The Town of Fenwick Island and DNREC have partnered to develop a resiliency plan to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of sea level rise on Fenwick Island and enhance the community’s overall resiliency.

The Town of Fenwick Island is particularly at risk to sea level rise due to its geographical location — it is bounded by the Little Assawoman Bay to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Fenwick Island’s proximity to both bodies of water make it highly susceptible to daily tidal inundation and tidal surges during inclement weather and storm events.

At Risk from Sea Level Rise

Projections of future sea level rise suggest that nearly 82% of existing buildings located west of Route 1 in the town would be inundated twice each day and 43% of all roadways would be inundated during high tide by the year 2080.

The town’s low-lying topography, bayside canals and need for stormwater infrastructure improvements further exacerbate the effects of sea level rise on the community. Without proper planning the community will struggle to adapt to these future challenges.

A Sea Level Rise Resiliency Plan

The town and DNREC have worked to develop a Sea Level Rise Resiliency Plan to prioritize at-risk areas, recommend actions that the town can implement, engage residents and businesses, provide updated mapping and information to serve as the basis for well informed decisions and articulate the Town’s vision for adapting to sea level rise.

Related Topics:  climate coastal energy, coastal programs, fenwick island, resilient communities, sea level rise