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How to Leverage Case Studies

Use

• Co-benefit research approach.

How?

• Expand research scope to include case studies with different theme/climate adaptation goals.

Why?

• Transferable Strategies. Case studies in unrelated sectors often reveal adaptable processes.
• Systemic Risk Reduction. Rarely an isolated issue-usually interacts with multiple sectors. Case studies addressing these root causes offer systemic solutions.
• Indirect Impacts. Many case studies targeting other climate adaptation goals (e.g. urban heat reduction, flood resilience) may inadvertently address your problem.
• Avoiding Unintended Consequences. Case studies highlighting trade-offs (e.g. coastal sand nourishment impacting ecosystems) underscore the need to evaluate how smoke mitigation measures might affect other sectors.
• Involve Marginalized Communities. Case Studies that focus on harm reduction for marginalized communities may be limited. Utilizing an indirect approach to expand your research scope can help fill knowledge gaps and find crucial context about how to design equitable interventions.

EXAMPLE: WILDFIRE SMOKE & POLLUTION

• Transferable Strategies. Stakeholder engagement frameworks from flood management or public health projects (e.g., participatory mapping, community engagement strategies, finding vulnerable populations) can be repurposed for smoke pollution planning.
• Systemic Risk Reduction. Vehicle emissions testing reduced air pollution by targeting transport sector emissions, a strategy applicable to smoke from diesel engines.
• Indirect Impacts. Exploring alternative mitigation strategies for issues like urban heat island (e.g., expanding green spaces) or flood resilience (e.g., installing green roofs) can introduce interdisciplinary solutions–such as the filtration of particulate matter from wildfire smoke.
• Avoiding Unintended Consequences. Research shows that prescribed burns actively reduce wildfire prevalence, which in turn helps mitigate smoke pollution. However, prescribed burns themselves produce smoke which affects the surrounding environment, making the decision-making process more complex.
• Involve Marginalized Communities. Case studies with census data on hospital visits, public health, and urban development trend can help contextualize the impacts of wildfire smoke on BIPOC communities.

Example Case Studies

Marine & Coastal Changes

Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has restored thousands of acres of riparian and wetland habitat in the Lower Yakima Valley to support fish populations and cultural traditions. Projects like the Lower Toppenish Creek Fish Passage Restoration reconnect floodplains, enhance water flow, and remove migration barriers. These efforts, supported by the EPA Tribal Wetlands Guide, combine ecological restoration with tribal sovereignty and long-term environmental planning.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization

Link to case study

Natural Restoration and Cultural Knowledge of the Yakama Nation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has led a decades-long, landscape-scale restoration effort in the Lower Yakima Valley to restore fish habitat, reconnect floodplains, and revitalize cultural resources. Since the 1990s, they have restored over 1,400 acres of wetlands and 25 miles of side-channel habitat using engineered and ecological methods. These efforts support key species and traditional food harvesting, showcasing how tribal-led recovery blends cultural stewardship with technical expertise.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

Powel Shoreline Restoration Project

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

The Powel Shoreline Restoration Project in Port Madison Bay (Bainbridge Island, WA) was the largest private-property shoreline restoration in Puget Sound. Completed in 2015, the project now serves as a model for how private landowners can balance residential use with ecosystem restoration.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, State Agency, Federal Agency

Link to case study

Successful Shorelines Require a Sea Change

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

Together, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s work and the Pines on the Severn project showcase how living shorelines can serve as both resilient infrastructure and powerful tools for shifting public perception.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

Island County Sea Level Rise Strategy Study

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

Island County’s Sea Level Rise Strategy Study aids shoreline resilience by identifying local risks and providing phased adaptation options for residential areas like beaches, canals, and bluffs. It offers best practices and a five-step planning framework to help communities assess vulnerabilities and develop adaptive, locally driven responses over time.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Scientific Organization, Community Organization

Link to case study

Wildfire & Smoke

San Diego Gas & Electric Wildfire Strategy

Topic: Wildfire & Smoke

In response to the devastating 2007 wildfires that burned nearly 200,000 acres and were partially attributed to its power lines, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) invested heavily in wildfire risk reduction. The initiative not only improves public safety and climate resilience but also reduces financial losses and service disruptions—demonstrating how learning from past failures, partnering with experts, and investing in preparedness can strengthen both communities and business outcomes.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: Federal Agency, Utilities Company, City Government

Link to case study

The People and the Fire Tree: Co-Designing a Bushfire Early Warning System to Meet the Sustainable D

Topic: Wildfire & Smoke, Flooding

In rural Victoria, Australia, residents co-designed Bushwire, a web-based bushfire early-warning system that combines local knowledge with official data. Developed through participatory workshops, the platform allows users to share weather, fire risks, and safety updates while reinforcing social bonds and ecosystem awareness. Bushwire strengthens community resilience by empowering citizens and supporting collective preparedness.
Location Type: Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

How are we Safer Together?

