Coastal Management Fellowship

2022-2024 Fellowship Project Summaries

California Coastal Commission: Elizabeth “Liz” Plascencia worked with the California Coastal Commission to advance its environmental justice and tribal consultation policies by developing meaningful tools and resources to enhance the Coastal Commission’s outreach efforts. She published a new tribal consultation story map, updated the tribal consultation policy webpage, and created an affordable housing story map with accompanying webpage materials. Additionally, she integrated environmental justice principles into the Coastal Commission’s Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance.

Internally, Liz developed databases of environmental justice partners, organizations, and findings. She also developed a style guide to provide a cohesive visual identity for the commission and worked to identify additional outreach gaps. Externally, Liz produced new signage and outreach materials for the commission’s public hearings, including bilingual "Get to Know the Coastal Commission" flyers, and updated other flyers in Spanish. She also revamped the “Rules and Procedures” webpage and the virtual hearing procedures to ensure clear communication with the public.

Liz's extensive contributions have significantly advanced the Coastal Commission’s environmental justice and tribal consultation initiatives, ensuring more inclusive and effective engagement with California's diverse communities.

California Coastal Conservancy: Maravilla Clemens worked with the California State Coastal Conservancy to address the significant loss and degradation of coastal wetlands between Santa Barbara and San Diego counties, as only 105 of the original 330 wetlands remain. Her work included managing the Conservancy's Community Wetlands Restoration Grant Program and developing the regional monitoring program, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Wetland Program Development Grant. She worked with the grants programs to ensure that data collected across Southern California was comparable.

In her management of the grant program, Maravilla led the selection committee, developed new scoring systems, and finalized project selections for 2023 and 2024. Her efforts increased 2023 applications by 40 percent, and strong interest was maintained by potential applicants for 2024.

Beyond these projects, Maravilla managed five grants for coastal access and wetlands restoration and developed an online dashboard to track progress toward the project’s goals in wetland protection. She collaborated with the Conservancy’s tribal liaison and equity coordinator to design outreach materials and strategies for Native American tribes in California.

Delaware: Jordana Cutajar worked with the coastal program of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to pilot the state’s first Resilience Hub in response to escalating climate impacts across the state. She created an interactive map showcasing local assets and their proximity to proposed hub sites while also coordinating emergency preparedness workshops and distributing kits to residents. Her project focused on empowering underserved communities to enhance their resilience through collaborative partnerships with faithbased organizations, civic associations, and local nonprofits.

Jordana conducted a comprehensive needs assessment targeting flood-prone communities and those facing environmental justice challenges. She engaged extensively with community networks and nonprofits, notably collaborating with Green Building United on a community-led resilience planning grant in Wilmington.

Jordana expanded her impact beyond the hub project by contributing to Delaware’s Climate Action Plan updates and participating in state-run environmental education initiatives. In the spring of 2023, she was invited to share her experiences in a panel discussion at the Coastal States Organization’s Transformational Coastal Management Meeting in DC. Continuing her commitment beyond the fellowship, Jordana has recently secured $50,000 in funding from the Digital Coast Connects competition for future hub expansions and transitioned into a full-time role as a resilience planner for Delaware’s coastal program.

Hawaii: Kristi Kimura worked with the Hawai’i Coastal Zone Management Program to enhance coastal hazard adaptation efforts while focusing on underserved communities across the state. She developed a Hawai’i-specific mapping tool to identify communities vulnerable to sea level rise and other coastal hazards, which addressed gaps left by nationallevel tools. She conducted a comprehensive literature review on mapping methodologies and social vulnerability by synthesizing existing resources and filling data gaps on shoreline characteristics. Additionally, Kristi created a story map that visually communicates critical data and findings.

As part of her outreach strategy, Kristi conducted six interviews with community leaders to understand local challenges and perspectives. She engaged closely with community organizations to assess their roles and issues and created a comprehensive data inventory to develop a project coordination map.

In addition to her technical contributions, Kristi supported the Ocean Resource Management Plan. She represented the program at various interagency working group sessions by advocating for community-centered approaches to coastal management.

Maryland: Amanda Small worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Chesapeake and Coastal Services and Fishing and Boating Services units to advance climate adaptation planning. She authored the "Climate-Ready Fisheries Planning Menu," which provides strategies for resilient fisheries management and covers ecological, socioeconomic, and governance components. Her efforts included organizing workshops and discussions with fisheries management staff and engaging with recreational and commercial fishing communities. She also represented Maryland in interjurisdictional management meetings and contributed to initiatives like the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning.

