Report urges action on flooding, erosion from climate change

Increased tidal flooding, beach erosion and aging sea barriers are among climate change concerns threatening a famous coastal destination in Massachusetts, according to a report released Thursday by a leing conservation group in state.

“State of Coast” report by Trustees focuses on threat of rising sea levels and powerful storm surges on state’s rth Shore, which is home to major fishing port of Gloucester as well as Salem, site of torious colonial-era witch trials.

organization, considered largest private coastal landowner and conservation organization in state, said it hopes report helps local officials and property owners identify critically threatened areas, prioritize investments and learn from resiliency and mitigation work alrey underway in region.

“rth Shore communities, leers, and coastal landowners can longer postpone climate-facing emergency planning and decision making,” Tom O’Shea, Trustees’ director of coast and natural resources, said in a statement. “Time is running out to take actions that will protect our coast.”

report said region has more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) of seawalls and or hard coastal barriers that would cost more than $88 million to repair, but aren’t equate for risks posed by climate change.

It also estimates more than 600 rth Shore buildings could experience daily tidal flooding by 2030, and as many as 3,100 by 2070. most severe storms could put some $100 billion worth of coastal real estate in Essex County at risk, according to report, which incorporates publicly available data, independent research and reports from or organizations and ncies.

organization calls for more “sustainable and aptive approaches” for challenges ahe, including a “regional land protection strategy” to reduce impact from coastal development.

report also estimates some 400 acres of Great Marsh, which is considered New England's largest salt marsh, could be lost by 2070 without remediation efforts. That could le to habitat loss for plants and wildlife, weaken shoreline resistance to waves and endanger homes, businesses and ros, report said.

Some of region's most popular beaches have seen a dramatic loss in shoreline over deces as well, according to organization. Crane Beach in Ipswich, which is owned by Trustees, has lost equivalent of 84 football fields of sand since 1950s because of erosion, report said.

organization said expanding efforts to restore beaches and sand dunes, which has been done in a number of rth Shore communities, is one short term solution. It also said it is working with Ipswich officials to raise height of ro leing to Crane Beach in order to preserve public access, among or resiliency efforts.

Massachusetts Senate Mirity Leer Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, called report a “comprehensive and thoughtful assessment” backed by “real-world data and scientific analysis.” He said in a statement that it underscores need for collaborative and proactive solutions.

National studies have also highlighted climate change threats facing region, which stretches from rth of Boston up Atlantic coast to New Hampshire.

Last year, a nationwide study by First Street Foundation singled out Salisbury as community in Massachusetts where climate change concerns are most impacting property values. New York-based nprofit suggested coastal homes in popular beach community would be worth $200,000 to $300,000 more if t for more frequent tidal flooding and increasingly damaging coastal storms.

Trustees said it plans to release a report annually for next four years examining a different Massachusetts coastal region in order to highlight threat and possible solutions to climate change impacts.

report released Thursday covers 13 rth Shore communities: Swampscott, Marblehe, Salem, Beverly, Manchester-by--Sea, Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Newbury, Rowley, Newburyport, and Salisbury.