2018-2019 Eastern Shore

Communities were selected on the basis of several criteria, including a willingness to participate, demographic diversity, diversity in municipality type, density, size, varying stages in comprehensive planning, and physical vulnerability to coastal flooding. 

'18-'19 Communities

Accomack County
Accomack County
Northampton County
Northampton County
Saxis
Saxis
Chincoteague
Chincoteague
Tangier
Tangier
Onancock
Onancock
Wachapreague
Wachapreague

Chincoteague

The Town of Chincoteague rests on an island off the northeast coast of Accomack County. Chincoteague is located on an ancient barrier island formed around 4,000 years ago parallel to Virginia’s Eastern Shore and is surrounded by Chincoteague Bay and Assateague Island. Given its location, Chincoteague protects significant parts of Accomack County from seaside coastal erosion. Of Chincoteague’s total area of 37.3 square miles, only 9.1 square miles is land with the remaining 28.2 square miles tidal marsh and waters.

According to the 2016 American Communities Survey 5-Year Estimates, Chincoteague has a population of 2,919. The median age in the county is 53.5, which is 15.8 years higher than the national median age.

According to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016, Chincoteague is primarily vulnerable to coastal flooding from large storms, such as hurricanes and northeasters. A FEMA Flood Risk Report indicates that almost the entire town is in the 100-year floodplain. In fact, a large part of Chincoteague Island in the north is uninhabited but serves an important role in draining storm water.

Chincoteague has begun to create a storm water Master Plan to mitigate storm water flooding vulnerability. The town implemented Phase 1 of the plan in 2011 and is currently working on Phase 2.

Scorecard and Resilience Action Checklist:

Chincoteague's Scorecard

Chincoteague's Resilience Action Checklist

Maps:

Chincoteague Critical Infrastructure Maps- 2030, 2040, and 2065 Conditions

Chincoteague Opportunities for Mitigating Flooding Map

Chincoteague Potential Inundation Map

Chincoteague Sea Level Rise 1-3 ft Parcel Map

Chincoteague Sea Level Rise 1-3 ft Satellite Map

Other Resources:

Beach Relocation Economics Report

Chincoteague Emergency Information Magnet

Photo courtesy of Patrick J. Hendrickson/Highcamera.com

This website, Task # 92.03 was funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant # NA17NOS4190152 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The views expressed
herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, or any of its subagencies.

This project is currently a partnership between the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation at the University of Virginia, the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience at Old Dominion University, and the Center for Coastal Studies at Virginia Tech. The former Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the William & Mary Law School participated in this partnership from 2015 until June 2023.

 

ODU Logo