westport

The Town of Westport, with almost 16,000 residents, is the westernmost Massachusetts town on Buzzards Bay. The Town’s 10 miles of shoreline [CIT. 17] feature salt marsh and barrier beaches, including Horseneck Beach State Reservation.

In the next 30 years, Westport is projected to experience a variety of impacts (see Coastal Impact Matrix for details).

As soon as 2050:

DEVELOPED AREAS: Daily tidal flooding may impact 104 buildings [CIT. 5]. A 10-year flood may impact 751 buildings (6% of town buildings), and a 100-year flood may impact 1,026 buildings (8%) [CIT. 5]. The vulnerable East Beach and Horseneck Road area includes 80 homes, a major boatyard, a restaurant, and seasonal trailers. Sea level rise is also projected to impact homes along the Westport River.

ROADS: Daily tides may flood 0.8 miles of road [CIT. 5]. A 10-year flood is projected to inundate 14 miles (5% of town roads), while a 100-year flood may impact 19.5 miles (7%) [CIT. 5]. Vulnerable areas include the town docks, low-lying bridges and roads (portions of East Beach Road, River Road, Atlantic Avenue, John Reed Road, Kirby Brook, Main Road and Route 6) and the parking area for the town docks and Harbormaster’s office.

SALT MARSHES: Eighty nine percent (739 of 828 acres) of critical high marsh habitat may be lost to flooding or conversion to low marsh. Overall, nearly half (48%) of the salt marsh in Westport may be completely lost (417 of 877 acres) [CIT. 6]. Recent studies have shown significant loss of the salt marsh islands in the Westport River.

BEACHES: 8.6 miles of shoreline are classified as beach [CIT. 17], and 5.5 miles of the coastline are publicly accessible (58%) [CIT. 16]. East Beach in Westport has seen over 150 feet of erosion in the last 120 years, threatening more than 30 homes and forcing some to relocate. Erosion rates are projected to increase with sea level rise and higher-intensity storms.

““My worry is that while we look at one or two risks, we’ll get blindsided by a risk we’re not focusing on. How do we raise funds for all of the issues, not just one?” ”
— JOHN BULLARD, CHAIR OF CLIMATE RESILIENCY COMMITTEE AND PLANNING BOARD

THE TOWN IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING RESILIENCE PRIORITIES [CIT. 36 AND 37]:

  • Restoring salt marsh.

  • Reducing sources of water pollution.

  • Planning for long-term managed retreat and protection of the East Beach area.

  • Pursuing adaptation strategies such as elevating bridges, removing dams, and replacing culverts.