In southeastern Massachusetts development in coastal communities, especially on Cape Cod and the Islands, was among the highest rate of increase within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Research supported within this theme is often multidisciplinary and directly interfaces with the management community that must make regulatory decisions on the proper stewardship of coastal ecosystems. A WHOI Sea Grant-funded study of Cape Cod coastal residents, led by researchers at WHOI's Marine Policy Center, used a survey to determine the relationship between level of knowledge and perceived flood risk.
Risk perceived by the public can significantly influence policy decisions.
Our coastal hazards outreach effort is directed at integrating a scientific understanding of the processes that maintain coastal landforms with the management concerns arising from the effects of these processes on coastal towns. Each presentation was followed with a breakout session where all participants in the workshop were presented with a management scenario that required their input to effect a solution or recommendation for remediation. Each session ended with group presentations of majority and minority opinions that were brought back from each breakout group to the full workshop for discussion. The format of the workshop allowed all of the participants to assume the various roles of landowner, coastal resource manager, commercial or recreational user, and public rights advocate and to attempt to negotiate an action that imposed a minimal impact on the sustainability of the coastal landform. The proceedings of the workshop are currently being edited for publication.