Project Portal

Building Capacity for Resilience of Human and Natural Communities in New Hampshire Dune Systems: Phase II

The coastal communities of Hampton and Seabrook are increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven threats such as erosion, storm surge, and sea level rise. Sand dunes play an important role in buffering the coastline from erosion and flooding; however, use and development of the dunes has resulted in the current dune extent constituting a small fraction (16%) of the historic distribution. The dunes that remain face continued pressure from storm surge, dune die-off, and trampling of beachgrass by users of the area. In 2015-2016, a community based restoration effort supported by the NH Coastal Program was initiated. Building on the successes and lessons learned from that project, this project will expand and refocus restoration and planning efforts to identify and address existing vulnerabilities in the communities of Hampton and Seabrook. This project continues restoration work in the same areas as the first phase of work and expands restoration work into Plaice Cove in Hampton, NH.

Project Lead

University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and New Hampshire Sea Grant

Funding

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program
$78,888

Time Frame

Start: January 18, 2017
End: June 30, 2018

Hampton Beach State Park community dune grass garden