Eastie Farm youth witness and reflect on the flooding
On September 20th, I went on a walk led by Kannan, executive director of Eastie Farm. He led a group of us to different locations around East Boston, and explained that the sea level rise will cause flooding in these areas. At Lewis Mall Harbor Park, Kannan commented that there would be “wicked high tides” later that day, causing the sidewalk to flood. He explained that the buildings nearby, including a new waterfront apartment building, are at risk of damage as this flooding will continue to get worse over the years. A co-worker remarked that he would buy a home a few blocks down from these apartments and that soon they, too, would be waterfront. Later that day, I walked back to the same area and saw the tides banging against the wall of the harbor, sloshing over the edges onto the sidewalk. I had missed the peak of the tide, but saw evidence that the tide had made it well onto the sidewalk, as there was seaweed that had been washed up before I got there.
Several Climate Corp fellows walked to Shaw’s grocery store, a location next to a boardwalk and channel of water. The fellows watched water flood into the parking lot area. They observed the effect that the sea level rise had on the parking lot, and took pictures to share. The fellows and I shared the sentiment that it was interesting to see this in person in our community, as climate change can sometimes feel like a distant issue and threat.
“East Boston’s flooding isn’t just an inconvenience– it’s a constant threat to homes, businesses, and daily life. Every storm we face highlights how urgently we need sustainable solutions to protect the community. Investing in resilient infrastructure and green spaces isn’t just wise; it’s essential if we want East Boston to thrive.”
– Damien diaz, climate corp fellow
If you would like to see and learn about these wicked high tides, Stone Living Lab is a local organization that offers a guided opportunity to do so. The organization focuses on climate change research, adaptation, and education. During the “Wicked High Tides” that this area experiences, Stone Living Lab invites people to join them at Long Wharf (waterproof shoes are recommended) to learn about the tides, allowing them to understand the science behind what they are seeing.
As the earth is warming, ice is melting, and water levels are rising. Looking at the rate of sea level rise, it may seem that it is not rising quickly. However, when we try to understand the projected future, it is difficult to fully comprehend the dangers that will come. According to Mass.gov, over half of the people who reside in Massachusetts are in coastal areas. This means that many of the people who live in our state could be at risk of issues that come with sea level rise. As a community organization in a coastal neighborhood, we witness this change in real life, and are working to demonstrate how we can transition to cleaner energy that will slow sea level rise, and therefore flooding.
