Demarest Lloyd State Park Ecological Restoration Concept Design and Phased Retreat Feasibility Study, Dartmouth, MA

August's MassFM Lunch and Learn will feature a presentation held on Thursday August 13th.

According to the 2022 Cl2022 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, Demarest Lloyd State Park in Dartmouth is one of the most vulnerable parks for rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is conducting a planning study to develop alternatives for a phased retreat that will restore critical natural habitats and incorporate changing future conditions into the location and design of the recreational facilities. Concept ideas include removing some of the parking places and creating a looping bike and walking trail.

This study is the first of its kind for DCR and will serve as a state pilot project. It will allow the agency to explore this type of restoration and adaptation strategy, inform retreat options for similar coastal sites within the DCR State Parks System, and support efforts to accomplish the agency’s climate adaptation goals. The project team for the Demarest Lloyd State Park has been documenting existing conditions at the park, doing archaeological studies, running climate models and collecting public input. This is a planning study only and funding has not been secured for any implementation activities.

Speakers

Celeste DePalma, DCR Climate Resilience Program Coordinator is Program Coordinator at the Office of Climate Resilience in the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. In this role, she supports and coordinates the integration, maintenance, and roll out of climate resilience decision-making tools, science, and data across DCR initiatives and internal processes. Celeste brings more than 10 years of combined experience in the nonprofit and public sectors in wetlands restoration, water and climate policy. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Celeste received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Florida International University and her Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from Northeastern University..