The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released the “New Jersey’s Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment” ccvamp-final
The sea level is rising faster than forecast. Saltwater intrusion is a current and severe problem. The United States Geological Survey reports, “Saltwater intrusion has occurred to some degree in many of the coastal aquifers of the United States. Since saltwater cannot be used to irrigate crops or be consumed by people, saltwater intrusion can be very problematic to coastal communities that rely on fresh groundwater supplies for the livelihood.”
In New Jersey, saltwater intrusion is killing thousands of Atlantic White Cedar trees and turning the acreage into “ghost forests”.
Ghost Forest / Photo credit: Frank Kummer