Amanda facilitated the development of the Next Generation Adaptation Plan, a 10-year roadmap for climate adaptation and resilience in Maryland, sponsored by the Maryland Commission on Climate Change's Adaptation and Resiliency Working Group. She co-led the plan's development, coordinating interagency teams and organizing working meetings to establish climate adaptation milestones across multiple focus areas and sectors.

Amanda’s work has been instrumental in embedding climate adaptation strategies into Maryland's fisheries management and natural resources–based economies, enhancing the state’s resilience to climate change.

Massachusetts: Alexis “Lexie” Neffinger worked with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to enhance local efforts addressing coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. Through the office’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program, Lexie focused on nature-based shoreline restoration projects and aimed to support environmental justice communities. As a member of the StormSmart Coasts Program, she contributed to various initiatives addressing erosion and flooding issues.

Lexie’s main tasks included supporting outreach initiatives and environmental justice priorities. She compiled guidance documents covering topics like community-driven climate resilience planning and community engagement. Lexie connected the grant program to the Southeast New England Program Network, helping southeastern Massachusetts communities identify funding opportunities for nature-based projects.

She supported the Saugus River Watershed Coastal Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan project team by guiding outreach initiatives to environmental justice communities, building local partnerships, and identifying potential nature-based restoration projects. Lexie secured funding for translation services, developed public-facing project materials, and provided technical support for grant funding. After her fellowship, Lexie plans to continue her work for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management by developing internal guidance documents and best practices for environmental justice engagement in future grant programs.

New Hampshire: Lucy Perkins worked with the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup to enhance resilience in the state’s coastal communities. She organized and facilitated three workgroup retreats, resulting in the development of shared guiding principles and a five-year strategic plan.

To empower local climate adaptation champions, Lucy organized the 2024 Coastal Adaptation Workgroup Climate Summit, which introduced new activities to enhance participant experience, including a Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire tour and a call for art to integrate creative work into the summit. She also coordinated a discussion group to facilitate knowledge exchange among municipal leaders.

Lucy managed the workgroup’s Picturing Rising Tides initiative, an annual community engagement project raising awareness of flooding impacts. She hosted site visits to impacted areas and made meaningful adaptations to the initiative based on feedback and new guiding principles.

Lucy’s diligent work has equipped the workgroup and its partners with valuable tools and strategies, fostering collaboration and enhancing engagement to support coastal resilience in New Hampshire.

New York: Elizabeth “Lizzy” Mogus Garcia worked with the New York Department of State's Office of Planning, Development, and Community Infrastructure to enhance coastal resiliency through strategic relocation initiatives. Lizzy developed a framework for the state coastal management program by organizing a comprehensive literature folder on strategic relocation and writing a detailed memo on successes and lessons learned. She focused on equitable community engagement, developed infographics for best practices, and facilitated a community climate change event with the NAACP and Dare to Dream on Long Island. Additionally, Lizzy supported the Strategic Relocation Roadmap Request for Proposals.

Beyond strategic relocation, Lizzy led the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Accessibility, and Belonging Working Group for her office, establishing principles and conducting over 60 training sessions. As the Climate Justice subcommittee liaison, she integrated diversity and equity principles into climate adaptation and resilience efforts. Lizzy also developed partnerships with universities for climate solutions initiatives by supporting various interagency working groups and facilitating student projects related to strategic relocation and climate change. Her dedicated efforts have significantly improved strategic relocation initiatives and strengthened community resilience for the state of New York.

Oregon: Carl Hendrickson worked with the Oregon Coastal Management Program to enhance sea level rise adaptation planning. His efforts were focused on the northern Oregon coast, where he made significant strides in updating critical resources and engaging the community.

During his fellowship, Carl updated Oregon's Coastal Atlas to include additional sea level rise impacts by providing a more comprehensive and accurate tool for planners and the public. He also contributed updates to Oregon's Sea Level Rise Planning Guide by incorporating best practices in community engagement and modifications to the asset prioritization tool. To support ongoing community outreach, Carl developed a Community Engagement Guide and a sea level rise/king tides brochure and ensured that the information was accessible and actionable for local residents. He also authored an article highlighting tribal experiences with sea level rise, bringing attention to the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Carl organized and participated in more than 10 community engagement events, reaching more than 500 people. His outreach included presentations at all high schools and the county’s college, which educated and involved a wide range of community members in adaptation planning.