Town of Duxbury Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan

April 2018 Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan
Prepared for the Town of Duxbury by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Climate change is the most compelling environmental, economic, and social issue of our time. Duxbury contains a rich fabric of cultural and natural assets the community through time has had the foresight to protect. Duxbury Beach is a critically important resource affording shoreline protection to the Town and neighboring communities, supporting threatened and endangered species habitat, enabling diverse recreation opportunities, and supporting economic vitality. However, Duxbury routinely experiences coastal flooding and inundation with even just a lunar high tide. Projected sea level rise and changes in intensity of storm and precipitation events compel the need to assess the vulnerability of Duxbury’s people and places as well as plan for protecting its future. This report summarizes the latest climate risks, evaluates the vulnerability of Duxbury’s critical infrastructure and resources, and creates an action for incremental steps toward greater resilience and community vibrancy in an uncertain future.

Senior Environmental Planner
Darci Schofield

GIS/Data Analysis
Darci Schofield
Eliza Wallace