Rising groundwater adds to coastal hazards

Coastal hazards are caused by a complex mix of environmental conditions. Climate change causes sea level rise, which causes hazards like coastal erosion and inundation as well as rising groundwater behind the dunes.

The new coastal hazards assessment we commissioned from Jacobs starts our adaptation conversation by focusing on the two main issues recommended in central government guidance – coastal erosion and coastal inundation (flooding by the sea). This is as good a place as any to begin but look out for our updated flood hazard maps which will incorporate groundwater data and are due out later this year. We’ll add this information to the mix, along with social impact and economic and cultural values information, when we start planning how we adapt to a changing coastline.

Read about the coastal hazards report at kapiticoast.govt.nz/coastal-science