Coastlines Under Attack (Part 1): Rising Seas and Coastal Development

The first in a series of three courses focusing on the current state of affairs along our developed coast, strategy that is needed to meet these challenges, and some of the tough decisions that will need to be made regarding protecting certain coastal areas while abandoning others.

1.0 PDH / 0.1 CEU

Coastlines Under Attack (Part 1): Rising Seas and Coastal Development

The first in a series of three courses focusing on the current state of affairs along our developed coast, strategy that is needed to meet these challenges, and some of the tough decisions that will need to be made regarding protecting certain coastal areas while abandoning others.

Rising seas are putting pressure on coastal communities like never before.  At the same time, we continue to develop real estate in our coastal regions.  Webinar discussion will begin with the realities we are facing presently, and will continue with a review of past practices and will then shift to innovative solutions that offer hope for embattled coastal communities.  Finally, the series will conclude with an eye toward the future.

Time is running out, and important decisions loom ahead.

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America’s coastline is in peril.  Sea levels are rising.  Coastal storms are growing in intensity.  Development continues in many coastal regions that are highly vulnerable.  Billions of dollars have been spent to shore up existing communities and properties.

Our population continues to develop coastal property.  At the same time, our beach communities are being pressured like never before by rising seas.  Beach loss, coastal flooding and severe erosion continue to eat away at our most endangered coastal regions.

Coastal development is at war with nature, and this is a battle that cannot be won.  The only viable course of action is for society to come to grips with the problem, and work with nature as a partner.

This opening session will focus on the current state of affairs along America’s coastline.  Many of our coastal communities have been built on highly vulnerable property.  When that property is damaged or lost, home owners look to our government to come to their rescue.  In his recent book, The Geography of Risk, Gilbert Gaul reported that our taxpayers paid just 5% of rebuilding costs in those communities, but that by 2019 that number had increased to 70% and higher.  Those costs are being shared by millions of citizens who live in much more secure inland regions.

Please join returning Stormwater University speaker Peter M. Hanrahan, CPESC as he discusses where we stand today relative to coastal protection.  Over the past 15 years, Mr. Hanrahan has worked with agencies in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut developing and delivery education programs related to sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Participants who complete this course can expect to depart with a better understanding of the current trends, policies and practices relative to coastal protection.

Learning Objectives

  • Demonstrate sea level rise, more intense storms and increased storm surge has placed unrelenting pressure on our coastal communities
  • Examine the pros and cons of coastal armoring practices
  • Explain the impact of coastal development in areas that are highly at risk

About Instructor

Pete Hanrahan

CPESC; Principal, Hanrahan Environmental

Not Enrolled

Course Includes

  • 1 Lesson
  • 1 Quiz
  • Course Certificate