Well, maybe not yet, but the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Sea Level Rise Task Force is working on a series of recommendations for dealing with rising sea levels.

More than 62 percent of the state’s population lives in marine coastal counties, according to the task force. And, the Hudson River is an “arm of the sea.”

The geographic scope of the task force report will include the five boroughs of New York City and the counties of Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk. The tidal waters of the Hudson River to the Federal Dam at Troy will also be included because of the potential risks from rising waters to Hudson River ecosystems, drinking water supplies and infrastructure.

Each meeting will feature an informal open house session, followed by staff presentations and a public-comment period. The open house includes exhibits related to various aspects of climate change and sea level rise. Agency staff will be available to explain the exhibits and answer questions. Those interested may come at any time during the scheduled open house. The meetings give the public an opportunity to provide input on the task force’s work plan.

“Global warming is one of the most significant environmental and economic issues of our generation. I commend Commissioner Grannis and his staff for convening this important planning group and urge the public and elected officials to participate in this process that will help the state chart a responsible course on this issue,” said Governor David A. Paterson.

Climate change is resulting in increased rates of sea level rise, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report. Conservative projections of sea level rise by the end of the century are 7 to 23 inches, but some projections predict a rise of more than four and a half feet by 2100.

Rising seas and increased storm surges will
put New York’s coastlines at risk.Rising sea levels pose serious threats to coastal communities and natural resources around the globe, altering natural ecosystems and affecting the habitability of coastal cities and towns. More than 62 percent of New York’s population lives in marine coastal counties.

According to the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment conducted in 2007 by the Union of Concerned Scientists, as seas rise,

• Beaches and bluffs will suffer increased erosion, while the risk of severe flooding and storm damage will increase.


• Low-lying areas will be inundated, with potential for saltwater to infiltrate into surface waters and aquifers.

Sewage and septic systems, as well as transportation infrastructure, are at risk from flooding and erosion.