Regarding the Roux campus and the $25 million plan to provide transportation connections to it, is anyone in touch with reality? The reality is that in 75 years, per the governor’s office, a conservative sea level rise (SLR) estimate of 3.9 feet will put portions of the Roux campus, Bayside and parts of East Deering on Washington Avenue underwater during routine high tides. Never mind a storm surge on a high tide.

The governor’s office issued a sea-level rise fact sheet in 2021. It says that the Maine Climate Council commits to manage a 3.9 feet SLR by 2100 and prepares to manage an 8.8 feet rise by 2100. In regards to sea level rise, nothing has gotten better since 2021. The current science supports closer to an 8.8 feet than 3.9 feet SLR. The Maine Geologic Survey’s online mapping shows that a 3.9 feet SLR will flood everything below Somerset Street several times a year. With an 8.8 SLR, Back Cove will flood large portions of East Deering and everything below Oxford Street Bayside, and a large portion of Deering Oaks will flood several times a year.

The old railroad trestle from B&M Beans to East Promenade, which burned in 1984, should be replaced with a dike. Have slide gate valves open at low tide to let water out of Back Cove. Close them on incoming tides to prevent high-tide flooding from Back Cove. On the dike, build a bike path and railroad to reconnect northern suburbs with downtown.

Carl Wilcox
Minot