Product No.: 04037
Date Published: 06/2004
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This publication investigates the potential impacts of sea level rise on wetlands, salinity, water quality, public access, and hazardous waste sites in Pennsylvania's coastal zone. The study area for this analysis includes all land below the USGS 20-foot (1929) NGVD contour. The study concludes that a three- to four-foot rise in sea level during the next 100 years will have a wide range of impacts. Rising seas will inundate almost all of Pennsylvania's 1,500 acres of tidal wetlands. The salt line in the Delaware River will migrate further upstream, threatening Philadelphia's drinking water supply. The pollutants found in contaminated sites may be released into estuary waters. Efforts to increase public access to the waterfront may be jeopardized by rising waters. However, more open spaces on the waterfront would provide opportunities for wetland migration and could eliminate the need for expensive and environmentally destructive shoreline armoring schemes.Geographic Area Covered: The Pennsylvania Coastal Zone as defined by the shoreline of the Delaware River and the 20-foot contour in Bucks, Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania.
Key Words: Sea level rise, coastal zone, Delaware Estuary, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, wetlands, coastal wetlands, wetland migration, salinity, water quality, public access, shoreline armoring, hazardous waste sites, climate.
Staff Contact(s)
- Christopher J. Linn, AICP (clinn@dvrpc.org)
Translation Request
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Title VI Statement
In effect as of January 30, 2025
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related nondiscrimination mandates in all programs and activities. DVRPC is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, all programs and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or income level, as protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other related nondiscrimination mandates.
DVRPC's website, www.dvrpc.org, may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. DVRPC’s public meetings are always held in ADA-accessible facilities and in transit-accessible locations whenever possible. DVRPC will work to accommodate all reasonable requests for translation, interpretation, accommodations or other auxiliary services and encourages that requests be made at least seven days prior to a public meeting. Requests can be made by contacting the Commission’s ADA and Title VI Compliance Officer Shoshana Akins via email at public_affairs@dvrpc.org, calling (215) 592-1800, or while registering for an upcoming meeting.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice by DVRPC under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with DVRPC's ADA and Title VI Compliance Officer Shoshana Akins and/or the appropriate state or federal agency within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Complaints that a program, service, or activity of DVRPC is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to Shoshana Akins as well. For more information on DVRPC's Title VI program or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, please visit: www.dvrpc.org/GetInvolved/TitleVI, call (215) 592-1800, or email public_affairs@dvrpc.org.