Town Staff Attends Coastal Resilience Meetings

Current projections from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s Center for Coastal Resource Management regarding relative sea-level rise rates on Virginia’s Eastern Shore show a mean sea level rise of between 4.5 to 7 feet by 2100 which is three to four times the global average.

The Eastern Shore has spent millions of dollars on traditional “gray” infrastructure such as sea walls, groins, jetties, bulkheads, and revetments. These coastline “fixes” have in many cases undermined the natural resilience by interrupting critical environmental processes.

The Town Planner and Town Manager attended a meeting with RAFT and VDOT on May 1 at the VIMS facility in Wachapreague to discuss how VDOT could assist local jurisdictions with stormwater management and resilience-related matters.

The Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (The RAFT) is an innovative “collective impact” collaborative approach to climate resilience that leverages the expertise and resources of multidisciplinary partners and diverse stakeholders to assist coastal localities striving to increase their resilience.

Cape Charles voiced their desire for an expedited review process when local jurisdictions apply for stormwater management-related projects. According to staff reports, the request was “well-received”.

The Town Planner, Councilman Paul Grossman, and Harbor Area Review Board member Russ Dunton also attended the VIMS Tidal Wetlands Workshop at the VIMS facility in Gloucester Point on May 2.

This workshop was primarily to discuss coastal resilience and how VIMS can assist local jurisdictions.

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Wayne Creed

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