- Neighborhoods have been built on wetlands and the porous soil is gradually compressing
- Drinking water pumped from aquifers has caused ground subsidence
- The weight of retreating glaciers to the north uplifted the coast—and that uplift is still reversing
- And—oh, by the way—the entire region teeters on the rim of the Chesapeake Bay impact crater, which is slowly pulling land into itself like a magnet.
In the coming weeks and months I'll be sharing results from my research on this subject. I plan to see how other countries and cities are addressing sea-level rise. Who are the innovators? What is the cost-benefit analysis? What are the specific challenges we face right here in Tidewater?
Let me be clear from the start: I have a vested interest in the outcome. My neighborhood and my house are at risk from tidal flooding. I'm also a believer in public works projects, of investing in infrastructure. Sea level rise is no small problem. Let's think big about solutions.