Climate Change Impacts and Projections for the Greater Boston Area

Pictured left to right: Chris Krahforst, Director of Adaptation and Conservation, Dr. Ellen Douglas, UMass Boston, Department of Environment/co-author and speaker; Brian DeFelice, Director, Hull Public Library; Dr. Paul Kirshen, UMass Boston, Department of Environment/co-author and speaker; John Struzziery, Director, Department of Waste Water Operations/Assistant Director of Public Works; Liz Kay, S.O.S. Hull Steering Committee/Hull Master Planning Committee. Susan Mann, S.O.S. Hull steering committee member, not pictured in the photo, was also part of the team bringing the program to fruition.

“Climate Change Impacts and Projections for the Greater Boston Area” was presented by Dr. Paul Kirshen and Dr. Ellen Douglas, UMass Boston, to Hull community members and leaders.

Sponsored by Hull Public Library and S.O.S. Hull, the presentation shared the most recent and sobering climate change data for the Greater Boston Harbor Islands, including the Nantasket peninsula. The report highlights the impact of extreme flooding events caused by torrential rain, as well as ocean and bay flooding during storms infiltrating low-lying areas across the Nantasket peninsula.

Dr. Kirshen spoke about new adaptation strategies, including robust adaptation: building structural barriers where foundation structures provide flexibility and adding barrier walls when needed. This provides communities the opportunity to invest in future-focused adaptation systems, without overbuilding now, allowing for dollars to be directed to other community needs as well.

Both Chris Krahforst, Director of Adaptation and Conservation, and John Struzziery, Director of Wastewater Operations / Assistant Director of Public Works, attended, and shared some of their initiatives, validated some of their present sustainable efforts, and infrastructure projects, as well as gathered some new data and information to consider in the future.

Other committees represented in the audience included: Affordable Housing, Economic Development, Piping Plover Ambassadors, Beach Management Advisory Committee, Hull Redevelopment Authority, Hull Artists, Hull Public Library, Design Review Board, Community Preservation Committee, and the new Master Planning Committee.

Attendees participated in a thoughtful and information-packed presentation and discussion, where helpful information was shared with other committee members and neighbors.

A link to Climate Change Impacts and Projections for the Greater Boston Area. Ellen Douglas, PhD, and Paul Kirshen, PhD, can be found here.