Klaipėda is a coastal city with almost all of its territory located on coastal lowland, and the Smeltalė river situated in the Southern part of the city, falling into the Curonian Lagoon within the city area. Regular floodings of the southern city areas due to flash floods in the Smeltalė River and Baltic Sea level fluctuations are the main problem of the Klaipėda city case study area.

In addition to natural occurring flood events, climate change contributes to an increase in the likelihood and adverse impacts of flood events. Based on the assessment of climate change impacts local community adaptation actions were initiated in the Smeltalė River basin by the stakeholders, scientists, and the local interest groups.