The South Atlantic region is generally a low-lying area composed of dynamic coastal features such as estuaries and lagoons, barrier islands and capes, tidal inlets, and delta plains. Sea grasses are common in the northern parts of the region, while intertidal salt marshes reach their greatest extent and productivity in South Carolina and Georgia. The southernmost parts of the region are dominated by coral reefs and their associated ecosystems.
Since 1990, the five-state South Atlantic region has grown more rapidly than any of the four regions. Its population has grown by almost 40 percent and its economy, measured in GDP, has doubled. In 2007, the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida4 were home to almost 50 million people, accounting for 1.4 million business establishments that employed 21 million workers.
One-fourth the population and almost one-third of the business establishments, employment, wages, and GDP are concentrated in the region’s shore-adjacent counties. Since 1990, the densely developed shore-adjacent counties continued to grow at a pace almost equal to that of the five-state region as a whole. This resulted in population and housing densities second only to those of the North Atlantic region. A selection of economic and demographic details from the region is displayed in Table 3.
Population growth has obvious implications for changes in land use, with increased demand for basics such as water supply and wastewater disposal. Along with ever-expanding tourism, this growth has accelerated economic investment within the region but it has also placed enormous pressure on coastal resources, watersheds, and the adjacent coastal ocean (Heinz Center, 2000).
Table 3. Population, Establishments, Employment, Wages, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Coastal Watershed Counties and Shore-Adjacent Counties as Percentages of Regional Total for the South Atlantic Region
States
|
1990
|
2000
|
2007
|
Population
|
35,724,175
|
43,308,671
|
48,976,825
|
Population per square mile
|
155.2
|
188.1
|
212.7
|
Housing
|
15,477,362
|
18,766,490
|
22,101,508
|
Housing per square mile
|
67.2
|
81.5
|
96.0
|
Land area (square miles)
|
230,247.4
|
230,247.4
|
230,247.4
|
Establishments (1,000s)
|
837.0
|
1,135.8
|
1,380.0
|
Employment (1,000s)
|
15,408.2
|
19,453.1
|
21,072.4
|
Wages ($1 billion, 2000)
|
$400.0
|
$618.7
|
$710.0
|
GDP ($1 billion, 2000)
|
$864.7
|
$1,408.5
|
$1,725.7
|
|
|
|
|
Shore-Adjacent Counties
|
1990
|
2000
|
2007
|
Population
|
9,462,375
|
11,245,290
|
12,401,469
|
Population per square mile
|
305.6
|
363.2
|
400.6
|
Housing
|
4,288,507
|
5,003,302
|
5,809,239
|
Housing per square mile
|
138.5
|
161.6
|
187.6
|
Land area (square miles)
|
30,959.9
|
30,959.9
|
30,959.9
|
Establishments (1,000s)
|
246.4
|
324.4
|
404.6
|
Employment (1,000s)
|
4,147.1
|
4,950.1
|
5,477.8
|
Wages ($1 billion, 2000)
|
$112.3
|
$159.3
|
$190.6
|
GDP ($1 billion, 2000)
|
$250.7
|
$375.6
|
$479.5
|
Source: The National Ocean Economics Program. Shore-adjacent counties are defined as those counties “touched in whole or in part by a state’s coastal zone for purposes of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 as defined by that state and which are adjacent to an ocean, Great Lake, or included river or bay.” This is the definition used by the National Ocean Economics Program (see http://www.oceaneconomics.org/Demographics/coastal_geographies.asp).
R elevant literature found
Most literature specific to the South Atlantic focused on the reduction in property values and changes in land use driven by shoreline change. One aspect that has been well documented in regional reports as well as in peer-reviewed literature is the effect of shoreline change on the tourism and recreation industries and the communities that depend upon these industries (Buzinde, Manuel-Navarrete, Yoo, & Morais, 2010; Phillips & Jones, 2006). These studies have focused on the major economic impacts on income and employment levels in local communities due to the loss of iconic beaches, for example Sand Key, Florida.
The South Atlantic region is very diverse in terms of both physical and social risk and vulnerability. Place-specific shoreline change impacts have been shown to vary depending upon the location and changing social fabric of the area, with the southernmost states in the region being the most socially vulnerable (Boruff, Emrich, & Cutter, 2005; Cutter, Boruff, & Shirley, 2003). This, coupled with hazards such as hurricanes and coastal storms, can severely disrupt the social resilience of existing communities in the region (Laporte et al., 2010). These facts have major implications for management and the prioritization of mitigation action, with studies suggesting that the most socially vulnerable areas should be given precedence during planning efforts (FDEP, 2009).
As with the North Atlantic region, the major socio-economic impact of shoreline change highlighted in this region is the impact on property value and recreational access as a result of erosion. The prevalent management approach in the region has been beach nourishment; the costs of maintaining these projects are featured heavily in the literature (Kriesel, Keeler, & Landry, 2004; Rinehart & Pompe, 1995).
Studies in this region have shown that beach nourishment increases property values for both waterfront properties and non-waterfront properties a few rows inland (Kriesel & Friedman, 2002; Yohe, Neumann, Marshall, & Ameden, 1996). These studies suggest that the total benefits to the community may be substantially greater than estimated when only waterfront properties are assessed. In contrast, the same studies have demonstrated that shoreline stabilization in the form of hard structures appears to lower property values a few rows inland. Therefore, although it is beneficial for each individual waterfront property owner to stabilize the shoreline, this can result in conflict across communities as property values in general are affected by the actions taken by individuals.
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