Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village | Inside Climate News

Eel Pond (background left) is a lagoon that connects to Great Harbor. Marine Biological Laboratory's main campus, including Lillie Lab (left building), is at risk when Eel Pond floods. Credit: Matt Barton/© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

This article explores the Resilient Woods Hole initiative to prepare the village for climate change impacts.

WOODS HOLE, Mass.—When a Nor’Easter threatens this storied Cape Cod community, intrepid villagers lean into the wind. Kids hop in their dinghy boats for a quick sail before the hurricane arrives—worth it to earn bragging rights with friends, even if they never left the harbor. 

Pam Harvey speaks from experience. A third-generation Woods Hole resident, the former environmental lawyer has taken her share of dinghies out into stormy winds and lived to tell the tale.

Woods Hole has stood the test of time for nearly 150 years as a whaling, shipping and fishing village and now, a center for oceanic research. But its greatest challenge may yet be ahead, as storm surges and flooding become more regular with climate change. 

Adapting to sea level rise and intense storms has already faced more than a little resistance, even in this science-savvy coastal community where many residents understand the threat posed by climate change with deep expertise. Read rest of the article

Source: Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village | Inside Climate News