North Carolina's leaders, and those in local communities along the coast, would do well to follow the suggestions in a new, independent study of rising sea levels by an expert in the field who also happens to work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Jim Titus, lead author of the study published in Environmental Research Letters, says governments in areas that would feel the sea level rises most acutely ought to be planning for them when it comes to further development.
That would mean allowing some areas on the coast to turn into marshes or beaches, and taking extra precautions with new projects that might be in the ocean's path.
"Even though we know sea level is rising," Titus said, "people are moving into vulnerable areas at a rapid rate. It exposes people to living below sea level. It also stops the wetlands from migrating inland."
State Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro has the right idea: those who might be considering coastal property need to know the risks of erosion resulting from the ways of nature, or what might happen to that property after flooding from storm damage. She favors stronger regulations on development.
It's hard to mediate a stand-off between people with that view and development interests who believe any further regulation would stifle worthwhile projects. But the anything-goes argument is growing weaker. There have been ongoing disputes, for example, over whether insurance customers all over the state should in effect supplement rates for coastal property owners. And in too many cases, areas ripped by storms have seen redevelopment with little apparent concern about the future vulnerability of those places.
The state should prepare for rising sea levels before the water hits our toes.
