Crumbling buildings on Straight Wharf after World War II. The sign on the end of the building is advertising Cape Cod Seaplanes, Inc. Sign on right is "Gasoline and oil for boats and autos". (Courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association)

1940s snapshot taken after a storm, on Straight Wharf, looking towards town. (Courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association)

Aftermath of the 1991 "No Name Storm" of November 1991, showing lumber debris on Old North Wharf. (Courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association)

1920-40s image of damaged boats, buildings, and docks covered in ice and snow. Likely commercial wharf. An unidentified man is tying up a main sail on a sailboat. (Courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association)

Photograph shows the view from the Clock Tower including Straight Wharf, Old South Wharf, and Commercial Wharf; houses with gardens; coal stores; J. B. Macy. (Courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association)

The piers and wharves experience regular storm damage, but even routine maintenance requires teams of specialists and heavy equipment. The 2022 wharf rehabilitation included replacing the entire bulkhead along the south side of the wharf, as well as all of the finger piers, docks and pilings. (Will Kinsella photo)

Multiple barges and heavy equipment were used during the reconstruction of the 1968 bulkheads., Although there was a lot of discussion about raising the bulkheads for coastal resiliency and sea level rise, they were replaced at roughly the same height. Increasing the bulkhead heights in the future will need to be coordinated with neighboring property owners. (Will Kinsella photo)

Nantucket has already experienced 8” of sea level rise since 1965 so our very high tides are even more high. For many, there is no “worse” worst-case scenario than finding your dock in the middle of the winter completely submerged in freezing waters. This can lead to lead to water absorption into the wood, causing irreparable damage and potential rotting. Across the way on Steamboat Wharf there is a NOAA Tide Gauge that is continuously monitoring a range of weather and water conditions versus time. This information is available publicly at the NOAA website and electronic records exist back to 1965. High tide, January 2023. (Photo by Will Kinsella)

2019 Conditions. Using LIDAR 3D scanners and NOAA flood projections, the University of Florida's Preservation Institute Nantucket has been able to provide visualizations of sea level rise projections against precise building elevation measurements. (Image Courtesy of University of Florida Preservation Institute Nantucket)

Buildings on Old North Wharf have been extensively restored and are impeccably well-maintained, but are especially at risk. If you own a historic property there are special considerations when reducing flood risk at historic properties. Nantucket Island, along with its sister islands Tuckernuck and Muskeget, are designated as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) District. New construction or changes to any existing building or structure on Nantucket must be reviewed by the Nantucket Historic District Commission (HDC). This includes floodproofing modifications that impact the architectural character or environmental setting of the property. For specific guidance on appropriate coastal risk reduction approaches for historic properties, refer to the Resilient Nantucket: Flooding Adaptation & Building Elevation Design Guidelines.

(Photo by Theo Kinsella)

2019 NOAA Intermediate-High scenarios predicted 4.54' sea level rise projections (above NAVD88) for the year 2060. Using LIDAR 3D scanners and NOAA flood projections, the University of Florida's Preservation Institute: Nantucket has been able to provide visualizations of sea level rise projections against precise building elevation measurements. (Image Courtesy of University of Florida Preservation Institute Nantucket)

2019 NOAA Intermediate-High scenarios predicted 4.54' sea level rise projections (above NAVD88) for the year 2080. Using LIDAR 3D scanners and NOAA flood projections, the University of Florida's Preservation Institute: Nantucket has been able to provide visualizations of sea level rise projections against precise building elevation measurements. (Image Courtesy of University of Florida Preservation Institute Nantucket)

2019 NOAA Intermediate-High scenarios predicted 4.54' sea level rise projections (above NAVD88) for the year 2100. Using LIDAR 3D scanners and NOAA flood projections, the University of Florida's Preservation Institute Nantucket has been able to provide visualizations of sea level rise projections against precise building elevation measurements. (Image Courtesy of University of Florida Preservation Institute Nantucket)

In the Spring of 2021 ReMain Nantucket convened a group of more than 20 local and regional advisors to bring expertise in conservation, public works, real estate, architecture, historic preservation, natural resources, marine biology, fisheries, civil engineering, art, science, and transportation to participating university teams. This interdisciplinary group provided resources and insight as the teams moved through the spring 2021 semester and examined the complex issue of sea level rise on Nantucket. During the 2021 Envision Resilience Nantucket Challenge, the student teams were untethered to local zoning, policy and permitting regulations and encouraged to design big and bold, as you will see in their visionary, out-of-the-box ideas. Though the designs may be far from shovel-ready, they created the space for our community to engage in more positive, hopeful and meaningful conversations about our future. (Photo Courtesy of Envision Resilience)

The University of Miami team recommended a holistic building block approach to tackling the increasing climate stressors and shocks Nantucket will face over the coming decades. Rather than a stand-alone project, the team suggests a master plan, composed of complimentary and interconnected elements, layered over time, can best serve the residents of the town, while catalyzing change to each of the three study areas. Such a plan connects strategies that in turn are part of a toolkit of tactics and policies aimed at ensuring Nantucket’s adjustment to climate change. Instead of fighting the rising seas the overarching theme of the team is one of “living with water.” (Image Courtesy of Envision Resilience)