Coastal Leadership Academy

Wisconsin Coastal Resilience > Coastal Leadership Academy

Wisconsin Coastal Leadership Academy

The Wisconsin Coastal Leadership Academy (CLA) is an in-person workshop on Great Lakes coastal resilience for local decision makers. The CLA will provide practical training and resources to promote understanding of coastal hazards and implementation of adaptation strategies suitable to local conditions. Participants will bring their own coastal hazard challenges to the CLA and can expect to leave with tangible steps towards building resilience. 

Map of the coastal areas in Wisconsin's Regional Planning Commission Service Areas

Wisconsin regional planning commissions’ coastal service areas.

2026 Workshops

Workshops will be hosted in the fall of 2026. One workshop will be held in each regional planning commission service area along the coast. Details on dates and locations will be made available in spring of 2026.

Workshop Components

  1. Coastal Processes & Hazards

Understand the geological history of the Great Lakes, coastal processes impacting Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coastlines, flooding and erosion dynamics, and lake level fluctuations.

  1. Steps to Resilience Framework

Learn methods to understand exposure to hazards, assess vulnerability and risk, investigate adaptation options, prioritize strategies, and take action to build a more resilient coast.

  1. Local Case Studies and Planning Tools

See the Steps to Resilience in action through local case studies highlighting resilience work from coastal communities. The workshop will demonstrate several planning tools that can be used to develop, prioritize, and implement projects.

People making notes on a map on a table

CALM members participating in a tabletop exercise on coastal erosion rates

Benefits for Communities

  • Understand coastal processes and hazards
  • Build internal, cross-department collaboration
  • Access tools and funding resources
  • Take steps toward resilience and adaptation planning

Who Should Participate

  • Tribal and municipal government staff
  • Emergency managers
  • Local, county, & regional planners

Learn More

Contact Cailin Young at cailin.young@wisconsin.gov for more information.

 

The Wisconsin Coastal Leadership Academy is funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant # NA25NOSX419C0028

© 2026. University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute