Newburyport
THE MAIN IMPACTS:
Erosion Plum Island’s severe erosion, with a short-term erosion rate of up to 7.5 feet per year [CIT. 5], continues to threaten beaches and homes.
Marsh Loss By 2050, 17% of the city’s 257 acres of total marsh may be lost—the highest percentage on the North Shore [CIT. 2].
Habitat Concerns By 2050, about 537 (71%) of 755 acres of Newburyport’s estuarine beach/tidal flats could become open water [CIT. 2].
Developed Coast Downtown riverfront areas could be susceptible to 10-year storm flooding events in 2050 as well as areas at the end of Old Point Road in Plum Island. Some daily tidal flooding may occur in 2050 in these areas [CIT. 1, 3].
OCEAN-FACING SHORELINE (2.4 MILES) [CIT. 4]
Shoreline types below can overlap, not cumulative
FUTURE STORM AND TIDAL FLOODING [CIT 1,3]
Blue=Current Shoreline / Red=2050 Chronic Tidal Flooding (MHHW) / Yellow=2050 1% (1 in 100 year) storm flooding
OTHER RISKS INCLUDE:
Property Damage A 10-year storm in Newburyport may flood almost 419 buildings (5.7%) in 2050 [CIT. 3]. Chronic daily tidal flooding could impact 30 buildings (0.4%) in 2050 [CIT. 1].
Road Flooding Daily high tides may flood 0.2 miles (0.2%) of roads in 2050 [CIT. 1]. An estimated 7.4 miles (7.3%) of road- way could flood in the event of a 100-year storm in 2050 [CIT. 3].
STRATEGY SNAPSHOT: WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Newburyport is developing ways to protect its low-lying wastewater treatment plant from flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise—climate-driven impacts that could eventually force its relocation from Water Street along the Merrimack River. Saltwater from storm surges can damage wastewater plants, while flooding carries contamination and public health risks. Short-term solutions under consideration include a berm, flood wall, and temporary hydraulic barriers for building entrances and critical infrastructure. Gloucester, too, is taking mitigation actions to protect five of its most vulnerable sewer pumping stations.