On March 19, 2019, almost 40 people attended a workshop on coastal resiliency at Salem University, jointly hosted by Salem State, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), and the City of Salem. Attendees included municipal officials from about 10 North Shore communities, as well as state officials from CZM and environmental consultants.
At the event, Salem State’s geography department displayed maps it had created charting projected sea level rises in municipalities within the region. Attendees also discussed coastal climate impacts, local success stories, and grant opportunities with CZM.
“The threat of rising sea levels is on the minds of residents and municipal leaders throughout the North Shore,” said Tara Gallagher, sustainability coordinator at Salem State University. “We wanted to bring people together to talk about how we can pool our expertise to face the challenges ahead. It will take much collaboration and commitment to ensure the resilience of our beautiful coastal communities going forward.”
In addition to presentations from Salem State University’s geography department and CZM, North Shore leaders presented on work taking place in their communities. Gregg Cademartori, planning director for the city of Gloucester, presented on comprehensive coastal resilience planning; Darya Mattes, planner and conservation agent for the city of Salem, presented on the Collins Cove Salem Marsh Enhancement Project, and Barbara Warren, executive director of Salem Sound, presented on the Coastal Pollutant Rain Garden.
“There is great expertise at Salem State and within municipalities,” said Gallagher. “I’m hopeful that the dialogue we started at this workshop will continue.”