It’s the middle of summer and for those lucky enough to live in a coastal state, like us here in Connecticut, that means it's beach time! Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive outing with the family, to catch a tan, or simply to get away from the daily grind, beaches offer it all.
But what actually goes into making beaches so well-suited for summer fun? Aside from the coastal cleanup many of us remember after super storms Sandy and Irene, those in charge of our coastline must also contend with water pollution and bacteria levels, public and private access issues, funding for maintenance and facility upkeep, and even keeping enough sand on the shore to call a beach, a beach.
And if that’s not enough, climate change is now creating even more problems for our coastline. According to some estimates, sea levels could rise by up to two meters by the end of the century -- an event that would put coastal cities like Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London as well as major transportation routes at risk for huge damages.
What is being done to keep our coastline intact and beach goers safe?
GUESTS:
- Robert Klee- Commissioner of Connecticut’sDepartment of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
- James Tait- Professor of Science Education and Environmental Studies at Southern Connecticut State University and co-coordinator at the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies
- Jennifer O’donnell- CEO of Coastal Ocean Analytics and a Professor at Uconn’s Department of Marine Sciences
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John Dankosky and Allison Ehrenreich contributed to this program.
