Compound flooding from a combination of heavy rainfall and high lake levels is causing significant damage to Great Lakes communities, with elevated impacts on low-income, minority populations. This project focuses on the coastal communities of Benton Harbor, Michigan, in Berrien County, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These communities are expected to experience compound flooding at increased intensities as a result of climate change. As local officials and experts consider flood mitigation infrastructure implementation, they must factor in a legacy of economic disinvestment, limited municipal resources, and the needs of community members.

This project was developed in partnership with Michigan Sea Grant and aimed to build upon flood modeling efforts by University of Michigan researchers, as well as previous and ongoing flood mitigation efforts in both communities. This project gathered technical, social, and political insights through a literature review, semi-structured interviews, structured meetings with local officials and experts, and on-the-ground community engagement. This project also uses socioeconomic data to support the argument for the prioritization of uniquely vulnerable populations in the planning and implementation processes.

This project presents a series of actionable and site-specific recommendations for flood mitigation that are grounded in local knowledge and emphasize equity. Overall, these recommendations conclude that the flooding resilience best practices are those that consider long-term cost effectiveness, utilize a mix of grey and green infrastructure, and consider existing municipal resources and social demographic conditions.