By Waterloo Climate Institute

Flooding is a significant threat to low-lying socio-ecological systems, posing risks to housing, health, water security, critical infrastructure, and human mobility. Managed retreat (MR), defined as "the purposeful relocation of people, property, and critical infrastructure out of areas vulnerable to recurrent climatic hazards," is emerging as a potentially transformative adaptation approach that offers opportunities for both risk reduction and advancement of social justice. 

Historically, MR has been primarily applied post-disaster, such as buyouts of flood-damaged homes in the communities of Grand Forks, British Columbia, High River, Alberta, and Pointe Gatineau, Quebec. Recent floods (e.g. the 2021 “atmospheric river” flooding in Abbotsford, Merritt, and Princeton, BC) have underscored the limitations of this approach which fails to prevent flood impacts, triggers significant equity and social justice issues, and causes flood victims to be revictimized as they attempt to navigate complex and confusing MR bureaucracy. Managed retreat can also be applied proactively as part of community climate change visioning and planning, wherein communities take steps to understand the risks associated with a changing climate, and then proactively adapt to a changing hazardscape by retreating from expected risk zones. 

A collaborative research initiative, led by Dr. Brent Doberstein, Water Institute member and professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, is underway to investigate how MR can be incorporated as a proactive strategy to reduce flood risks and support community well-being, including socio-ecological resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and climate justice. The $2.45 million, 4-year New Frontiers Research Fund – International project entitled “Retreating from Risk (RFR): Decision-supports for the equitable implementation of retreat to build climate resilience” will develop a decision framework and tools and provide capacity-building to support local MR decision-making across Canada, the USA, and Indonesia. This fund is made up of support from National Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC) with matching funds from National Science Fund (NSF) in the US. The project team received critical financial and administrative support from the Water Institute,Waterloo Climate Institute, and Partners for Action during the proposal development phase. 

Managed retreat is an essential yet highly complex strategy for building climate change resilience. By providing decision-supports for municipalities and communities in Canada, the USA, and Indonesia, RFR will help shape policies and actions that will safeguard lives, enhance climate resilience, and provide equitable outcomes for vulnerable members of communities exposed to flood hazards.

Dr. Brent Doberstein, Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo
Brent

Dr. Brent Doberstein, Principal Investigator, Water Institute member & professor in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

Costa

Dr. Rodrigo Carneiro da Costa, Co-Principal Investigator, professor in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo

Jason

Dr. Jason Thistlethwaite - Co-Principal Investigator, Water Institute member & professor in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

Johanna

Dr. Johanna Wandel - Co-Principal Investigator, professor in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

Researchers involved in the project: 

  • Dr. Brent Doberstein - Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo, Canada

  • Dr. Rodrigo Carneiro da Costa - Co-Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo, Canada

  • Dr. Muh Aris Marfai - Co-Principal Investigator, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

  • Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil - Co-Principal Investigator, Stó:lō Tribal Council, Canada 

  • Dr. Jason Thistlethwaite - Co-Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo, Canada 

  • Dr. Elaina Sutley - Co-Principal Investigator, University of Kansas, USA  

  • Dr. Johanna Wandel - Co-Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo, Canada 

  • Dr. Sara Hamideh - Co-Applicant, Stony Brook University, USA 

  • Dr. Daniel Henstra - Co-Applicant, University of Waterloo, Canada 

  • Dr. Ali Nejat - Co-Applicant, Texas Tech University, USA 

  • Dr. A.R. Siders - Collaborator, University of Delaware, USA 

  • Dr. Sharmalene Mendis-Millard - Project Support. University of Waterloo, Canada 

  • Ms. Felicia Watterodt - Project Support, University of Waterloo, Canada 

  • Ms. Shaieree Cottar - Project Support, University of Waterloo, Canada 
     

Flooded neighbourhood photo by the US Department of Agriculture