Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID AL_2024_Heim-LaFrombois

Assessing the Capacity of Local Officials in Alabama to Plan for Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure and Management

Institute: Alabama
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $35,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $35,000

Principal Investigators: Megan Heim-LaFrombois

Project Summary: The proposed project aims to develop a comprehensive approach to climate resiliency in Alabama and create a knowledge base to aid policy makers, planners, engineers, scientists, economists, and citizen groups in making informed decisions about climate-resilient infrastructure. The project will assess the ability of local government officials in Alabama to plan effective, cost-efficient, and long-term climate-resilient water infrastructure. It will also facilitate dialogue among local, state, and federal officials to address climate resiliency statewide. The project will evaluate current knowledge, awareness, efforts, and resources related to climate resiliency in Alabama communities, providing a baseline for future initiatives. Additionally, it will create a publicly accessible database of best practices and lessons learned from local officials to promote knowledge sharing. Finally, the project will identify areas for improvement in planning and knowledge dissemination, particularly in urban stormwater management and the impact of social vulnerability on community preparedness for climate resilience.