City to Host Sea Level Forum in Bayside 12/14

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By Carol McCracken  (Post # 2,631)

The public is invited to attend a forum on sea level rise on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at Mayo Street Arts, at 6:00 pm.

This forum was made possible by the award of a grant of  $10,000. from the National League of Cities (NLC) and Wells Fargo and was announced in March of this year.  It is part of a pilot program to provide technical assistance and professional development opportunities for selected cities.  Portland is one of ten cities selected for this pilot program across the country.

Dr. Cameron Wake, University of New Hampshire, will discuss the latest projections about sea level rise.  He will be joined by Wayne Freiden, Planning and Sustainability Director for the Town of Northampton, MA.  Mr. Freiden specializes in planning for climate resilient communities and has led teams of design professionals who have assisted a number of coastal cities including Bath, ME; Providence, RI; and Provincetown, MA with climate “resiliency” plans.

“Rising sea levels  have already begun to affect parts of the city.  We saw this very dramatically in September 2015 when heavy rains coincided with a high tide.  Many streets in Bayside flooded, causing damage to dozens of vehicles, disrupting travel, and interfering with business activities.  This type of event will become more common as  officials and community members work together to plan for this wetter future,” said Troy Moon, the city’s sustainability coordinator.  “This grant from NLC will help us do that.”