Coastal Communities Feel the Reality of
Climate Change
South
Kingstown –
Coastal communities, residents, business and property owners are feeling the
adverse effects of climate change due to sea level rise, coastal inundation,
severe storm events, flooding and coastal erosion.
Once known in the abstract as a global
warming, big picture issue, the ill effects of carbon emissions and warming
seas are taking their toll as government leaders at the national and local
levels “prepare to prepare” their citizenry for future climate change crisis
and emergent events.
Climate Change erodes Seaside Village
Matunuck Village tucked away on the
south coast of Block Island Sound has residents and business owners embattled
in a fight against Mother Nature, municipality and time.
The severely eroding shoreline
adjacent to homes and businesses in the village created a public safety concern
for the Town that pitted residents against town and the state’s Coastal Resources Management
Council (CRMC).
Residents, business owners and town
officials disagreed on a remedy for the deteriorating situation in the
headlands, with property owners taking their own initiatives against the
pounding surf, the town applying and receiving emergency assent to build a
seawall, and state officials issuing violations.
At a June 2014 meeting of the CRMC,
Kevin Finnegan, owner of the Ocean Mist testified before CRMC, notifying the council of
recently built armament structures along the experimental zone. Finnegan, who
didn’t apply for experimental measures, concentrated on blocking the Town’s
project in an effort to protect his business.
You can read the rest of Tracey’s article, which includes excerpts
from interviews and the June standing-room only meeting video by clicking here.