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Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X)

Tools for Climate Change Adaptation

On this page:

EPA staff have developed tool(s) to help communities anticipate, plan for, and adapt to the changing climate.

Picture of a box filled with tools
  • The most relevant tools based on your search are provided below.
  • To sort tool "Names" alphabetically, click on the arrow icon next to "Name."
  • To sort by "Keyword" click on the arrow icon next to "Area of Interest/Keyword."
  • Use the Search Bar to search explore the Tools section more generally.

You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's About PDF page to learn more.


Air Quality

Name Brief Description Available Training Contact EPA Example
RAINE, Resilience and Adaptation In New England RAINE is a database that catalogs activities in more than 100 New England jurisdictions addressing climate change impacts. The database provides information at the state, local, or regional level. It includes information such as web links, reports, plans, tools, specific practices, funding sources, and partnerships. R1_Raine@epa.gov
(R1_Raine
@epa.gov)
 
GIWiz, Green Infrastructure Wizard GIWiz is an interactive, online information portal that provides communities with quick and easy access to EPA's Green Infrastructure tools and resources. GIWiz Fact Sheet GIWIZ@epa.gov (GIWIZ
@epa.gov)
 
ICLUS, Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios The ICLUS project is developing scenarios broadly consistent with global-scale, peer-reviewed storylines of population growth and economic development, which are used by climate change modelers to develop projections of future climate. User Manual and data sets Britta Bierwagen (Bierwagen.Britta
@epa.gov)

Phil Morefield (Morefield.Philip
@epa.gov)
Land-Use Scenarios: National-Scale Housing-Density Scenarios Consistent with Climate Change Storylines
Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool Environmental Justice Screening (EJSCREEN) is a mapping tool that allows users to create maps and generate detailed reports based on the geographic areas and data sets they choose. EJSCREEN includes data from multiple factors that may affect public and environmental health within a community or region. Currently available only through EPA's Intranet site. EJSCREEN (enviromail_group
@epa.gov)
 
Enhancing Sustainable Communities With Green Infrastructure Guide The Green Infrastructure Guide helps communities plan and design green infrastructure for multiple environmental, health, social, and economic benefits. Smart Growth Webinars, Videos and Podcasts Smart Growth (smartgrowth
@epa.gov)
Green Infrastructure Helping to Transform Neighborhoods in Cleveland and Across the Nation
 

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Water Management

Tools for Water Related Climate Change Adaptation

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Waste Management & Emergency Response

Name Brief Description Available Training Contact EPA Example
RAINE, Resilience and Adaptation In New England RAINE is a database that catalogs activities in more than 100 New England jurisdictions addressing climate change impacts. The database provides information at the state, local, or regional level. It includes information such as web links, reports, plans, tools, specific practices, funding sources, and partnerships. R1_Raine@epa.gov (R1_Raine
@epa.gov)
 
Scenario-Based Projected Changes Map This mapping tool provides easy to access scenarios of projected changes from EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool for annual total precipitation, annual average temperature, precipitation intensity for the 100-year storm, number of days per year with temperatures above 100 F, and sea-level rise for coastal locations.   CRWUhelp@epa.gov (CRWUhelp
@epa.gov)
 
ICLUS, Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios The ICLUS project is developing scenarios broadly consistent with global-scale, peer-reviewed storylines of population growth and economic development, which are used by climate change modelers to develop projections of future climate. User Manual and data sets Britta Bierwagen (Bierwagen.Britta
@epa.gov)

Phil Morefield (Morefield.Philip
@epa.gov)
Land-Use Scenarios: National-Scale Housing-Density Scenarios Consistent with Climate Change Storylines
Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool Environmental Justice Screening (EJSCREEN) is a mapping tool that allows users to create maps and generate detailed reports based on the geographic areas and data sets they choose. EJSCREEN includes data from multiple factors that may affect public and environmental health within a community or region. Currently available only through EPA's Intranet site. EJSCREEN (enviromail_group
@epa.gov)
 
Enhancing Sustainable Communities With Green Infrastructure Guide The Green Infrastructure Guide helps communities plan and design green infrastructure for multiple environmental, health, social, and economic benefits. Smart Growth Webinars, Videos and Podcasts Smart Growth (smartgrowth
@epa.gov)
Green Infrastructure Helping to Transform Neighborhoods in Cleveland and Across the Nation

No Currently Identified Tools

Please view the Waste Section of the Resources Page for appropriate documents and guidebooks on climate adaptation for waste and emergency response.

