Managed retreat by integrating public perception for urban coastal communities

As sea level continues to rise, strategies for managed retreat of development areimperative. This paper investigates two aspects of the human dimension, perception andattitudes, into a conceptual managed retreat scheme for urban communities vulnerable toinundation from adjacent coastal tidal marshes. The site includes Baylands Nature Preservelocated in Palo Alto, CA. A survey was conducted to understand how users perceive and feeltowards Baylands Nature Preserve, including their attitudes about salt marshes, concerns about climate change, and their preferences for climate adaptation strategies. The conceptual design proposal is dependent on whether or not respondents favored managed retreat for the study site. Since survey findings show a majority of respondents indicated support for managed retreat, the managed retreat scheme continued to support current user needs and values.