Addressing Great Lakes coastal hazards through regional communities of practice

Four regional Communities of Practice (CoPs) were developed across the coasts of Wisconsin and Minnesota to help communities connect with each other as they address their common challenges with coastal hazards like erosion, storms, and flooding. Great Lakes coastal hazards are significantly influenced by the water levels of the lakes, which can vary by up to ∼ 2 m (∼6.5 feet) between record highs and lows. These decadal fluctuations of water levels can lead to hazard impacts being forgotten in between the extremes, resulting in a diminished capacity to address coastal hazards when extreme conditions return. These hazards are expected to persist and potentially become more severe due to changing climate conditions. To build capacity to address coastal hazards, public officials and staff have consistently expressed a need for structure and leadership to guide knowledge sharing and collaborative action between coastal communities. The four regional CoPs coordinated learning and sharing among communities to collectively build coastal resilience and bring more resources to the region. These CoPs have provided members with learning opportunities, relationship building activities, technical assistance, and regular communications about hazards and resources. Members report that their participation in the CoPs resulted in outcomes that reduce coastal hazard risk, including improved planning, enhanced mapping capabilities, and identification of priority coastal management practices. The technical and social capacity created through the CoPs has helped members work across boundaries to navigate complex coastal hazard issues. Through regular evaluation, the CoPs have continued to evolve to meet changing needs of their member coastal communities.