Current Initiatives
At ICCR, researchers work at the intersection of climate science and community resilience to develop solutions that support people and places across our region. Explore the current initiatives below to see how our core team and faculty affiliates are advancing resilience, reducing risk, and strengthening climate-informed decision making.
Appalachian Waterways Working Group
The Appalachian Waterways Working Group brings together researchers from across the University of Tennessee to address one of the region’s most pressing climate challenges: flooding and flash flooding in mountainous, rural landscapes. Small headwater streams, steep terrain, and narrow valleys make Appalachian communities especially vulnerable, yet these risks are often poorly captured by existing maps, models, and planning tools. Through ICCR, the group connects expertise from physical sciences, engineering, data science, landscape architecture, and the social sciences to better understand flooding impacts on communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, and local economies.
By bridging research and practice, the Working Group focuses on developing place-based tools, models, and pilot projects that reflect the realities of Appalachian waterways and support preparedness, recovery, and long-term resilience. This work includes collaboration with community organizations, local governments, and practitioners to ensure research is actionable and grounded in real needs.
If your work connects to flooding, water, planning, or community resilience in Appalachia and you’d like to learn more about getting involved, please reach out through our Connect With Us page.