The Value of U.S. Coral Reefs for Risk Reduction
Summary of the report, “Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction”
Key Points:
- The social and economic benefits provided by all U.S. reefs were rigorously assessed across more than 3,100 km (>1,900 miles) of coastline using hydrodynamic models coupled with census data.
- Annually U.S. coral reefs provide flood protection benefits to more than 18,100 people and $1.8 billion in averted damages to property and economic activity.
- With a 1-m loss in reef height, the 100-year floodplain would increase across the U.S. by 104 km2, imperiling 51,000 more people and $5 billion in property and economic activity.
- This study provides the most comprehensive set of flood risk maps across all US coral reef coastlines and the first ever national-scale quantification of flood protection benefits provided by coral reefs.
The degradation of coral reefs raises flood risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to storms.
The coastal protection benefits of coral reefs and other natural defenses are not usually assessed in the same rigorous, economic terms as artificial defenses such as seawalls, and therefore often not considered as an option in hazard management decisions. In this study, we combine engineering, ecologic, social, and economic data and tools to provide a rigorous valuation of the coastal protection benefits of U.S. coral reefs across Hawaii, Florida, Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Coral reefs act like submerged breakwaters by breaking waves and dissipating their energy offshore before they flood coastal properties and communities. This is an enormously valuable function. In 2017, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria alone caused over $265 billion in damage across the nation.
In this report, we demonstrate that coral reefs provide the U.S. with more than $1.8 billion dollars in flood protection benefits every year. They reduce direct flood damages to public and private property worth more than $800 million annually, and help avert other costs to lives and livelihoods worth an additional $1 billion. Coral reefs annually protect $184 million worth of buildings and economic activity in Puerto Rico, $675 million in Florida and $836 million in Hawaii.
These are not ‘back of the envelope’ numbers. Flood risk was assessed using sophisticated hydrodynamic models and more than 60 years of hourly wave data for U.S. coral reef coast lines – a total area of over 3,100 km (>1,900 miles) of shoreline. We developed flood risk maps projecting the extent and depth of flooding that would occur across a range of storms from the more commonly occurring to the catastrophic, with and without the top 1 m of coral reefs. These flood risk maps were combined with the latest information from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to identify people and properties at risk – and benefiting from the presence of coral reefs – in each location.
Rigorously valuing coral reef benefits in this way is a key step toward mobilizing resources to protect them. These maps and values can be used to inform:
- storm response actions & recovery funding
- coral reef conservation areas
- public & private insurance incentives
- benefit : cost analyses for reef restoration
- the consideration of reefs as national infrastructure
Report Summary Pamphlets by Territory | Report Maps by Territory |
American Samoa, Front and Back Florida, Front and Back Guam and the CNMI, Front and Back Hawaiʻi, Front and Back Puerto Rico, Front and Back US Virgin Islands, Front and Back |
American Samoa Florida Guam and the CNMI Hawaiʻi Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands |
Citation: Storlazzi, C.D., Reguero, B.G., Cole, A.D., Lowe, E., Shope, J.B., Gibbs, A.E., Nickel, B.A., McCall, R.T., van Dongeren, A.R., Beck, M.W., 2019, Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1027, doi: 10.3133/ofr20191027
Reference: Reguero, B.G., Storlazzi, C.D., Gibbs, A.E., Shope, J.B., Cole, A.D., Cumming, K.A., and Beck, M.W., 2021, The value of U.S. coral reefs for flood risk reduction: Nature-Sustainability, 2398-9629, doi: 10.1038/s41893-021-00706-6
Watch our video below, to learn more.
Related
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Coral Reef Project
Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Data used to generate the maps of the U.S. states and territories, plus related data releases, are listed below.
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods, with and without coral reefs, for the States of Hawaii and Florida, the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico before and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria due to the storms' damage to the coral reefs
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands for current and potentially restored coral reefs
Model parameter input files to compare locations of coral reef restoration on different reef profiles to reduce coastal flooding
Cross-reef wave and water level data from coral reef environments (ver. 3.0, January 2024)
Database to model three-dimensional flow over coral reef spur-and-groove morphology
Model parameter input files to compare wave-averaged versus wave-resolving XBeach coastal flooding models for coral reef-lined coasts
HyCReWW database: A hybrid coral reef wave and water level metamodel
BEWARE database: A Bayesian-based system to assess wave-driven flooding hazards on coral reef-lined coasts
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards during storms. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision-making.
