On Sept. 7 the Martha’s Vineyard Museum hosted a historical review of the Vineyard Haven Harbor area and the risk climate change poses to our only deep water harbor. We learned that the inner harbor breakwater was built in 1905 and Bass Creek was filled in as two adaptations to economic change from servicing thousands of ships to that of more year-round residents and many thousands of tourists.

We were asked to imagine how we could adapt to warming seas, rising sea levels, more powerful storms, droughts and the impact on drinking water and nitrogen loads.

In the 1980s Tisbury heard from scientists what changes could help, but the citizens did not act on these recommendations.

What will help us build momentum now for public agreement to make changes to ensure the operation of Vineyard Haven Harbor? Can we enlist citizens throughout the Island as we all depend on this now most secure harbor?
There are serious financial and political questions that are raised by this need. The harbor area is largely in private hands. Is there a way for us as a town and as an Island to respond for change politically? Or is the model only that of individual owners alone deciding to do something or nothing?

Some in the audience brought up how the Netherlands government made major changes to protect its common good. Would it not help us to hear their history and political process?

Insurance companies are increasingly forcing the hands of some owners. Some areas will not be granted insurance. Will this matter? Or will the wealth of some who need no mortgage use the land along our harbor for however long they can regardless of the risk to the common good?

What sources of revenue will pay for changes we might make? Vineyard Haven relies largely on residential taxes for supporting public government and all services, including schools. Commerce contributes 12 per cent. As the town with the highest tax rate, the citizens are already struggling, especially those on fixed incomes. Will state or federal dollars be able to fund major changes to protect our working harbor and Beach Road? Will we not be in competition with more populated areas both in Massachusetts and elsewhere who also are adversely impacted by climate change? Other Vineyard areas will also have needs.

Timing is critical and choices need to be made soon. Creating a barrier jetty in Eastville or creating channels below Beach Road will take time. Creating a salt marsh also takes time. These and other choices could help the Vineyard Haven harbor better cope with surging tides and rising seas.

I appreciate deeply that both our local papers have had numerous articles on this issue over many years and that towns have initiated studies that will hopefully make us eligible for grants to address these matters and prepare our communities. In Tisbury, town leaders and boards have been meeting and their summary of findings are available online entitled Tisbury Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness. Groups such as the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Vineyard Conservation Society have also made concerted efforts, including preparing maps pertaining to impact available to all. There is also a strong activist group regarding Vineyard climate change. I found it helpful to Google climate change and Martha’s Vineyard as there is a lot online. But becoming better informed myself is insufficient.

We all need as citizens to work on this together over our dinner tables, in small and large groups in libraries and schools and town halls well before matters come before town meeting or the voting booth. We painfully learned this in regard to the Tisbury School and now going forward in regard to our regional high school as well.

On the bright side, we can also remember what students in West Tisbury concerned about climate change brought about up-Island last year when they both learned and acted together in several town meetings to bring about change. We need to be open to their efforts this year as they bring their knowledge and activism to down-Island towns.

Most recently many students and citizens participated both here and in Boston and New York in marches calling for action. As an older citizen who so loves this Island, I know I must now do much more. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg has challenged all of us to not look just to the young to take action or give us hope that change is possible. We all must keep learning and taking action. We can be responsive to what is a very present risk to all of us.

Jean Hay

Vineyard Haven