Governance Capacity and Community Adaptation to Coastal Hazards: An Ethnographic Analysis

• Kayla Wilen, Landscape Horticulture and Design, University of Delaware

• Jerri Husch, Cooperative Extension, University of Delaware

This ethnographic research project examines community capacity to plan for and adapt to coastal hazards, with particular attention to saltwater intrusion, flooding, and groundwater contamination in small coastal municipalities participating in the RISCC (Risk, Impacts, and Strategies for Coastal Communities) project. Using qualitative and documentary methods, the study investigates how governance structures, institutional capacity, and local decision-making influence the implementation of climate adaptation strategies.

Data collection integrates three complementary sources: a repository of public records, including Little Creek, Delaware Town Council meetings (April 2024–May 2026) and Lewes, Delaware public proceedings (June 2025 – May 2026); stakeholder engagement and listening session materials; and field observations collected across partner communities in Delaware, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. Repository entries were systematically coded by place, time, actors, topics, actions, artifacts, and analytical triangulation to enable cross-site comparison.

Preliminary findings reveal a consistent pattern across multiple data sources. While communities often have access to scientific information, technical studies, and external funding related to coastal resilience, their ability to translate these resources into sustained adaptation actions is constrained by governance capacity. Little Creek, for example, has advanced externally managed flood studies and well-testing initiatives but has struggled to implement long-term planning because of limited staffing, vacant leadership positions, and financial constraints. Comparisons with Lewes, Delaware suggest that municipal staffing and institutional capacity, rather than technical sophistication alone, are critical determinants of progress in adaptation.

These findings identify a “governance capacity paradox,” in which the availability of technical knowledge exceeds communities’ capacity to implement it. The project contributes an ethnographic perspective to climate adaptation research by documenting the everyday realities of local governance that shape resilience outcomes. Results will inform future listening sessions, decision-support tool development, and policy recommendations designed to strengthen community capacity for responding to saltwater intrusion and other coastal climate challenges.