Fact Sheet Oct 25, 2021

Climate Change at Northeast Coastal National Parks

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National parks along the north Atlantic Coast are at the forefront of climate change. As sea levels rise, seasons shift and unpredictable weather bring more frequent and severe storms, our treasured coastal national parks offer some of the best solutions for combating today’s climate threats.

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Ellis Island National Monument with New York City in the background.

  camera icon ©Felix Mizioznikov | Dreamstime
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The factor by which sea level rise in the northeast exceeds the global average.*

Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>A very high tide covers Derby Wharf and seawall at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.</p>

A very high tide covers Derby Wharf and seawall at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

 camera icon ©Jeff Folger (Ex-Ranger)
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>Damage sustained to the Herring Cove Beach northern parking lot from winter storms bringing heavy shoreline erosion in 2018. Since then, the National Park Service has relocated the Herring Cove beach parking lot and bathhouse further inland to avoid future repairs.</p>

Damage sustained to the Herring Cove Beach northern parking lot from winter storms bringing heavy shoreline erosion in 2018. Since then, the National Park Service has relocated the Herring Cove beach parking lot and bathhouse further inland to avoid future repairs.

 camera icon © Merrily Cassidy | USA TODAY NETWORK
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>Storm surge pounds the deteriorating seawall at Fort Hancock which serves as the only defense protecting historic buildings from high tides and coastal storms on Officers Row at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area.</p>

Storm surge pounds the deteriorating seawall at Fort Hancock which serves as the only defense protecting historic buildings from high tides and coastal storms on Officers Row at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area.

 camera icon © Geraldine Scull
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>Erosion of stairs at Nauset Light Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.</p>

Erosion of stairs at Nauset Light Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.

 camera icon © Cape Cod Times | Steve Heaslip
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>NPS Incident Management Team walk along the southern walkway of Liberty Island to assess the damage following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Paving bricks were uplifted and underlying pavement damaged during the storm.</p>

NPS Incident Management Team walk along the southern walkway of Liberty Island to assess the damage following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Paving bricks were uplifted and underlying pavement damaged during the storm.

 camera icon © NPS | Daley
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>Acadia’s historic carriage roads sustained extensive damage following a severe rainstorm in June 2021 which closed 10 miles of the 45-mile carriage road network in the park.</p>

Acadia’s historic carriage roads sustained extensive damage following a severe rainstorm in June 2021 which closed 10 miles of the 45-mile carriage road network in the park.

 camera icon NPS Photo
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>NPS Resource staff documenting damage to the Ferry Building at Ellis Island National Monument following Hurricane Sandy.</p>

NPS Resource staff documenting damage to the Ferry Building at Ellis Island National Monument following Hurricane Sandy.

 camera icon NPS Photo | Veolinger
Activating this link will open a larger version of the image in the same window for a more detailed viewing. <p>Superstorm Sandy’s tidal surge destroyed the Silver Gull Beach Club at Fort Tilden, Gateway National Recreation Area.</p>

Superstorm Sandy’s tidal surge destroyed the Silver Gull Beach Club at Fort Tilden, Gateway National Recreation Area.

 camera icon NPS Photo | Molloy

More Reading on the Impact of Climate Change on National Parks

Funding

Restoration

Education

*Source: https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/

Read more from NPCA