Image Citation: [3]
Written by Huyen Nguyen ‘28
Edited by Leopold Li ‘28
Spring is arriving earlier and bringing more precipitation, heavy rainstorms are more recurrent, and summers are warmer and drier: Rhode Island’s climate is changing. The annual mean temperature in the ocean state has already increased by about 1.9 °C since 1900—outpacing the global warming trend [1]. If this trend continues, the coldest winters in a few decades will be the warmest of recent years, while the hottest summers will become the coolest. Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations warmed the surface and lower atmosphere of our planet by about one degree over the last 50 years [1]. Warming is causing snow to melt earlier in spring, provoking mountain glaciers to retreat, and expanding the volume of the ocean. Over the last century, sea level has risen by about 0.9 feet, and recent studies indicate that Rhode Island is likely to experience more than 3.3 feet of sea level rise by 2100 [1]. If a hurricane were to hit Rhode Island today, Warren would be among the communities most at risk of flood damage.
Being the smallest town in the smallest county in the smallest state, the Town of Warren is increasingly vulnerable to coastal floods driven by anthropogenic climate change [2]. Warren is surrounded by tidal rivers and bays, including Belcher Cove, Narragansett and Mount Hope bays, and the Warren and Kickemuit rivers. Since the town’s topography—the arrangement of position and elevation of the Earth’s surface—-is flat and low, it is vulnerable to coastal storms, mixing with high and king tides. Potentially, in 50 years, two-thirds of the town could be underwater, since the average elevation is seven feet [2]. And by 2100, the neighborhood surrounding Belcher Cove and Market Street stands to lose $126 million in business revenue and $86 million in building losses—including 541 housing units—to such climate events [4]. So, what are the next steps to de-escalate this rising issue?
Protect.
By building sea walls, a municipality can seek to safeguard land from rising sea levels. This offers short term security if well designed and implemented, and being the most financially expensive option as further changing conditions and required maintenance will be needed [5]. For example, the Town is working on improvements to the Town Wharf on Water Street by making the waterfront more accessible and appealing to visitors and increasing tourism revenues [5]. Through seeking more fundings, the planned improvements include increasing the number of transient boats that could be accommodated and offer facilities and services to boaters to improve Warren’s historic waterfront district.
Accommodate.
Another short term project, an engineering oriented solution would be to elevate the assets, such as buildings and roads, above the new waterline [5]. Furthermore, rebuilding the asset in a way that suits the new conditions, such as raising a road using a new alignment off the ground [3]. As depths and extents of roadway during high tides and storm events increases, impacts on traffic and public safety will worsen. If these impacted roads are not relocated or elevated to avoid or reduce flooding, traffic will need to be rerouted away from these roads during high tide on a daily basis. This will result in an inability for road users and emergency services to access properties along the affected sections of road. Several of the roads that are projected to experience increased flooding during high tide and storm events, including Market Street and Route 136, are designated as emergency evacuation routes; closing of these roadways eliminates essential routes for the residents of Warren and neighboring towns [5].
Retreat.
If built solutions are infeasible, a community may decide to simply abandon the asset, diminishing the need for its maintenance as private stakeholders take over responsibility. Though undoubtedly the most efficient solution from a fiscal perspective, retreat involves a plethora of complex legal challenges [5]. A plan known as “Market to Metacom,” now several years in the making, proposes buyouts of these at-risk properties, with a goal of shifting the current residents of Warren’s neighborhood to the town’s Metacom Avenue corridor. Receiving $750k allocation, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (or PROTECT) grant has paved ways for other grants from different organizations nationally, and it will allow updates to three state roadways impacted by the plan [4]. The three roadways—Market Street, Metacom Avenue, and Child Street—are covered under this grant. For Metacom Avenue, that includes new bike infrastructure, lane restructuring and tree-lined streets, among other adjustments intended to make the commercial district more appealing to a residential population through a concept called “Marsh Park” [5]. Beyond the roadway improvements along Metacom, the town is also planning to establish around 34,000 square feet of civic or institutional space, 108,000 square feet of commercial space, 452 multifamily residential units, 68 single residential family units and more than 1,100 parking spots to accommodate these additions [4]. Through phased relocation and restoration strategies, natural wetland buffers would provide new scenic passive recreational opportunities—such as trail connections and green space incorporation.
Do nothing.
Regardless of the growing risk of floods, communities may choose to take no action in response to rising sea levels by maintaining the status quo infrastructure. In practice this approach may closely resemble retreat, as assets are incapacitated with increasing regularity until all those served by the assets move away. This could have significant fiscal effects on communities from the financial strain of repeated maintenance [5].
Since the proposal’s existence of the Metacom, the Warren town is currently hammering out financial and regulatory details as it forms its next comprehensive plan, and will continue to hold public engagement efforts in this process through holding Planning Board Meetings on the fourth Monday of each month and actively updating its Comprehensive Plan.
References
Bradley, Raymond , et al. How Will Global Warming of 2 O c Affect Rhode Island? Observed and Projected Changes in Climate and Their Impacts.
Sherman, Annie . “Warren’s Rising Waters Compel Officials to Plan Retreat.” Eco RI News , 12 Sept. 2020, ecori.org/2020-9-11-warrens-rising-waters-demand-managed-retreat/.
Kuffner, Alex. “Researchers Project Future Flooding.” Newport Daily News, Newport Daily News, 29 Jan. 2019, www.newportri.com/story/news/state/2019/01/29/researchers-project-future-flooding-along-ri-coast/6169140007/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.
Voghel , Jacquelyn. “Redirecting.” Google.com, 2024, www.google.com/url?q=pbn.com/warrens-market-to-metacom-takes-step-forward-as-r-i-receives-54-8m-for-climate-resilient-infrastructure/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1727226906302169&usg=AOvVaw0RHuKdynf6mKWzPyzFC0LB. Accessed 25 Sept. 2024.
Warren, RI COASTAL SEA LEVEL RISE and STORM SURGE: TRANSPORTATION FACT SHEET.
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