Impacts Projected to Occur By 2050 

DEVELOPED COAST 

• PROPERTY DAMAGE A 10-year storm may flood up to 93 structures (2%), while a 100-year storm may flood up to 174 (4%) [CIT. 3]. 

• ROAD FLOODING About 10 miles of roadway (5%) could flood in a 10-year storm. An estimated 17 miles (8%) could flood in a 100-year storm [CIT. 3], including sections of Tiah’s Cove Road. Most of West Tisbury’s primary roads are safely located away from vulnerable areas. 

NATURAL COAST

• EROSION Sections of the south coast have receded up to 800 feet since the 1800s, with maximum short- and long-term annual erosion rates of 8 and 7 feet, respectively [CIT. 5]. Beach erosion is expected to continue. The coast on Vineyard Sound may be more stable, with relatively little erosion. Lambert’s Cove Beach has been relatively stable with an average long term erosion rate of less than 1 foot/year. 

• MARSH West Tisbury is the only town in this report that may gain more high marsh—about 5 acres (20%). Total marsh (high and low) may increase by 8 acres (19%) [CIT. 2]. 

• HABITAT CHANGES Approximately one acre of 65 acres (2%) of estuarine beach/tidal flats could be lost to open water [CIT. 2].