Walls Won’t Save Our Cities From Rising Seas. Here’s What Will – NBC News
Article Synopsis – The latest research suggests that by 2100, up to 60 percent of oceanfront communities on the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. may experience chronic flooding from climate change. Seawalls are not a viable solution to sea level rise in every location and they compromise delicate coastal habitats and reduce biodiversity. Many experts believe “green” alternatives will hold the key to saving our coastal communities. Environmental scientists and engineers have devised a range of clever ways to prevent coastal flooding by sopping up water and limiting erosion and wave energy including marshes, rocks or oyster shells, permeable pavement, mangroves, coral reefs, and bio-retention gardens. My Comments – Such “green solutions” can be an important element of lessening future damage to flooding. In most locations they should be considered as part of the long term range of tactics that include seawall and other barriers, pumps, elevating buildings and infrastructure, and ultimately retreat in some locations. To read the actual article click here.