Climate change resilience plan draft referred to Dewey council
The Dewey Beach Resiliency and Sustainability Committee recently referred to town council a final draft of a resilience plan, a major step in helping the town better understand and protect itself against the effects of climate change and sea-level rise.
The draft, which the committee approved March 4, includes a revised scope of work, a 10-month timeline and a $75,000 cost estimate for a comprehensive resilience study.
It was developed with the help of Brent Jett, an associate, project manager and coastal resiliency group leader at George, Miles & Buhr, the engineering design firm the committee has recommended for the project.
The scope includes laying out the methodology and framework; preparing and reviewing previous studies and existing data, including maps and exhibits of existing conditions; showing projected impacts; engaging with the community and stakeholders; reviewing short-, medium- and long-term goals; analyzing maps, data and public input; identifying what strategies may be successful in at-risk areas; drafting a final report for review; presenting the findings to the public; and recommending educational strategies to enhance understanding of flood mitigation.
The committee is proposing the town use some of its infrastructure funds to pay for the project. It hopes to present the proposal to the infrastructure committee, hopefully in April, to get approval to use those funds.
While the proposed timeline for the project starts with a notice to proceed Wednesday, April 1, Commissioner Gary Persinger said he expects that date to be pushed back.
The draft is being submitted to town council for consideration at its Friday, March 20 meeting.
To view the draft or to watch a recording of the committee’s March 4 meeting, go to townofdeweybeach.gov/events/43023/.
Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.
