The media is filled with images of melting arctic ice and stranded polar bears. But how will these changes affect folks in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania? In 2008, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary decided to study the local impacts of recurring extreme weather events by participating in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Ready Estuaries Program. This investigation brought climate science home with local predictions by focusing on three vulnerable resources: drinking water, shellfish and wetlands.

With the science in place, Weathering Change launched to help engage community leaders and spread the message of preparedness and adaptation.

For the Delaware Estuary, recurring extreme weather events will require adapting to rising waters from the sea and land. Coastal communities in particular need to be aware of sea level rise projections when planning for the future of their neighborhoods. Communities, businesses, and homeowners can use “green infrastructure,” which are natural materials like plants and soil used to make natural features adapt. Living shorelines are one example of protecting our coasts.

Others can be used on properties to slow the flow of stormwater and absorb it into the soil, helping to prevent flash floods. By planting trees and installing rain gardens, property owners can also create landscapes that absorb excess water and filter it before it reaches our waterways. There are so many ways to adapt your home and community for the changes ahead.

You can help combat recurring extreme weather events:

• Stormwater How-to Guides
• Corporate Environmental Stewardship

Sea Level Rise Maps

• Delaware DNREC – Sea Level Rise Inundation Maps
• New Jersey Rutgers – Vulnerability of NJ Coastal Habitats to Sea Level Rise
• Pennsylvania Sea Level Rise Maps for Pennsylvania
• Regional FloodSmart.gov