If you were wondering about the high tide that flooded the approaches to the Chappy ferry a couple of Saturdays ago for no obvious reason you are not alone. The predicted height of that tide was not unusually high. There was a little bit of a breeze that could have held the water in Nantucket Sound and Edgartown Harbor. But that tide was not expected to get even up onto Dock street, let alone flood the pavement at the base of the Edgartown ramp to a depth of over 10 inches. But it didn’t get too high for the ferry to operate.

In years past, folks were much more patient about waiting for the flood waters to recede rather than drive their car through a salt bath. These days they don’t seem to worry so much about the effects of saltwater on the mechanical workings on the underside of their vehicles. Other aspects of their plans for the day may have a greater priority. But doing something about that flooding has become a priority with the town.

Last spring, Edgartown became a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Certified Community after completing a seminar attended by department heads, elected officials and concerned citizens. A company of scientists called the Woods Hole Group facilitated the seminar. That was the beginning of a process to assess the danger that storm surges and climate change sea level rise pose to essential services, structures and utilities along the Edgartown waterfront. The Chappy Ferry is one of those essential services.

The Edgartown Conservation Commission applied for and was awarded an Action Grant for the Woods Hole Group to complete a detailed study of what is especially at risk and to figure out what can be done about it. As a certified MVP community, more grants will be available to the town to fix the problems caused by too much ocean water. The Chappy Ferry service was recognized at the outset of the project as a priority concern. So, rest assured that smart people are working on it. Hopefully in the not too distant future, flooding of Dock street will become a lot less of a common occurrence.