Sea Level Rise: Local and Regional Impacts

This program is part of our 2025 Climate Change Series: Coastal Impacts and Resources. This series is co-sponsored by York Public Library, York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust. Sessions include: Sea Level Rise on Feb. 12, Offshore Wind on Feb. 26, How to Speak Bird on March 12, Native Bird Stroll on March 16, Working Waterfront on March 26, Coastal Tourism and Sustainability on April 9, Helping Coastal Towns to Adapt on April 23, and Invasive Plant Removal on April 29. Most are Virtual Programs!

In this session on sea level rise, Hannah Baranes, Ph.D. (Research Scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute) will begin by discussing the science of sea level rise, its impacts to southern Maine, and future adaptation. She will address the role of climate change in the January 2024 storms; the projected acceleration in sea level rise later this century; and sea level rise impacts to southern Maine’s coastal ecosystems. She will share her perspective on how we, as individuals and communities, can prepare for future sea level rise. Following this, Dean Lessard, P.E. (Town of York Engineering Director) will provide an overview of the damage done last year along our beaches during ocean storm events. He’ll be speaking about the Town of York Long Sands Beach seawall project and how the Town is armoring our critical road infrastructure.  

Register Below! You will then receive confirmation and the zoom link for the session. 

Bio for Hannah Baranes, Ph.D. 

Dr. Hannah Baranes is a Research Scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute who studies climate impacts to the coast. Her ongoing projects aim to improve near-term flood forecasting and long-term flood risk assessment; develop tools, technical guidance, and training that support local to state-level decision-making; and assess the habitat quality and stability of tidal flats.  Hannah also is a member of the Maine Climate Council’s Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, served as a review editor on the Fifth National Climate Assessment, and co-authored the City of Boston’s regional climate projections report. She received her B.A. in Earth Sciences from Dartmouth College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Bio for Dean Lessard, P.E.

Dean is a professional engineer in Maine with over 30 years of experience in State and Local government. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine at Orono. Dean is currently the Engineering Director for the Town of York. His responsibilities include planning and project development for the Town’s Road and Bridge capital improvement projects. Previously Dean was the Public Works Director and was responsible for Town’s maintenance and operations functions related to much of the town’s critical infrastructure which includes roads, bridges, dams, sea walls, storm water, municipal solid waste and recycling.