Coastal wetlands are concentrated around estuarine shorelines in the East Coast NRM and provide an ideal case study of ecosystem response modelling in the context of sea-level rise.A range of spatial approaches are available to project coastal wetland ecosystem response to sea-level rise. Outputs will differ depending on a models capacity to project autonomous adjustment processes. Numerous approaches have been used in the east coast NRM cluster region. These include:
•Elevation deficits and other indicators of adjustment
•Bathtub models
•Sea level affecting marshes model (SLAMM)
•Spatially applied empirically-based elevation models.  Spatial models consistently demonstrate changes in ecosystem distribution. Sea-level rise is projected to encroach on coastal ecosystems from seaward directions, and coastal developments are projected to at least limit horizontal wetland migration, but may also encroach upon coastal wetlands.