What's the big deal?
We’ve spoken to many folks living on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula who have observed the effects of rising sea level in recent years. They’ve described vast stands of dead trees, higher water tables, higher high tides, and species normally associated with brackish water moving further inland. Given that these effects are already being observed in the area, it is perhaps no surprise that the counties of the APP are considered some of the most at-risk counties to the effects of sea level rise across the entire Atlantic Coast. Because the predominant industries of rural areas like the APP are often closely tied to the environment, such as forestry, agriculture, and commercial fishing, even subtle environmental changes can more broadly impact those living in rural areas. In contrast, large cities like Miami and New Orleans may feel the effects of sea level rise in much different ways and at much different time scales. As such, the environmental changes associated with rising sea-level are likely to rapidly become one of the most pressing issues facing the residents of rural coastal areas like the APP.