynnhaven and Southern Rivers) present natural boundaries for taking a more precise look at flood-related challenges and opportunities. Each Watershed Strategy lays out the specific flood drivers and risk types distinct to that watershed and identifies specific projects and areas for action.
  • The Path Forward: Reducing flood risks and planning for a vibrant future is an ongoing, iterative process, requiring sustained actions from the City and its partners. In order to further Sea Level Wise efforts, the City is focusing on integrating findings into complementary processes and frameworks, funding and implementing adaptation projects, and continuing internal planning efforts.

What is behind the Adaptation Strategy?

The following reports have been produced as part of the Sea Level Wise effort and are all included in the Adaptation Strategy Appendices.

  • Complete Adaptation Strategy Appendices

  • Joint Occurrence and Probabilities of Tides and Rainfall

  • Analysis of Historical and Future Heavy Precipitation

  • Numerical Modeling of Wind Tides in Back Bay and North Landing River

  • Analysis of Marsh Response to Sea Level Rise

  • Water Resources in the Southern Watershed of Virginia Beach

  • Insurance Economic Analysis

  • Coastal Flooding and Economic Loss Analysis

  • Demographic and Population Vulnerability Analysis

  • Nature-Based Coastal Flood Mitigation Strategies

  • City-Wide Structural Alternative for Coastal Flood Protection

  • Neighborhood-scale Structural Strategies for Coastal Flood Risk Reduction

  • Individual Building and Site-Level Flood Risk Reduction Strategies

  • Virginia Beach Sea Level Rise Policy Response Report

  • Stormwater & Flood Protection
    • Flood Protection Program Flood Protection Program FAQ Flood Model Visualization & Exposure Tool Flood Prevention Bond Referendum Oversight Board Central Resort District Drainage Improvements 24th Street 21st and Baltic Eastern Shore Drive - Phase 1 Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Linkhorn Bay Drainage Basin Southern Rivers Watershed Pungo Ferry Road New Bridge Road West Neck Creek Bridge Stormwater Green Infrastructure Marsh Restoration in Back Bay Elizabeth River Wetland and Floodplain Restoration Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza & The Lakes Project Comments Project Updates Master Planning Sea Level Wise Stormwater Planning Projects Ashville Park Stormwater Bow Creek Stormwater Project Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Improvement Lake Bradford & Chubb Lake Stormwater Windsor Woods, Princess Anne Plaza and The Lakes Stormwater Stormwater Quality Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan Draft Stormwater Management Facilities Stormwater Regulations Stormwater Utility Fee Discount Stormwater Quality Projects & Evaluations 17th Street Regional Stormwater Facility Ashville Bridge Creek Watershed Bayville Lake Water Quality Improvement Bellamy Woods Water Quality Improvement Brigadoon Park Water Quality Improvement Brooklyn Avenue Water Quality Improvement Chatham Hall Lake Water Quality Improvement Historic Kempsville Water Quality Improvements Kemps Lake Water Quality Improvement Kemps River Crossing Water Quality Improvement Lake Bradford & Great Neck Lake Monitoring Lake James Watershed Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Study Laurel Cove Park Water Quality Improvement Lynnhaven Park Constructed Wetlands Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project Oceana Gardens Constructed Wetlands Providence Park Wet Pond Salem Village Park Water Quality Improvement Sandbridge Road Manufactured Treatment Device Saw Pen Point Shoreline Restoration Seatack Park Wet Swale Mosquito Control Mosquito-Borne Diseases Get Involved Adopt-a-Drain Good to Do National Flood Insurance Program