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards during storms. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision-making.
Rigorously Valuing the Role of American Samoa’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of American Samoa’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Florida’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Florida’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Guam’s Coral Reefs and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Guam’s Coral Reefs and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Hawaiʻi’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Hawaiʻi’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Puerto Rico’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Puerto Rico’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
The pamphlets and maps accompany the U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report shown below. Additional publications on related topics are also listed.
Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction
Rigorously valuing the coastal hazard risks reduction provided by potential coral reef restoration in Florida and Puerto Rico
Rigorously valuing the impact of projected coral reef degradation on coastal hazard risk in Florida
Rigorously valuing the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on coastal hazard risks in Florida and Puerto Rico
Coral reef restorations can be optimized to reduce coastal flooding hazards
The value of US coral reefs for flood risk reduction
Role of future reef growth on morphological response of coral reef islands to sea-level rise
The risk reduction benefits of the Mesoamerican Reef in Mexico
Coastal development and climate change are dramatically increasing the risks of flooding, erosion, and extreme weather events. Coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems act as natural defenses against coastal hazards, but their degradation increases risk to people and property. Environmental degradation, however, has rarely been quantified as a driver of coastal risk. In Quintana Roo, Mexico, a reg
Rigorously valuing the role of coral reefs in coastal protection: An example from Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Related
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Coral Reef Project
Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Data used to generate the maps of the U.S. states and territories, plus related data releases, are listed below.
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods, with and without coral reefs, for the States of Hawaii and Florida, the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico before and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria due to the storms' damage to the coral reefs
Projected flooding extents and depths based on 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year wave-energy return periods for the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands for current and potentially restored coral reefs
Model parameter input files to compare locations of coral reef restoration on different reef profiles to reduce coastal flooding
Cross-reef wave and water level data from coral reef environments (ver. 3.0, January 2024)
Database to model three-dimensional flow over coral reef spur-and-groove morphology
Model parameter input files to compare wave-averaged versus wave-resolving XBeach coastal flooding models for coral reef-lined coasts
HyCReWW database: A hybrid coral reef wave and water level metamodel
BEWARE database: A Bayesian-based system to assess wave-driven flooding hazards on coral reef-lined coasts
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards during storms. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision-making.
The degradation of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, raises risks by increasing the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards during storms. The protective services of these natural defenses are not assessed in the same rigorous economic terms as artificial defenses, such as seawalls, and therefore often are not considered in decision-making.
Rigorously Valuing the Role of American Samoa’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of American Samoa’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Florida’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Florida’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Guam’s Coral Reefs and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Guam’s Coral Reefs and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Hawaiʻi’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Hawaiʻi’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Puerto Rico’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of Puerto Rico’s Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
Rigorously Valuing the Role of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Coral Reefs in Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction
Estimated Annual Benefits
The pamphlets and maps accompany the U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report shown below. Additional publications on related topics are also listed.
Rigorously valuing the role of U.S. coral reefs in coastal hazard risk reduction
Rigorously valuing the coastal hazard risks reduction provided by potential coral reef restoration in Florida and Puerto Rico
Rigorously valuing the impact of projected coral reef degradation on coastal hazard risk in Florida
Rigorously valuing the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on coastal hazard risks in Florida and Puerto Rico
Coral reef restorations can be optimized to reduce coastal flooding hazards
The value of US coral reefs for flood risk reduction
Role of future reef growth on morphological response of coral reef islands to sea-level rise
The risk reduction benefits of the Mesoamerican Reef in Mexico
Coastal development and climate change are dramatically increasing the risks of flooding, erosion, and extreme weather events. Coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems act as natural defenses against coastal hazards, but their degradation increases risk to people and property. Environmental degradation, however, has rarely been quantified as a driver of coastal risk. In Quintana Roo, Mexico, a reg
Rigorously valuing the role of coral reefs in coastal protection: An example from Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Below are news stories associated with this project.