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
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, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related nondiscrimination mandates in all programs and activities. DVRPC's website, www.dvrpc.org, may be translated into multiple languages. Publications and other public documents can usually be made available in alternative languages and formats, if requested. DVRPC’s public meetings are always held in ADA-accessible facilities, and held in transit-accessible locations whenever possible. Translation, interpretation, or other auxiliary services can be provided to individuals who submit a request at least seven days prior to a public meeting. Translation and interpretation services for DVRPC’s projects, products, and planning processes are available, generally free of charge, by calling (215) 592-1800. All requests will be accommodated to the greatest extent possible.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice by DVRPC under Title VI and/or ADA has a right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with DVRPC's Title VI Compliance Manager, Alison Hastings, and/or the appropriate state or federal agency within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. 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.