Climate Change at Northeast Coastal National Parks
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.
A very high tide covers Derby Wharf and seawall at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
©Jeff Folger (Ex-Ranger)
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.
© Merrily Cassidy | USA TODAY NETWORK
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.
© Geraldine Scull
Erosion of stairs at Nauset Light Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.
© Cape Cod Times | Steve Heaslip
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.
© NPS | Daley
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.
NPS Photo
NPS Resource staff documenting damage to the Ferry Building at Ellis Island National Monument following Hurricane Sandy.
NPS Photo | Veolinger
Superstorm Sandy’s tidal surge destroyed the Silver Gull Beach Club at Fort Tilden, Gateway National Recreation Area.
NPS Photo | MolloyMore Reading on the Impact of Climate Change on National Parks
Funding
- $11.1M in Sandy Recovery Grants to Benefit Jamaica Bay at Gateway National Recreation Area
- Harbor Coalition Welcomes Sandy Recovery Funding to Repair Regional Parks
- Historic Park Funding Bill Becomes Law
Restoration
- President Biden Restores Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Northeast Canyons & Seamounts National Monuments
- The New York / New Jersey Harbor Joins America’s Great Waters Coalition to Advocate for Restoration Needs
Education
*Source: https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/
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General
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- Parks:
- Acadia National Park
- Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
- Boston National Historical Park
- Cape Cod National Seashore
- Castle Clinton National Monument
- Ellis Island National Monument
- Fire Island National Seashore
- Gateway National Recreation Area
- Governors Island National Monument
- Salem Maritime National Historic Site
- Statue of Liberty National Monument
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- NPCA Region:
- Northeast
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Issues
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Blog Post
Trump's Disastrous First 100 Days for National Parks
The new administration has targeted staff, threatened conservation rules and censored our nation’s history. But we think there’s still time to reverse course.
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Blog Post
Thinking Like a Black Bear
NPCA works to preserve landscapes and wildlife in the East’s last fully connected wilderness with its Safe Passage initiatives.
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Press Release
Yosemite Introduces Scaled Back Reservation System for Summer 2025
"Last year, over 4 million people visited Yosemite, with a more expansive reservation system in place. Smart planning doesn’t mean fewer people, just a better experience for all” -- NPCA…
