ResilientWoodsHole in the News

Local, Regional, National

Here are 8 environmental projects to watch in 2023
Cape Cod Times identifies ResilientWoodsHole as a project to watch in the new year (Cape Cod Times, Dec 2022)

How a Cape Cod restaurant is preparing to face rising seas alongside Woods Hole scientists
Cape Cod Times reporter Heather McCarron explores RWH's climate resilience plans (Cape Cod Times, Oct 2022)

Community and Climate Risk in a New England Village
Inside Climate News reporter Hannah Loss explores RWH's Comprehensive Climate Change Adaptation Plan (Inside Climate News, Oct 2022)

ResilientWoodsHole Symposium Releases New Interactive Maps for Public Engagement
Resilient Woods Hole Releases New, Interactive Tools to Engage Community in Planning for Climate Change (Environmental, Coastal and Offshore Magazine, Feb. 2022)

Inside Look At Impacts Of Climate Change In Woods Hole
Symposium To Give Residents An Inside Look At Impacts Of Climate Change In Woods Hole (Falmouth Enterprise, Nov. 2021)

'No Easy Answers'
'No Easy Answers' WHOI Building pProject Designed for Sea-level rise (Cape Cod Times, Aug. 2021)

From the Partner Institutions

RWH Awarded CZM Grant:
Resilient Woods Hole Awarded Grant from Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (WHOI, Oct. 2022)

Adapt or Retreat:
Adapt or Retreat: No Solution is Off the Table to Prepare for Sea Level Rise in Woods Hole (WHOI, Nov. 2021)

Pro-Active Climate Resiliency Planning for Woods Hole
Public Symposium on 11/18 (MBL, Nov. 2021)

Collaborate on Coastal Resiliency Plans
Woods Hole Institutions and Town of Falmouth Collaborate on Coastal Resiliency Plans (MBL, Sept. 2021)

Begin Adaptation Plans for Coastal Flooding
Woods Hole Institutions Begin Adaptation Plans for Coastal Flooding of Campus Assets (MBL, Oct. 2020)

FACT: Hurricane Carol

10.1ft STORM SURGE

Hurricane Carol (1954), a Category 3 hurricane, brought wind gusts of more than 100 mph and storm surge of 10.1 feet in Woods Hole. Storm damage in Falmouth was assessed at $2.75 million.

Events

Learn how the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) are preparing their ocean-front facilities for sea level rise and storm surge, and how community leaders and government officials from the federal, state, and local levels envision our shared future.

2022 Phase 3 Community Workshop #2: Adaptation Pathways

About this event

Earlier this year the Woods Hole residential, business, and science community engaged on the issue of local vulnerability to sea level rise and coastal storms through a virtual Community Visioning Workshop (2/9/22), interactive online maps, and an online stakeholder survey. ResilientWoodsHole has reviewed coastal vulnerability in the context of community vision and preferences, and drafted dynamic adaptation pathways – flexible and incrementally implementable responses to climate change impacts over time.

We invite you to join us in-person at the Gus Canty Community Center (5/19 at 5pm) to review and provide your input on the suite of strategies for coastal resilience in Woods Hole. This will be an interactive workshop.

Event Specifics:

Coastal Resilience in Woods Hole: Charting a Course Forward

Date and Time: Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Location: Gus Canty Community Center, Falmouth, MA (790 Main St, Falmouth, MA 02540)

View the presentation here: RWH_Ph3_Workshop2

To view the workshop materials and provide your input, click here.

2022 Phase 3 Community Visioning Workshop

About this event

A community-based discussion, with stakeholders from Woods Hole businesses, residential and science communities and the Town of Falmouth, on how they would like to see the village adapt to sea-level rise and coastal storms. The Woods Hole Group, a partner in ResilientWoodsHole, has developed interactive maps with comment tools for stakeholder feedback.

This workshop is part of ResilientWoodsHole’s efforts to engage the local community in a dialogue about coastal flooding risks; identify village flood pathways and vulnerabilities; and discuss long-term adaptation strategies.

View the presentation here: RWH_Ph3_Workshop1

Introductory remarks

Leslie McGee, Project Manager at WHOI and Manager of ResilientWoodsHole

Presentations:

Joe Famely, Woods Hole Group
Shannon Hulst, Deputy Director/CRS Coordinator at Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Amy Lowell, Wastewater Superintendent for Town of Falmouth

View the Symposium

2021 Phase 2 Public Symposium

About this event

An in-depth discussion of how the ResilientWoodsHole initiative is planning to ensure the future of our vibrant seaside community. Woods Hole is a productive blue economy and residential village facing major climate impacts—including sea-level rise and coastal storms. Learn how Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Marine Biological Laboratory, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center have partnered with the Town of Falmouth and local stakeholders to develop a comprehensive phased strategy for Woods Hole village that integrates resilient design concepts and community visioning.

View the presentation here: RWH_Ph2

Introductory remarks

Nipam Patel, Director, Marine Biological Laboratory

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Leslie McGee, WHOI

Climate Science Contributions: What are our very own Woods Hole Scientists doing?

Carol Anne Clayson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Jerry Melillo, Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)
Paula Fratantoni, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Intermission

Planning and Resiliency Support for Communities: What is happening locally, regionally and state-wide?

Charlie McCaffrey, Former Chair, Falmouth Coastal Resiliency Action Committee
Amy Lowell, Wastewater Superintendent, Falmouth
Kristy Senatori, Cape Cod Commission
Patricia Bowie, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management

ResilientWoodsHole: What is it? What do we know? Where are we going?

Joe Famely, Woods Hole Group
Rob Munier, VP Marine Operations and Facilities, WHOI
Paul Speer, Chief Operations Officer, MBL
Nicole Cabana, Dep. Director, NOAA NEFSC

View the Symposium

Phase 1 Symposiums

Session 1: Resiliency Through Policy

What are the key challenges facing leaders at the federal, state, regional, and local level and how can resources best be put to use to address the multi-faceted challenges associated with climate change on Cape Cod? Hear from representatives at each level and their vision for leadership on this important issue.

Keynote

Congressman Bill Keating, Massachusetts 9th Congressional district

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Emiley Lockhart, WHOI

Panelists

Megan English Braga, Chair, Falmouth Select Board
Senator Susan Moran, Massachusetts State Senate
Dr. Rob Thieler, Center Director, U.S. Geological Survey
Kristy Senatori, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission

Session 2: A Science Community Prepares

Woods Hole is home to world-class scientific research organizations that study a wide range of topics related to climate change and climate resiliency, as well as a thriving business community. Hear how WHOI, MBL, NEFSC, and local businesses are preparing for a future of climate change impacts.

View the presentation here: RWH_Phase1