Popular Newport Coastal Path's Future Unclear from Coastal Erosion
2022-03-24
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1Leaders in the northeastern American city of Newport, Rhode Island, are facing a difficult question:
2Should the city continue to rebuild its famous Cliff Walk?
3The question is a hard one because parts of the wall keep falling into the sea.
4Last week, coastal erosion caused nine meters of the path to break into the sea below.
5Erosion is the slow destruction of something by natural force.
6The Cliff Walk is one of the most popular places to visit in Rhode Island.
7It is a central part of Newport's identity.
8It offers visitors beautiful views of Rhode Island's coastal environment.
9The five-kilometer path travels next to huge costly homes that sit high above the rocky coastline.
10A 2018 study found that about 1.3 million people visit the Cliff Walk each year.
11In 2012, a powerful ocean storm washed out parts of the path.
12The path was repaired then at a cost of $5 million in federal money.
13But city officials are questioning if they should rebuild this time -- or move it farther inland.
14City official Joe Nicholson says he wants to rebuild.
15He is asking Rhode Island's governor and congressional officials to help.
16Like most locals, he has walked the path many times.
17"It's something that's in Newport's DNA," Nicholson said.
18He does not know how long repairs could take, or how much it might cost.
19It will not be done in time for the arrival of summer visitors.
20Engineers came on March 15 to begin examining the damaged area.
21The part of the path that recently collapsed is next to private property.
22So, the path cannot be moved inland there anymore.
23John Greichen Jr. lives less than two kilometers away from the path.
24He says friends from different areas always want to visit the path.
25"Everyone knows when they come to Newport, they've got to do the Cliff Walk," he said.
26Scientists say climate change may have created the conditions that led to the collapse.
27Michael Mann is the director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University.
28He said that larger storms that happen more often can combine with sea level rise to increase the threat of erosion.
29That can lead to a collapse.
30"We are now seeing the devastating consequences of climate change playing out in real time," Mann said in an email to The Associated Press.
31In February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and six other agencies issued a report about sea level rise in the United States.
32The report warned that America's coastline will see sea levels rise in the next 30 years by as much as they did in the whole 20th century.
33NOAA said Newport has seen a sea level rise of about 15 centimeters over the past 50 years.
34Scientists estimate sea levels are expected to rise another 25-30 centimeters in the next 30 years.
35I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Leaders in the northeastern American city of Newport, Rhode Island, are facing a difficult question: Should the city continue to rebuild its famous Cliff Walk? 2The question is a hard one because parts of the wall keep falling into the sea. Last week, coastal erosion caused nine meters of the path to break into the sea below. Erosion is the slow destruction of something by natural force. 3The Cliff Walk is one of the most popular places to visit in Rhode Island. It is a central part of Newport's identity. It offers visitors beautiful views of Rhode Island's coastal environment. The five-kilometer path travels next to huge costly homes that sit high above the rocky coastline. 4A 2018 study found that about 1.3 million people visit the Cliff Walk each year. 5In 2012, a powerful ocean storm washed out parts of the path. The path was repaired then at a cost of $5 million in federal money. But city officials are questioning if they should rebuild this time -- or move it farther inland. 6City official Joe Nicholson says he wants to rebuild. He is asking Rhode Island's governor and congressional officials to help. 7Like most locals, he has walked the path many times. "It's something that's in Newport's DNA," Nicholson said. 8He does not know how long repairs could take, or how much it might cost. It will not be done in time for the arrival of summer visitors. Engineers came on March 15 to begin examining the damaged area. 9The part of the path that recently collapsed is next to private property. So, the path cannot be moved inland there anymore. 10John Greichen Jr. lives less than two kilometers away from the path. He says friends from different areas always want to visit the path. 11"Everyone knows when they come to Newport, they've got to do the Cliff Walk," he said. 12Climate change and the collapse 13Scientists say climate change may have created the conditions that led to the collapse. 14Michael Mann is the director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University. He said that larger storms that happen more often can combine with sea level rise to increase the threat of erosion. That can lead to a collapse. 15"We are now seeing the devastating consequences of climate change playing out in real time," Mann said in an email to The Associated Press. 16In February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and six other agencies issued a report about sea level rise in the United States. The report warned that America's coastline will see sea levels rise in the next 30 years by as much as they did in the whole 20th century. 17NOAA said Newport has seen a sea level rise of about 15 centimeters over the past 50 years. Scientists estimate sea levels are expected to rise another 25-30 centimeters in the next 30 years. 18I'm Gregory Stachel. 19Jennifer McDermott reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 20______________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22cliff - n. a high, steep surface of rock, earth, or ice 23erosion - n. the gradual destruction of something by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice) 24devastating - adj. causing great damage or harm 25consequence - n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions 26We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.