In Stonington, Maine — a historic lobster fishing town — the reality of climate change has become unavoidable after two devastating storms in January caused widespread destruction to wharves, roads, and the town’s causeway. Fisherman Travis Fifield, who raised his family’s wharf 18 inches years ago to prepare for sea level rise, now sees his foresight validated. Across the town, similar projects are underway to elevate and reinforce infrastructure, with costs often reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars — far beyond what many small communities can afford.
The town faces dual pressures: worsening storms and surging real estate prices, both of which threaten its working waterfront. Climate change is not only increasing storm severity but also altering wind patterns and rainfall, straining drinking water supplies and insurance systems that don’t cover over-water structures like docks.
State and local officials are responding with disaster funds, resiliency commissions, and ordinances to curb short-term rentals and preserve affordable housing. Still, Stonington’s future feels increasingly uncertain, as both its economy and identity are tested by rising seas and outside economic forces. As operations manager Garrett Aldrich put it, despite planning and funding, “there will be more damage, and more pain, before we’re done.”