When the forecast called for flooding, Wiscasset made a burrito.

Not just any burrito, this one helped protect the sewer plant. Kudos to town staff for, as we report this week, using ingenuity and sand to help fend off the storm waters. 

More climate-themed kudos to Alna, also, for meeting about climate change as one of the recent storms passed through. The climate change committee’s press release stated nearly 40 people came to the workshop “amidst flooded roads, extreme high tides, and heavy rain.” Wow. In any area town, except during a controversy, for a civic meeting to get turnout like that, even in calm weather, would be impressive.

It is good to see towns’ governments and residents rising to the issue of sea level rise and other events. Wiscasset is still exploring moving the sewer plant, and Westport Island’s conservation commission was set to meet with residents at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Old Town Hall, about “a study that will determine the impact of sea level rise due to climate change on Westport Island, and what can be done to address it,” a town announcement stated.

And Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission provides updates and other information with its monthly “LCRPC Interprets!” newsletter which LCRPC’s Laura Graziano writes. This year’s climate topic focus is on “hazard mitigation, including highlighting resources in the State and Lincoln County. Monthly topics will include looking at the types of hazards in (the county) – flooding, summer storms, winter storms, drought, wildfire, for example – and ways to mitigate the impacts from these events. With the State's Hazard Mitigation Plan being updated in 2023 and the County updating theirs in 2021 we thought this was a worthwhile climate topic to focus on in 2024,” LCRPC Executive Director Emily Rabbe explained in an email response Jan. 23.

Sign up for the newsletter at lcrpc.org 

Week’s positive parting thought: Find the word “team” in climate. It will take a world of them, public and private sector ones, to make a lasting difference.