When the mayors of Delaware’s seaside towns get together, the conversation inevitably turns toward the relentless threats lapping at their doorstep: The seas are rising, the storms keep growing, and flooded streets have become a fact of life, from Bethany Beach to Dewey Beach and beyond.
The leaders of these towns know that inaction is not an option. They also realize that state or federal help may never be enough. So they work together, support each other, and fight as communities, literally working to stem the tide.
That faith in unified, grassroots action is energizing Spotlight Delaware’s upcoming conference in Dewey Beach, “Shifting Sands: An Environmental Sustainability Summit.” The April 23 event will bring together some of the state’s top policymakers and change-makers, who will aim to confront Delaware’s seaside crisis head-on and give communities more power to shape their own destinies.
‘’Lots of communities are chomping at the bit right now to learn more about the bays and support the resiliency of our communities,” said Lisa Swanger, director of outreach and education at the Center for Inland Bays, one of the event’s sponsors. “I really think that people are interested in learning about the ways they can help.”
Swanger will join nearly a dozen speakers who will share their assessment of climate threats, and explore possible paths toward progress. Topics will include high-level perspectives from state officials and local clean-energy companies, along with strategies for empowering everyday citizens who seek to make a difference.
“This event is an important moment for Delaware, and a great opportunity for people who want to be part of a solution,” said Jacob Owens, editor in chief of Spotlight Delaware. “This truly is an issue that impacts us all, whether we live near the shoreline or miles from the sea.”
In the case of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, those grassroots efforts take the form of a new pilot project called the Bays to Backyards Community Engagement Program, which connects individual Delaware communities with local experts who can guide residents toward a more resilient relationship with nature.
“I personally believe that people generally want to do the right thing,” Swanger said. “The barrier they face is knowing where to start. There’s so much information out there that it can be really overwhelming. And that’s where this program shines.”
The event’s keynote speaker also will embrace that self-empowering theme. Anne Therese Gennari, author of “The Climate Optimist’s Handbook,” will share her journey from climate despair to hope, and suggest strategies for achieving meaningful action in your own community.
Bethany Beach Mayor Ron Calef knows all about that kind of action. Calef will join a discussion that outlines the impact of climate change on Delaware – what’s currently happening, and what we can expect to see over the next 10 years. The 12-year Bethany resident said 85% of the town is in a floodplain and now faces flooding 30-40 days a year.
“And it is not improving,” Calef said, despite a litany of mitigation efforts ranging from dams to dredging.
He sees room for hope – thanks to the tireless work from individuals within each town, and to those who work to keep these issues at the forefront of the public consciousness.
“I think [conferences like Shifting Sands] bring a lot of things together,” and have the potential to spur action from bigger stakeholders, he said. “Just being able to share information is absolutely great. The coastal towns, we’re all concerned, we’re all doing our thing, but maybe the state could do a little more.”
Delaware doesn’t have an emergency fund capable of fully countering a large-scale event like Superstorm Sandy, despite the high stakes of its resort economy, Calef said.
“Delaware’s coast is now the leading economic driver in this state,” he said, making it crucial for the smaller stakeholders to stand fast and be proactive.
Shifting Sands will include an update on the state’s efforts from Greg Patterson, secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; and State Sen. Stephanie Hansen, chair of the Delaware Senate’s Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee.
Other Shifting Sands speakers include Delaware State Climatologist Kevin Brinson; DNREC Climate and Sustainability Section Administrator Susan Love; and Delaware Sea Grant (DESG) Coastal Hazards Specialist Danielle Swallow, who will speak on ways to assess risk and take action, either as an individual or a community.
It’s a fight that can seem daunting for individuals and small towns, Swallow said.
“We have 57 municipalities in Delaware, and all but 11 of them have fewer than 10,000 people in their community,” she said. “A lot of the towns I work with don’t even have paid staff, and most of the budget goes toward trash collection. These communities don’t have the capacity to manage a major mitigation project that might cost millions of dollars.”
For her, then, the biggest questions are becoming more urgent by the day: How can Delaware position itself so that even its smallest communities and poorest people feel safe? How can Delaware’s land use policies become more aligned with the shift toward greater community resilience?
“I just think we need to keep beating the drum that our climate is changing and these are the things we need to be conscious of, no matter what part of the state you’re in,” she said.
Calef agreed. “We need to be looking at bigger projects that need to be in place 20 years from now, or 30 years from now,” he said. “I would say there is definitely a sense of urgency today. It’s been critical for a long time, but it’s certainly at a hotpoint right now, and I don’t see it not being a hotpoint 10 years from now.”
Shifting Sands will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 at Hyatt Place Dewey Beach. General admission tickets are $95 ($75 for Spotlight Delaware members at the Engaged level and above). Lunch is included. For more information, visit spotlightdelaware.org/shifting-sands.