NATCHEZ ON THE WATERFRONT 15


on larger river systems, just about as much as those on the coast. The damage that is already being sustained is staggering, causing breaches in breakwaters, crumpling both fixed and floating docks like sheets of paper. Seawalls are being overtopped, bulkheads are being undermined along with tiebacks being pulled out, buildings are being flooded and lifted off their foundations and innumerable other problems are being created. On a more mundane level are the number of roads, car parks and other areas now being flooded during almost every moon tide. This type of flooding has become so common along the Grand Canal in Venice that many of the cafes along the waterfront keep a stock of Wellington boots on hand and it’s not uncommon to see diners sitting at the tables with their feet in the water! So, what can be done? Well, there is an old Jerry Lewis movie that comes to mind, “If You Can’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the Water”. In fact, I think we need to work on both raising the bridges and lowering the water or at least helping to keep the water from reaching those six foot projections mentioned earlier. In order to do this, one needs to take a longer-term view of


capital planning, maintenance and operations. On the need to raise bridges,


facilities that have pile-anchored floating docks should think about longer piles to hold their docks in place in rising water elevations, as well as flood levels. Thought should be given to raising the top elevations of the shoreline interfaces, as well as raising their low uplands if within the flood elevation ranges. Raising office, chandlery store, restaurants and other buildings in flood areas may be encouraged by governmental agencies, but many times mandated. The trick is to be proactive and employ the most cost-efficient course of action. A longer-term solution to flooding is often provided by raising the building slightly higher than the minimum current requirement, while also allowing for parking or low profile boat storage beneath the building. Facilities always need more parking with Winter storage, as well as for seasonal events, festivals and holidays.


Among the challenges on the


infrastructure front is encouraging the regulatory bureaucracy to move in a direction that might help facilitate the changes that will need to happen if existing lands and facilities are to be defended. We are


The damage that is already being sustained


is staggering, causing breaches in breakwaters, crumpling both fixed and floating docks like sheets of paper. Seawalls are being overtopped, bulkheads are being undermined along with tiebacks being pulled out, buildings are being flooded and lifted off their foundations and innumerable other problems are being created.


forever running into battles when it comes to having higher pile heights, taller buildings (because they are elevated) or bringing in hardcore to raise the ground elevation. We are too often dealing with rules that are quickly becoming outdated by the new realities. To create these changes, the industry needs to work together to begin moving things in an ‘upward’ direction.


Damage at Piermont in New York State.


six feet by 2100. While there are disagreements within the scientific community, most agree that sea level rise is accelerating, as is climate change. So, since almost every marina,


boatyard and yacht club is located along the water, as the waters rise and climate change brings more frequent and severe storm events, the vulnerability is increasing. Episodic storms are occurring


more often, bringing strong wave energies and higher flood water levels, with those storms impacting inland facilities, especially those


Boats toppled from their stands. DECEMBER 2019 • MARINA INDUSTRY • EURO-REPORT


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