The Detrimental Effects of Sea-Level Rise in the State of Connecticut
By Kaeli Mecca ’21
The state of Connecticut is facing significant problems when it comes to climate change and the amount of damage is going to demand a series of restorative plans in order to combat such implications. The sea-level around CT has significantly risen. The climate is heightening and Connecticut’s land is slowly sinking, causing major issues and increasing concerns. Solutions can be complex when solving the effects of sea-level rise because the needs of coastal properties need to be evaluated and wetland habitats must be preserved. With 7,000 properties already at risk from frequent tidal floods in CT, this is a pressing issue that needs consistent conservation investment- a department in which we tend to be lacking. With a $2 billion plan which includes restoration projects, catastrophic flood prevention, and the building of sea walls hopefully CT can reach solution goals.
So close to home in Bridgeport CT, sea levels have risen by 5 inches since 1964, a dramatic increase in such a short period of time. These sea level rises can be attributed to main causes- ice melting and land sinkage. Because the land gets lower each year, CT is increasingly vulnerable to sea level rise in the future. We also have to be aware of flooding- a consistent issue in CT due to the nor’easters and hurricanes we experience. These storms push water to the coast raising high tides even higher which causes the tides to rise over a foot and a half higher than normal. Tidal flooding has increased by about 320% in CT since 2000 and storm surges have become much more frequent due to higher sea levels.
A lot of Connecticut’s critical infrastructure and coastal communities exist inches above the sea level which poses difficulties reaching solutions because of all that has to be considered. The solutions that are needed to solve sea-level rise must suit coastal residents and businesses, take into account shifts in vegetation within coastal wetlands, and be green solutions that will preserve the ecosystems.
Because of temperature rise and sea-level rise, homes, cars, and businesses can be damaged, but our coastal wetlands are also being majorly affected. Plenty of species and their habitats are critically endangered. Forest birds, turtles, grouse, shellfish beds, and lobsters are in deep decline. If certain keystone species are affected, it can detrimentally damage the whole trophic pyramid due to the importance of interactions between each trophic level. When thinking about climate change and it’s consequential issues, it’s important to choose an outlook that isn’t human centered. We must not just think about how we can protect ourselves against the damage we have caused but how we can restore stability to the habitats and organisms that we affect.
Sea-level rise in Connecticut is expected to increase with the rapid progression of polar ice melting. Scientists predict that in the next 15 years, sea-levels will rise 6 inches. By 2033, a lot of our state’s residential properties will increase by drastic amounts. There are a lot of ways we can take action to help sea-level rise. Individually we can take steps to protect our homes, educate ourselves about our current flood risks, and urge local officials to take action. Our local officials can prioritize sea level rise in order to future-proof our communities and proactively protect our coastal cities. And our state government can help to fund practical community solutions, and incentivize smart planning. This problem is only becoming more persistent, and it’s important to be mindful of the gravity of this issue and the way in which we contribute to it.
https://sealevelrise.org/states/connecticut/
https://www.journalinquirer.com/connecticut_and_region/report-connecticut-lags-on-environmental-issues/article_fd98e41e-2512-11e7-ac7a-2bc9f0f12474.html