Tides of Change: Investigating Climate Change and Coastal Vulnerability on Human and Wildlife Communities in the Northeastern U.S.

By Casey Benderoth

A massive storm brought record flooding to Bar Harbor, Maine in early January of 2024, devastating local businesses and tearing down three iconic fishing shacks. These fishing shacks, which had weathered the brunt of Atlantic tempests for more than two centuries, now reside in the unforgiving ocean from a potent storm surge. Amidst the chaos, record floods breached town squares and interstate highways, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Susan McGee, a local of Bar Harbor, said, “I've seen a flood, but I've never seen anything like this, and I lived here for 35 years.” Severe storms illuminate the vulnerability etched into coastal communities. How often must we confront these harrowing events, surpassing historical flood records with alarming frequency? This cataclysmic event not only highlights the immediate dangers posed by coastal storms, but also prompts deeper reflection of the urgent need to address the escalating threats of climate change to human livelihoods and fragile shoreline ecosystems.

Rising sea levels are a direct consequence of climate change, causing catastrophic damage to coastal communities. Warming oceans have set in motion a chain reaction of environmental upheaval, including increased frequency and severity of storms, rapid sea ice melt, and a substantial rise in seawater volume. Rising sea levels are encroaching upon global shores with relentless determination, leaving a trail of degradation in their wake. Natural barriers made to mitigate coastal threats are being pushed to their limits beyond a point of sustainable regeneration. With a diminishing availability of natural environmental defenses, communities around the globe are experiencing heightened vulnerability to natural disasters and climate-related hazards.

The phrase “coastal vulnerability” constitutes the susceptibility of coastal environments and communities to adverse impacts arising from the climate crisis. The interconnected chain reaction of climate change exacerbates the risks that coastal communities face, thereby increasing risks of flooding, erosion, and habitat destruction. These challenges extend far beyond immediate coastal areas, causing global environmental degradation, infrastructure damage, disruptions to recreation and local economies, and the loss of social and cultural connections. It is evident that coastal vulnerability is a complex and far-reaching problem that demands urgent attention and action, but where do we start?

Though climate change is a worldwide issue, identifying regional differences can aid in tackling problems. Universal problem-solving can promote collaborative and international solutions, but place-based approaches better account for the distinct habitats and inhabitants of a small area. As of 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that 127 million people live in coastal counties in the U.S., and more than 55 million of those reside in coastal communities in the Northeast. Identifying this region, with its massive density of humans and diverse wildlife habitats, provides a microcosm of the broader challenges faced by coastal communities worldwide, thus offering a localized approach and making possible solutions more applicable and tangible. Considering the unique environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics of the Northeast region can facilitate the development of targeted strategies that address specific challenges faced by coastal communities in this area.

Sadia Crosby, owner of OsytHERS Sea Farm, operates a shellfish farm on the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and experiences climate-related challenges. When asked what some of the ways a vulnerable coast has been impacting her business, Crosby notes the record-high storm surges and high winds that cause damage to the coast and make it unsafe for her to work on the farm, as it is only accessible by boat and has "little protection from the elements." Additionally, the delicate balance of the ecosystem directly affects the health and productivity of the shellfish that grow on the farm. Oysters are extremely sensitive to changes in salinity and temperature, becoming ill and unproductive in the face of a changing ecosystem on the Gulf. This not only presents challenges for Crosby's business and income, but also reflects the broader implications for the resilience of marine life, underscoring the intricate link between human livelihoods and the wellbeing of coastal environments.

oastal changes are also associated with human health risks. Damage to infrastructure and roads can pose physical threats to people, potentially resulting in injury or death. Exposure to infectious waterborne diseases is expected to increase as a result of climate change-induced coastal changes like sewage overflow and runoff, carrying substantial threats to coastal Northeasterners’ health and development. Regarding emotional health, sea level rise is linked to increased psychological distress in individuals. In addition to finding solutions to combat climate change along coasts, services to support people experiencing loss and pain are necessary. The ramifications of climate change on coastal regions encompass a spectrum of health hazards, highlighting the urgent need for holistic approaches toward resilience and adaptation.

Many cities in the Northeast, like Boston and New York City, were established along coasts as hubs for international commerce. A large proportion of the Northeast’s residents reside in these coastal cities, presenting serious potential for environmental injustices. US Geological Survey data identify that more than 67,000 people along the Eastern Seaboard are at risk of displacement due to changes in coastal conditions. According to author Jake Bittle, “The Great Displacement,” or the next American migration, will be caused by climate change throughout the country, and it has already begun. As climate-related displacement intensifies, communities with limited access to critical resources—including BIPOC and lower-income—are disproportionately affected. Barriers to secure resources and opportunities demonstrate the importance of equitable, safe, and affordable access to housing in the face of climate-induced displacement.

Just as humans will be displaced from their homes, wildlife are being displaced from their natural environments. Atlantic marsh fiddler crabs inhabit salt marshes along the Atlantic coast, serving as important keystone species to the region. Rising sea levels and changes in temperatures have led to fiddler crab displacement and habitat loss. These crabs are an important food source for shorebirds and fishes; they are ecosystem engineers, influencing nutrient cycling, coastal vegetation, and sediment dynamics. The displacement of fiddler crabs affects species distributions and trophic interactions within their ecosystems, leading to shifts in the community structure of coastal environments. According to wildlife researchers Raymond Pierotti and Daniel Wildcat, traditional ecological knowledge posits that no single organism can exist without the web of life forms around it. This highlights the interconnectedness of all species, demonstrating how a shift in fiddler crab range can, in turn, prompt unintended victims of coastal threats. 

