Building Resilience: Climate Readiness for Military Installations
Brandon Alderman
AECOM
Roanoke, VA
Authors: Brandon Alderman and Melissa Hess PE, CFM, ENV SP
Much like the rest of the United States, climate change is already heavily impacting the U.S. military with increased precipitation, storm severity, rising sea levels, and temperatures. These trends heighten risks and pressure on infrastructure systems and services essential for supporting military missions and surrounding communities. AECOM assisted the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) in completing a Military Installation Resiliency Review (MIRR), funded by the Office of Defense Community Cooperation. This project involved Fort Belvoir, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, and the host counties of Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, and Arlington.
Military installations depend on neighboring municipalities for external services, highlighting the need for coordinated planning across jurisdictions. Understanding installation exposure to climate hazards is crucial, as climate impacts do not stop at the fenceline.
One project that came from this MIRR was the Little Creek Watershed study in Prince William County, adjacent to MCB Quantico. Increased growth, precipitation, and storm events are already affecting this area, with projections indicating worsening conditions. This presentation will share results from a collaborative watershed analysis and evaluation of existing conditions, future conditions and flooding issues from Little Creek to U.S. Route 1, a key access route to MCB Quantico.
We will discuss concepts and design solutions for addressing flooding and stormwater runoff issues, including retrofitting existing facilities and implementing natural infrastructure solutions. The presentation aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and collaborative strategies necessary for enhancing the resilience of military installations and communities in the face of climate change.
About Brandon Alderman
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