Interactive Climate Tour Opens in Woods Hole

“The mission of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) depends on access to the sea,” said Paul Speer, MBL’s Chief Operating Officer and a member of the RWH Steering Committee. “But we recognize that climate resiliency solutions for Woods Hole are only possible through collaboration between state, town, and local village partners. With the launch of the RWH Climate Walking Trail app, we are pleased to extend our outreach on this resiliency initiative to all who may visit Woods Hole.”

“We are grateful to Sen. Susan Moran and Rep. Dylan Fernandes for securing funding to help MBL restore the seawall in Woods Hole’s Waterfront Park, and to the state’s Office of Coastal Zone Management for funding a feasibility study of dune restoration at Stoney Beach,” Speer said. “All of these actions are building a more climate-resilient future for the village.”

"Our agency is at the forefront of monitoring and tracking the effects of climate change in our nation's ocean waters, on the animals that live there, and the communities that depend on them," said Nicole Cabana, Northeast Fisheries Science Center Deputy Director. "We are delighted to be a part of the walking trail project, which is not only fun to explore, but also shows why our everyday work matters and connects us to the larger Woods Hole scientific community and the towns in which we live."

RWH is unique in structure. Unlike large city resiliency efforts, it is a private-public collaboration between science institutions (including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Marine Biological Laboratory, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries), local businesses, residents, and other stakeholders. Backed by a best-in-class analytical partner, Woods Hole Group, and a representative Steering Committee, the RWH Initiative has gained momentum through grassroots community participation. Starting in 2019, RWH has worked together on a plan that includes nature-based solutions, protection, and maintenance of existing infrastructure, and lateral and/or vertical relocation to address rising sea levels. Collectively, the group has the expertise to address these issues because Woods Hole is home to researchers who study sea level rise and coastal resiliency, among other climate change issues. The group hopes to lead by example, from science to solutions, to show how private institutions and community members can lead the charge to secure their collective futures.

The RWH Climate Walking Trail app may be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. For additional information about Resilient Woods Hole, visit: www.resilientwoodshole.org.