Habitat loss is the number one threat to wildlife around the world. As coasts become increasingly fragile, species within these areas experience habitat loss and fragmentation. Carolyn Mostello, a coastal waterbird biologist at MassWildlife, has been studying the interactions between terns and coastal threats on Bird Island in Marion, Massachusetts. Coastal habitats serve as crucial breeding grounds, feeding areas, and refuges for a diverse array of plant and animal species. Sea birds dynamically inhabit marine and terrestrial habitats, making them extremely vulnerable to climate change. The nesting grounds of roseate terns on Bird Island now confront the peril of sea level rise and storm destruction, resulting in habitat loss and diminished breeding opportunities. According to Mostello, “Oceans bordering New England are warming faster than most areas of the world.” Mostello also mentioned a subsequent decrease in the abundance of roseate tern prey due to rising temperatures, thus heightening the terns’ vulnerability to habitat changes. In a parallel struggle, common terns, which share similar nesting areas with roseate terns, face habitat alterations due to sea level rise, which has transformed their traditional beach habitats into unsuitable salt marshes. Consequently, common terns have encroached upon and displaced roseate terns. Mostello recognizes the importance of protecting both species, stating, “If we weren’t out here working every summer and didn’t intensively manage the island, you would again see the [tern populations] decline very quickly.” Habitat restoration efforts on the island are successful in their results of increasing respective roseate and common tern populations. Increasing resiliency of coastlines to storms and sea level rise will enact and highlight potential solutions for better coexistence between these critical species.

Urgent awareness and action are necessary to protect the human and non-human communities who are affected by increasingly vulnerable coasts, before it becomes too late. When considering actions to fight climate change, a question naturally arises: how do we address this multifaceted and complex challenge? It is best to begin by identifying and implementing localized adaptation strategies. One approach can involve policy interventions and collaborative governance techniques. This broad application looks at the issue from a top-down perspective, commencing change from a federal, state, or municipal level and involving a fostered collaboration among all stakeholders. Measures may include ecosystem restoration, investment in infrastructure, coastal zone management, or risk assessment and planning. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection contains a Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning. Nick Angarone, the manager of this bureau and New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer, recognizes the importance of political collaboration and teamwork in addressing coastal vulnerability. “[We work] with local governments and residents to communicate the risk of climate change, plan its impacts, and implement resilience solutions that benefit both our communities and our natural environments,” Angarone said.

The question of adaptation or mitigation when addressing coastal vulnerability revolves around determining the most effective strategies to cope with and combat the impacts of a changing environment. Adaptation involves adjusting to the existing or anticipated impacts of climate change by adhering to existing societal frameworks. On the other hand, mitigation focuses on reducing causes of climate change before they become too severe, or creating new societal systems that are aligned with the goal of environmental stability and resilience. Ultimately, the choice between adaptation and mitigation depends on resource availability, severity of impact within a given location, and the level of tangibility. By implementing localized adaptation strategies and integrative policy interventions, coastal communities in the Northeast can enhance their resilience to environmental challenges and safeguard interconnected ecological systems.

Community and nature-based approaches can also be used to address coastal vulnerability in the form of bottom-up action. Implementing living shorelines, dune restoration, and wetland protection provides natural buffers to coastal hazards, not only enhancing resilience but also providing multiple co-benefits for all biotic and abiotic beings. When New York City was hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, damage to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge's coast and the mixing of seawater with freshwater resulted in the formation of brackish ponds, harming wildlife and recreationists. To buffer flooding, purify water, and better protect the coast from erosion, a living shoreline project was proposed with the help of local community members and dedicated volunteers. A living shoreline is a protected and stabilized shoreline that is made of natural materials, according to NOAA. This shoreline required 2,600 feet of recycled Christmas trees, coconut fibers, native grasses and shrubs, and more than 5,000 oyster shells to be used for shoreline restoration. Jennifer Nersesian, the superintendent of Gateway National Park where the living shoreline was implemented, states that "The Living Shoreline Project shows that rather than trying to fight nature, we're learning to embrace it." Off Long Island Sound in Connecticut, the Stratford Point Living Shoreline consists of a shellfish reef out of cement “reef balls” to establish natural protections against wave energy and disrupt coastal erosion. With the help of Audubon and Audubon Connecticut, local organizations and communities have collaborated on the facilitation of the largest living shoreline in New England. Engaging local communities in decision-making processes regarding resilience-building and climate-adaptation activities supports more than physical restoration and protection. Promoting climate literacy, disaster preparedness, and sustainable behaviors can motivate and empower communities to take proactive measures to reduce their vulnerability and enhance their resilience.

It is easy to feel hopeless when facing all of the death and destruction caused by climate change in the world, but by focusing on localized issues with tangible solutions, we can regain a sense of agency and optimism and make meaningful progress toward protecting our communities. Resilient pathways for a sustainable future must be forged through multi-stakeholder approaches, which entail the collaborative engagement and representation of all inhabitants of coastal regions, including humans and wildlife. By fostering inclusive dialogue, incorporating diverse human and non-human perspectives, and utilizing collective expertise, such approaches can facilitate the development of holistic strategies that effectively address the complex challenges facing coastal areas. From this, a promotion of long-term sustainability and resilience for both human and non-human ecological communities can be established. Amidst the challenges confronting coastal regions, there exists an opportunity for collective action and innovation to catalyze positive change and build a brighter future. By embracing the principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, we can work together to overcome these obstacles and ensure the prosperity of present and future coastal communities around the world. H

Art by Casey Benderoth