psds.wcu.eduProgram for the Study of Developed Shorelines |

PSDS Staff Orrin Pilkey, Director Emeritus Robert S. Young, Director Andrew S. Coburn, Associate Director Katie M. Peek, Coastal Research Scientist Blair Tormey, Coastal Research Scientist Holli Thompson, Program Manager PSDS Fellows PSDS Students PSDS Alums Kathryn Allen, Research Assistant Support News Recent News and Media Archived News News Blog Projects & Research National Park Service Asset Vulnerability Protocol Climate Change VA Review Yellowstone Vulnerability SLR Exposure Coastal Engineering Inventory Beach Nourishment Ground Penetrating Radar Municipal Projects Duck NC Vulnerability North Topsail Shoreline Management Horry County Flood Mapping Rodanthe Buyout Study Past Projects Hurricane Sandy Rivercane Studies SC Sea Level Rise Publications Recent Archived Select Page Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines Science. Policy. Education. Outreach. Coastal. The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) at Western Carolina University takes a worldwide view of modern coastal processes and geologic hazards, examines the scientific basis for managing developed shorelines in a time of rising sea level and advocates for the development and implementation of responsible strategies, plans, policies and actions that promote the long-term sustainability of our nation’s coastal ecosystems. Learn More In the Spotlight Rodanthe Buyout Study Read our recent white paper on The Potential Cost/Benefits of Buyouts in Rodanthe, North Carolina! Click Here Peek Driving Force Behind Cooperative Effort with NPS Coastal Scientist Katie Peek featured for her work helping to develop protocol for assessing the vulnerability of coastal hazards and sea level rises at National Parks. Read More Rebuilt Beach Nourishment Database Our rebuilt and revised Beach Renourishment database page is active! Learn more about renourishment projects on US coastlines. See More Rob Young at CivicCon in Pensacola During a CivicCon presentation at The REX Theatre, Young talked about some of the problems caused by climate change and the problems with the economic approaches the U.S is using to address it. If you want to make a difference about some of the (environmental) issues that we’re talking about tonight,” said Young, keep in mind that you’ve got to make it real for people.” See More Hallowed Ground What we do know is each grave represents someone who lived and who died before the Civil War. Someone who had an occupation, someone who drank from the spring, someone who looked up at the stars.” Click Here NPR Weekend Edition Is Rebuilding Storm-Struck Coastlines Worth The Cost? Featuring Director Rob Young Click to Hear Story! News & Media Facebook Coastal Hazards & SLR Vulnerability Assessment Protocol Our protocol, published in 2022, evaluates the vulnerability of NPS buildings and transportation assets to sea-level rise, flooding, and shoreline change. Click to Learn More Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments in the NPS An integrated review for infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources (2022) Click Here to Read PSDS Image Bank The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines maintains a collection of images associated with out work. We make these images available to interested parties, but are in the process of rebuilding our library and improving access. In the meantime, if you have a specific need, please reach out to us by email. Coming Soon Marine Vulnerability Assessment of Cumberland Island National Seashore The goal of this project was to develop a methodology framework for assessing the vulnerability of NPS-managed marine habitats, beginning with a pilot project at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Click to Learn More SLR Report on Coastal National Parks This project focused on identifying NPS assets that may be threatened by a future 1 m rise in sea level within 40 coastal units. Click to Learn More! News Blog from PSDS Study says buyout of threatened Outer Banks homes would be cheaper than beach nourishment Jul 19, 2023 | All stories , Coastal News , North Carolina Coastal News read more Op-Ed: In Florida, seawalls are not the answer May 30, 2023 | All stories , Beach Management , Coastal News , Florida Coastal News read more Maldevelopment, moral hazard, federal aid, and climate change adaptation on Dauphin Island Dec 30, 2022 | Alabama Coastal News , Beach Management , Coastal News , Policy , Reports read more Leaking sewage a threat to SC coast Dec 12, 2022 | Beach Management , Coastal News , Policy , South Carolina Coastal News read more Florida beaches were already running low on sand. Then Ian and Nicole hit. Dec 12, 2022 | Beach Management , Coastal News , Florida Coastal News , Hurricanes and storms , Ian, 2022 , Nicole, 2022 , Policy read more Climate change and the Gullah-Geechee Corridor Dec 12, 2022 | All stories , Coastal News , North Carolina Coastal News , Places , Policy , South Carolina Coastal News read more All Posts Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines Old Student Union Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723 Facebook Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by...