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Public Health

Name Brief Description Available Training Contact EPA Example
RAINE, Resilience and Adaptation In New England RAINE is a database that catalogs activities in more than 100 New England jurisdictions addressing climate change impacts. The database provides information at the state, local, or regional level. It includes information such as web links, reports, plans, tools, specific practices, funding sources, and partnerships. R1_Raine@epa.gov (R1_Raine
@epa.gov)
 
Scenario-Based Projected Changes Map This mapping tool provides easy to access scenarios of projected changes from EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool for annual total precipitation, annual average temperature, precipitation intensity for the 100-year storm, number of days per year with temperatures above 100 F, and sea-level rise for coastal locations.   CRWUhelp@epa.gov (CRWUhelp
@epa.gov)
 
ICLUS, Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios The ICLUS project is developing scenarios broadly consistent with global-scale, peer-reviewed storylines of population growth and economic development, which are used by climate change modelers to develop projections of future climate. User Manual and data sets Britta Bierwagen (Bierwagen.Britta
@epa.gov)

Phil Morefield (Morefield.Philip
@epa.gov)
Land-Use Scenarios: National-Scale Housing-Density Scenarios Consistent with Climate Change Storylines
Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool Environmental Justice Screening (EJSCREEN) is a mapping tool that allows users to create maps and generate detailed reports based on the geographic areas and data sets they choose. EJSCREEN includes data from multiple factors that may affect public and environmental health within a community or region. Currently available only through EPA's Intranet site. EJSCREEN (enviromail_group
@epa.gov)
 
Enhancing Sustainable Communities With Green Infrastructure Guide The Green Infrastructure Guide helps communities plan and design green infrastructure for multiple environmental, health, social, and economic benefits. Smart Growth Webinars, Videos and Podcasts Smart Growth (smartgrowth
@epa.gov)
Green Infrastructure Helping to Transform Neighborhoods in Cleveland and Across the Nation

No Other Currently Identified Tools

Please view the Public Health Section of the Resources Page for appropriate documents and guidebooks on public health climate adaptation.

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Adaptation Planning

Name Brief Description Available Training Contact EPA Example
RAINE, Resilience and Adaptation In New England RAINE is a database that catalogs activities in more than 100 New England jurisdictions addressing climate change impacts. The database provides information at the state, local, or regional level. It includes information such as web links, reports, plans, tools, specific practices, funding sources, and partnerships. R1_Raine@epa.gov (R1_Raine
@epa.gov)
 
GIWiz, Green Infrastructure Wizard GIWiz is an interactive, online information portal that provides communities with quick and easy access to EPA's Green Infrastructure tools and resources. GIWiz Fact Sheet GIWIZ@epa.gov (GIWIZ
@epa.gov)
 
Scenario-Based Projected Changes Map This mapping tool provides easy to access scenarios of projected changes from EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool for annual total precipitation, annual average temperature, precipitation intensity for the 100-year storm, number of days per year with temperatures above 100 F, and sea-level rise for coastal locations.   CRWUhelp@epa.gov (CRWUhelp
@epa.gov)
 
Storm Surge Inundation and Hurricane Strike Frequency Map This mapping tool illustrates current worst-case coastal storm surge or inundation scenarios and hurricane strike frequency derived from Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurricanes (SLOSH) models by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 100 and 500 year flood plains from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and hurricane strike dataset from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). CRWUhelp@epa.gov (CRWUhelp
@epa.gov)
 
