USGS Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS)
CoSMoS User Resources
CoSMoS is currently being rolled out in Washington. This page provides trainings, recorded webinars, examples, and other helpful resources available to end users.
Recent CoSMoS Trainings & Webinars
Groundwater
The Shoreline and Coastal Planners Group held two sessions of a Coastal Groundwater Hazards webinar, which provided an overview of the USGS Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) groundwater hazard products currently available for all Puget Sound counties. Resources include:
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- The recorded webinar, which featured a case study of how CoSMoS groundwater products have been used in California,
- A live demonstration of the groundwater tools in HERA, and
- Breakout rooms for a hands-on practice session.
Coastal Flooding
Chris Elder (Whatcom County Public Works Department) and Kurt Baumgarten (Port of Bellingham) gave a Lunch & Learn on the Whatcom County Compound Flood Vulnerability Assessment. This webinar covers how CoSMoS data was used in the assessment and how they plan to use it in Phase 2 of their adaptation planning. Watch the recording of this presentation here.
Current CoSMoS Use Cases in Washington
| Geography | Title | Description | CoSMoS Products Used | Status |
| Whatcom County |
(Phase 1) 2023 Whatcom County Compound Flood Vulnerability Assessment |
Identifies coastal and lower Nooksack River areas that may be most vulnerable to sea-level rise and increased rainfall. The assessment includes an exposure analysis for the entire county and a vulnerability analysis on two focus areas: Sandy Point and Birch Bay. | CoSMoS Flooding + Nooksak River Flood scenarios | Completed June 2023 |
| Whatcom County | Identifies vulnerbaility and actions that could be taken to address sea level rise, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, and compound flooding (coastal and riverine flooding combined) throughout Whatcom County. | CoSMoS Flooding + Bluff Retreat | Completed July 2025 | |
| Vashon and Maury Islands (King County) | (Phase 1)Coastal hazards assessment for Vashon and Maury Islands | Uses CoSMoS flood hazard data to assess vulnerability of shoreline parcels to coastal hazards. Phase 1 used limited suite of SLR scenarios (from preliminary products) | Flooding | Completed Summer 2025 |
News/Media Releases
- USGS News: Cutting-edge Storm Modeling System Forecasts Future Coastal Hazards in the Salish Sea
- WSG Press Release: New modeling tool shows coastal flooding hazards in central Puget Sound (January 14, 2026)
- WSG Press Release: New modeling tool shows impacts of sea level rise, coastal flooding to Whatcom County (Februaruy 27, 2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs here.
Additional resources coming soon…