Topic: Wildfire & Smoke

Victoria, Australia’s Safer Together program is a multi-agency initiative that was launched in 2016 to reduce bushfire risk through community partnerships, behavioural science, and coordinated land management. Agencies co-designed planning tools and local engagement strategies, such as risk-personalized outreach and more accessible bushfire planning sessions.
Location Type: Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

Extreme Heat

Geothermal Heat Pump Case Study: Seattle Public Schools

Topic: Extreme Heat

Seattle Public Schools has become a leader in sustainable design by replacing gas boilers with geothermal heat pump systems in all new and modernized buildings. This transition, which began in 2006, has cut energy use by up to 77% and nearly eliminated operational emissions thanks to Seattle’s mostly renewable electric grid.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, Utilities Company, State Agency

Link to case study

Paris Oasis Schoolyard Program, France

Topic: Extreme Heat

Launched in Paris in 2018, the OASIS Schoolyard Programme transforms paved schoolyards into green, shaded spaces that reduce urban heat, support biodiversity, and manage rainwater. Co-designed with students and community members, these “cool islands” enhance climate resilience and social equity. Paris plans to convert all 770 schoolyards by 2040 as part of its broader climate adaptation strategy.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: Federal Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

Adapting Paris: Climate Resilience Strategies in the Face of Rising Temperatures

Topic: Extreme Heat

Paris is addressing intensifying heat waves by creating “cool islands” in public spaces using trees, water features, and permeable materials to lower temperatures by 2–4 °C. This strategy includes transforming schoolyards, parks, and roads as part of a broader resilience plan focused on green infrastructure and reflective surfaces. The goal is to reduce heat exposure while ensuring equitable access to cooling for vulnerable communities.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

Chicago, IL Uses Green Infrastructure to Reduce Extreme Heat

Topic: Extreme Heat, Flooding

Chicago has launched a citywide initiative to combat extreme heat and stormwater impacts by expanding green roofs, planting street trees, and installing permeable surfaces to cool neighborhoods and manage runoff in urban “hot spots”. Together, these actions reduce local temperatures and improve the city’s resilience to both heat and heavy rainfall.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

Quantifying & Visualizing Urban Heat in Portland through Community Depaving

Topic: Extreme Heat

A NASA DEVELOP team partnered with Depave in Portland to map urban heat and identify vulnerable neighborhoods using satellite imagery and a custom heat-focused Social Vulnerability Index. Their analysis showed that community-led depaving projects reduced land surface temperatures—by up to 7.7 °F in some cases—while addressing climate and equity issues.
Location Type: Urban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

Drought & Water Supply

Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has restored thousands of acres of riparian and wetland habitat in the Lower Yakima Valley to support fish populations and cultural traditions. Projects like the Lower Toppenish Creek Fish Passage Restoration reconnect floodplains, enhance water flow, and remove migration barriers. These efforts, supported by the EPA Tribal Wetlands Guide, combine ecological restoration with tribal sovereignty and long-term environmental planning.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization

Link to case study

Natural Restoration and Cultural Knowledge of the Yakama Nation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has led a decades-long, landscape-scale restoration effort in the Lower Yakima Valley to restore fish habitat, reconnect floodplains, and revitalize cultural resources. Since the 1990s, they have restored over 1,400 acres of wetlands and 25 miles of side-channel habitat using engineered and ecological methods. These efforts support key species and traditional food harvesting, showcasing how tribal-led recovery blends cultural stewardship with technical expertise.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

San Francisco – Drought Resilience Matrix

Topic: Drought & Water Supply

The 2024 study introduces the Drought Resilience Matrix, a tool for evaluating how well water supply options can withstand drought across planning, stress absorption, adaptation, and recovery. By including social and political factors alongside technical ones, the tool helps planners weigh trade-offs in cost, reliability, and equity when designing drought-resilient systems.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, Utilities Company, State Agency

Link to case study

Flooding

Using Indigenous Science to Protect Wetlands: The Swinomish Tribe’s Wetland Cultural Assessment

Topic: Flooding, Other

The Swinomish Tribe’s Wetlands Cultural Assessment Project created a scoring tool that integrates Indigenous knowledge with standard wetland assessments to guide protections. This combined cultural and ecological scoring informs tribal policies and is intended to evolve with community knowledge.
Location: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal government/organization

