For some, coastal areas are home. For others, they are beloved places of recreation, livelihood, family, and memories. For many, they hold personal significance. We continue to be drawn to the wild beauty of the coast, even as we see these increasing impacts of our changing climate.

The Islands are on the frontlines of coastal change. Yet visiting Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket on a calm, sunny summer day can make us forget what is to come. More frequent flooding of harborfronts and downtown areas, some of the highest rates of beach erosion statewide, and billions of dollars of coastal real estate at-risk will impact an economy and a way of life that is inextricably tied to the coast. 

The Trustees has witnessed accelerating changes at our special coastal places — and we have growing concern about these impacts, which threaten our natural landscapes and the way of life of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who enjoy the 17 miles of beaches that we manage on the Islands each year. At Norton Point on Martha’s Vineyard, for example, we continue to lose ground: over the course of 97 years (1897-1994), 74 acres eroded. More recently, in less than 30 years (1994-2018), the beach lost 93 acres — 25% more land lost, despite the shorter timespan. 

Difficult decisions lie ahead to confront a turbulent future and adapt our coastal landscapes — including beaches, coastal banks, salt marshes, habitats, and developed coasts. We know the work to confront these challenges is already underway on the Islands. But time is running out. 

In this report, we present a timeline for actions and solutions, along with their tradeoffs, to adaptation and retreat. Each of these issues will need to be addressed in the next few decades, but we can meet these challenges together. Island-wide collaboration can be a powerful tool, helping to prioritize adaptive planning and designs as a region, and advocating as a united front for policies and funding to be brought to scale. With continued partnerships, and an urgency of action, this unique region could be a true model in leading other coastal communities forward, into a more resilient future.