What is “State of the Coast”?
“State of the Coast” is an analytical assessment that uses the latest data to provide a snapshot of current coastal conditions, along with future-facing strategies and opportunities to create a more resilient and healthier coast on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
The report is designed to be a guiding resource that can stimulate discussion, action, and engagement among public officials, conservation partners, residents, and others. Sections include a coastal matrix and map offering a visual comparison of community impacts, and an advocacy letter detailing our specific proposals, as well as:
13 short town features exploring possible climate change impacts and risks. In this section, we outline potential shoreline impacts, flood risks to developed areas, and innovative solutions that could serve as models elsewhere.
5 shoreline features (salt marshes, beaches, developed coasts, armored coasts, and habitats) highlighting the main challenges that could be faced by different coastal areas on the North Shore. In this section, we also examine some current strategies and future opportunities for interventions and adaptation.
This digital version of the report features interactive maps, additional data, and longer form content. We have broadened our scope beyond The Trustees to make this report as comprehensive and accessible as possible. Our editorial team included a North Shore-based coastal geologist and environmental consultant, mapping and flooding risk modeling experts from Woods Hole Group, a creative director with experience designing complex reports, and an award-winning journalist.
WHY US?
As the largest private coastal landowner and conservation organization in Massachusetts, The Trustees has witnessed firsthand the accelerating and widespread impacts of climate change to our properties, which are located within 6 of the 13 communities in this report. Recognizing that it’s
time for regional and statewide approaches to adapting and preparing our coast for the future, we embrace this opportunity to help lead and build consensus for meaningful change. We are in a unique position to share a long-term perspective that speaks to our mission, values, and philosophy—and underscores the urgent need for new coastal strategies.
WHY NOW?
We recognize the many pressures facing our shorelines and coastal habitats, such as development and pollution, and understand how many communities are already experiencing climate change-driven impacts to their coastal areas. These impacts include ocean warming and acidification, flooding from sea level rise, and stronger storm surge (which often features more intense wave energy) that can destroy structures and severely erode beaches and shorelines.
For this report, we have focused on two significant future impacts from climate change—sea level rise and storm surge. Both are anticipated to significantly increase after the year 2050 and have widespread impacts to coastal areas. Which means we have until then to make smart choices for interventions to adapt, but we need to start now.
Community strategies to adapt to climate change have primarily concentrated on critical infrastructure needs, ranging from municipal vulnerability planning to raising roads, protecting wastewater treatment facilities from flooding, and considering oyster reefs as protective break- waters. This is encouraging, but most projects are still in the planning phase.
Among the issues to be addressed, are risks to coastal properties, including those owned privately, and significant threats to the conservation of important natural resources, wildlife, and ecosystems. The time to adapt and make smart intervention choices is limited, and we need to start now if we are to bring new approaches effectively and successfully to scale both on a regional and a statewide basis.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES?
Beaches: We’re losing extensive areas of beach, data shows. Some of our largest beaches are experiencing the greatest rate of shoreline loss, while sea level rise means smaller beaches hemmed in by seawalls, groins, and development may be increasingly sand-starved with nowhere to go.
Salt Marshes: Keeping pace with sea level rise is necessary for salt marshes to continue to act as important buffers against coastal flooding and storm surge, among their other valuable functions. Critical to this effort is building marsh elevation, along with removing tidal restrictions such as dams and culverts that disrupt natural water flow.
Developed Coasts: Many of our communities are already affected by intense storms and severe flooding, which have led to road closures, damaged homes and businesses, and public safety risks. Though no one can predict the future for certain, thousands of buildings and many more miles of road have the potential to be impacted in the not-so-distant future, our data shows. Communities and individual landowners may face a difficult choice: adapt or relocate.
Armored Shorelines: The North Shore has 54.4 miles of hard coastal barriers such as seawalls [CIT. 4] in- tended to hold back the sea, but they’re aging and not designed to adapt to climate impacts. Not only are they costly to repair and replace, but these structures can wreak damage of their own on nearby natural shorelines. More resilient options are necessary for our coastal communities to be prepared for the challenges to come.
Coastal Habitats: Only about 25% of our coastal habitats are permanently protected from development [CIT. 9], and they face increasing peril from climate-driven changes. A regional land protection strategy will help enhance the resiliency of both coastal and upland areas and relieve pressures from development and pollution.
WHAT GENERAL TRENDS DO WE SEE?
From a regional perspective, we see important differences in our northern and southern tiers that will require targeted approaches. Larger, less developed coastal beaches and marshes in communities such as Ipswich and Salisbury may experience more impacts but also provide more resiliency options due to the size of their natural coastal resources.
Although areas south of Gloucester are higher in elevation and generally less affected by flooding, their natural resource areas are likely to be more vulnerable and less resilient because they are smaller with little room for inland migration.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
We are asking you—our conservation partners, government officials, and communities—to engage in coast-al land protection measures by advocating for larger investments in funding and new policies for coastal resiliency and conservation. We’re also calling on you—our members, visitors and coastal residents—to collaborate on effective responses and innovative strategies to confront climate-driven impacts to our most beloved, vulnerable places. Together, we can support adaptations that respond to coastal change.
We cannot wait to act. We’re at a pivotal moment when working together can make a real difference on our dramatically changing landscape, and all that it contains.