The coastline is a most hazardous place to develop. The sands, especially of the barrier islands, are constantly shifting and may be washed away with any large storm. Waves, winds, and flooding from these storms are also a regular danger. Even worse, the mean sea level is on the rise and forecast to increase up to 3 feet in the next 100 years. Sea level rise, of course, threatens to engulf much of the coastline. Despite all this, development is on the increase up and down both of our coasts, as this article in the Miami Herald notes.
Also as the article notes, this is likely to mean expensive measures to save this development. It is certainly likely in urban areas such as Miami and New York. However, what of the huge amounts of development occurring elsewhere along the coastline? It is not very likely that sea walls will be built along the entire East Coast. It would be far too costly. Instead, much of the area is likely to be abandoned. However, is this being taken into account when development is being planned or permitted? It seems quite unlikely, especially when developers are likely to walk away well before their construction will be threatened. Also, the only planning tools being used right now only take into account estimates of current risk based on past events, which will further encroach inland as time goes by. It seems that we are spending our money foolishly and that the coming generations will lose much due to the foolishness of our investments.
Tags: climate change, coastal, development
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