ResilientWoodsHole aims to educate the public on the impact of rising sea levels
Woods Hole, Mass. – A diverse group of community members, local businesses, government officials, and science institutions came together on Oct. 24 to officially launch a self-guided climate walking trail in the village of Woods Hole. The ResilientWoodsHole (RWH) Climate Walking Trail opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Woods Hole Waterfront Park.
The 2.2 mile, 12-stop walking trail highlights vulnerable and flood prone locations in Woods Hole and illustrates the resilience planning and adaptation strategies in place to help protect the coastal village from climate-related impacts. , highlighting the ways the village plans to keep up with a changing climate. The app also offers a brief history of Woods Hole, climate change projections, adaptation solution charts, and current and historic images.
The RWH Climate Walking Trail can be experienced in its entirety, and takes approximately 60 – 75 minutes to complete, but walkers may start the trail at any point and complete all or part of it. It can also be accessed online further broadening the exposure of this community’s challenges and commitment to climate resiliency.
Warming ocean temperatures and rising sea-levels are putting Woods Hole and its Blue Economy at risk. According to , it's estimated that as soon as 2070, one-third of the roads in the community could be inundated during storms, with $284 million in property at risk. The village has experienced a sea level rise of about 10 inches from 1932-2020, and this trend is predicted to accelerate, including an increase in so-called events.
The new climate walking tour offers an interactive way to learn about the impacts of climate change, and a community-wide process to build resiliency.
According to Leslie-Ann McGee, Project Director for ResilientWoodsHole, “We are thrilled to be able to officially open the ResilientWoodsHole Climate Walking Trail today as a cornerstone in our outreach efforts. The interactive app and walking trail will help to further engage the local community, and visitors to our beautiful seaside village, and reinforce our collective goal of securing a climate resilient future.”
“We are grateful to the Massachusetts Coastal Resilience Grant program for supporting the vision of the ResilientWoodsHole Climate Walking Trail, and our larger vision of the entire RWH project.”