Link to case study

Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has restored thousands of acres of riparian and wetland habitat in the Lower Yakima Valley to support fish populations and cultural traditions. Projects like the Lower Toppenish Creek Fish Passage Restoration reconnect floodplains, enhance water flow, and remove migration barriers. These efforts, supported by the EPA Tribal Wetlands Guide, combine ecological restoration with tribal sovereignty and long-term environmental planning.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization

Link to case study

Natural Restoration and Cultural Knowledge of the Yakama Nation

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Drought & Water Supply, Flooding

The Yakama Nation has led a decades-long, landscape-scale restoration effort in the Lower Yakima Valley to restore fish habitat, reconnect floodplains, and revitalize cultural resources. Since the 1990s, they have restored over 1,400 acres of wetlands and 25 miles of side-channel habitat using engineered and ecological methods. These efforts support key species and traditional food harvesting, showcasing how tribal-led recovery blends cultural stewardship with technical expertise.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

Powel Shoreline Restoration Project

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

The Powel Shoreline Restoration Project in Port Madison Bay (Bainbridge Island, WA) was the largest private-property shoreline restoration in Puget Sound. Completed in 2015, the project now serves as a model for how private landowners can balance residential use with ecosystem restoration.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization, State Agency, Federal Agency

Link to case study

Successful Shorelines Require a Sea Change

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

Together, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s work and the Pines on the Severn project showcase how living shorelines can serve as both resilient infrastructure and powerful tools for shifting public perception.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

Island County Sea Level Rise Strategy Study

Topic: Marine & Coastal Changes, Flooding

Island County’s Sea Level Rise Strategy Study aids shoreline resilience by identifying local risks and providing phased adaptation options for residential areas like beaches, canals, and bluffs. It offers best practices and a five-step planning framework to help communities assess vulnerabilities and develop adaptive, locally driven responses over time.
Location Type: Suburban, Urban, Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Scientific Organization, Community Organization

Link to case study

Chicago, IL Uses Green Infrastructure to Reduce Extreme Heat

Topic: Extreme Heat, Flooding

Chicago has launched a citywide initiative to combat extreme heat and stormwater impacts by expanding green roofs, planting street trees, and installing permeable surfaces to cool neighborhoods and manage runoff in urban “hot spots”. Together, these actions reduce local temperatures and improve the city’s resilience to both heat and heavy rainfall.
Location Type: Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

The People and the Fire Tree: Co-Designing a Bushfire Early Warning System to Meet the Sustainable D

Topic: Wildfire & Smoke, Flooding

In rural Victoria, Australia, residents co-designed Bushwire, a web-based bushfire early-warning system that combines local knowledge with official data. Developed through participatory workshops, the platform allows users to share weather, fire risks, and safety updates while reinforcing social bonds and ecosystem awareness. Bushwire strengthens community resilience by empowering citizens and supporting collective preparedness.
Location Type: Rural
Project partner/facilitator type: State Agency, City government, Community Organization

Link to case study

OTHER

Using Indigenous Science to Protect Wetlands: The Swinomish Tribe’s Wetland Cultural Assessment

Topic: Flooding, Other

The Swinomish Tribe’s Wetlands Cultural Assessment Project created a scoring tool that integrates Indigenous knowledge with standard wetland assessments to guide protections. This combined cultural and ecological scoring informs tribal policies and is intended to evolve with community knowledge.
Location: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal government/organization

Link to case study

Practicing Pikyav: Policy for Collaborative Projects and Research Initiatives with the Karuk Tribe

Topic: Other

“Pikyav,” meaning “to repair,” is the guiding ethos of the Karuk Tribe's Practicing Pikyav policy, which governs all collaborative research and projects affecting Karuk culture, lands, or knowledge. Developed with UC Berkeley, Indigenous organizations, and international frameworks, this policy ensures respectful partnership through free, prior, and informed consent, protection of cultural and intellectual property, and clear protocols for confidentiality, data sharing, and publication.
Location Type: Tribal
Project partner/facilitator type: Tribal Government/Organization, Scientific Organization

Link to case study

Risks & Regulation of Invasive Plants in a Changing Climate

Topic: Other

The NW RISCC webinar highlights how climate change is reshaping invasive plant risks and prompting regulatory adaptation in the Pacific Northwest. This includes updating species lists, refining risk tools, and improving coordination across agencies to act before new invasives become widespread.
Location: Tribal, Rural, Urban, Suburban
Project partner/facilitator type: State Organization, Federal government/agency

Link to case study

More information about the case study examples

Additional Case Study Repositories