Initiative combines University’s commitment to blue economy innovation and Town’s planning efforts
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth recently joined the town of Westport’s climate resilience planning efforts as part of its broader commitment to supporting climate adaptation efforts across the SouthCoast region.
The University will partner with the Westport Climate Resilience Committee (CRC) to assess the potential effects of climate change on critical community assets, including water and water-related resources, agricultural, fishing, and shellfishing industries, infrastructure and public safety systems, public health, and historic and cultural sites. This project is part of $8M in state funding for Blue Economy and sustainability-related research projects.
“I applaud UMass Dartmouth and Westport for collaborating on these important climate issues,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (D-Westport). “While we are addressing climate resiliency in our region, we are also leading the Commonwealth and the nation in this critical sector.”
“Resilience is about two things,” said Dr. Nefeli Bompoti, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and UMass Dartmouth’s lead on the project. “It’s about being better prepared to withstand extreme weather and having the capacity to recover quickly and effectively when events do occur.”
The CRC has already identified numerous threats and potential strategies to build resilience. John Bullard, CRC Chair, sees the UMassD partnership as a game-changer. “We’ll now have access to cutting-edge tools that can model and visualize climate impacts specific to Westport. These will help us communicate risks more effectively to town officials and residents. UMassD will also support us in creating a framework to prioritize the most impactful actions, informed by successful strategies from similar communities.”
Shana Teas, Chair of the Westport Select Board, added, “We hope the CRC’s findings and UMassD’s expertise will guide departments, boards, and committees across town as they incorporate resilience into planning and decision-making. At the same time, we want to offer clear, practical advice for residents on how they can protect their homes, property, and well-being.”