Background for Debate Topic 1: Delaware's Coast
The first motion will be, "Delaware should build a sea wall along its coastline as protection from the rising sea." A sea wall can be a beneficial way for a community to combat sea level rise that allows the residents to maintain their land area. Sea walls are typically vertical so they take up less space than other water containment structures. They form a defensive barrier against erosion that is caused by tidal waves and winds. Sea walls, depending on their size, can be versatile, in Delaware the sea wall could be used as a tourist attraction by making it into a walkway. This will help in regions where the coast is already being used as a recreational beach area such as Rehoboth, Lewes, and Bethany beaches. Sea walls can be upgraded as the sea level rises, the wall can be made higher as long as emphasis is placed on reinforcing the joints between the old and new construction. Building and maintaining these walls would provide jobs for Delawareans. The wall would encourage people to stay in the area and make them feel safe and protected. The security of the wall would attract new businesses and allow established businesses to stay in their current location, maintaining the economic activity of the region. Areas behind the wall would face less damage to the infrastructure during storms and hurricanes. The wall will also protect against salt-water intrusion, which could destroy crops and contaminate the drinking water. 32
Building a sea wall is expensive; it poses a large tax burden for the state and can be seen as unfair for those living further away from the coast. The wall prevents the natural movement of organisms and disrupts the delicate ecosystem along the coast. An ineffective sea wall can cause greater damage than if the water was allowed to take its natural course. Access to coastal areas would become more difficult for emergency vehicles and handicapped individuals as well as animal and plant species. In the areas on the aquatic side of the wall, higher rates of erosion would be problematic for the stability of the wall. 33
Alternatives to building a sea wall include soft, non-structural stabilizers, relocation, and/or taking no action. Some believe that the projections for sea level risk may not be accurate and that states should not waste resources and put further stress on the environment if the risk is not real. 34
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