Stormwater Calculator with Climate Assessment Tool Desktop application that estimates the annual amount of rainwater and frequency of runoff from a specific site anywhere in the United States. The calculator includes future climate vulnerability scenarios. SWC@epa.gov (SWC
@epa.gov)
Mount Rainier Green Infrastructure Master Plan (PDF)(85 pp, 10.8 MB) Exit
CREAT, Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool A software tool to assist drinking water and wastewater utility owners and operators in understanding potential climate change threats and in assessing the related risks at their individual utilities. CRWUhelp@epa.gov (CRWUhelp
@epa.gov)
 
Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) Workbook for Developing Risk-Based Adaptation Plans. The workbook provides guidance for conducting risk-based climate change vulnerability assessments and developing adaptation action plans.  CREhelp@epa.gov (CREhelp
@epa.gov)
Climate Change Risk Management: The San Juan Bay Estuary
ICLUS, Integrated Climate and Land Use Scenarios The ICLUS project is developing scenarios broadly consistent with global-scale, peer-reviewed storylines of population growth and economic development, which are used by climate change modelers to develop projections of future climate. User Manual and data sets Britta Bierwagen (Bierwagen.Britta
@epa.gov)

Phil Morefield (Morefield.Philip
@epa.gov)
Land-Use Scenarios: National-Scale Housing-Density Scenarios Consistent with Climate Change Storylines
BASINS, Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources BASINS is a multipurpose environmental analysis system designed to help regional, state, and local agencies perform watershed- and water quality-based studies. basins
@epa.gov
BASINS Case Study
Climate Change Handbook for Regional Water PlanningExit  The Handbook provides a framework for considering climate change in water management planning. The handbook guides resource managers and planners with key decision considerations, resources, tools, and decision options to adapt to a changing climate. Vulnerability Assessment Checklist (PDF)(6 pp, 424 K)

Suzanne Marr (Marr.Suzanne
@epa.gov)

 
Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool Environmental Justice Screening (EJSCREEN) is a mapping tool that allows users to create maps and generate detailed reports based on the geographic areas and data sets they choose. EJSCREEN includes data from multiple factors that may affect public and environmental health within a community or region. Currently available only through EPA's Intranet site. EJSCREEN (enviromail_group
@epa.gov)
 
Enhancing Sustainable Communities With Green Infrastructure Guide The Green Infrastructure Guide helps communities plan and design green infrastructure for multiple environmental, health, social, and economic benefits. Smart Growth Webinars, Videos and Podcasts Smart Growth (smartgrowth
@epa.gov)
Green Infrastructure Helping to Transform Neighborhoods in Cleveland and Across the Nation
Flood Resilience Checklist The Flood Resilience Checklist is an assessment tool for communities to use to identify opportunities to improve their resilience to future floods through policy and regulatory tools. The tool is currently available online with an expanded version of the tool in development. Stephanie Bertaina (Bertaina.Stephanie
@epa.gov)
Planning for Flood Recovery and Long-Term Resilience in Vermont
Storm Water Management Model with Climate Adjustment Tool - SWMM-CAT A comprehensive computer model for analysis of quantity and quality problems associated with urban runoff. SWMM-CAT Users Guide (PDF)(17 pp, 807 K) Michael Tryby (Tryby.Michael
@epa.gov)
 
Watershed Index Online (WSIO) The WSIO Tool is an application that enables users to compare watersheds in a user-defined geographic area, using factors of their own choosing. It calculates indices, compares watersheds, and produces results in rank-ordered tables, graphs and maps. Most national datasets require knowledge of advanced GIS skills and software. WSIO transforms these data into simple watershed indicators, and then makes them accessible in a common spreadsheet application (Excel). Quick Start Users Guide. This file contains the basic steps to get started, and is recommended for download along with your WSIO customized tool. Elizabeth Smith
(smith.elizabeth@epa.gov)
 
Collaborative Guide: A Reef Manager's Guide to Coral Bleaching The Collaborative Guide: A Reef Manager's Guide to Coral Bleaching provides coral reef managers with the latest scientific information on the causes of coral bleaching and new management strategies for responding to this significant threat to coral reef ecosystems.   Jordan M. West (West.Jordan
@epa.gov)
 
Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPPCAT) Model An online tool for assessing and managing the potential impacts of climate change on sediment loading to streams using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model.   Thomas Johnson (Johnson.Thomas
@epa.gov)
 
 

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