Change Is at Our Doorstep: Climate Change at Willard Beach

by Student Writer

October 31st, 2025

Everyone remembers that fateful day when the two old fishing shacks were washed away, disappearing into the stormy sea.  Although some people see that as an isolated incident, it is just one of many examples we see of climate change here, in South Portland.  Although many effects of climate change are either gradual or happening elsewhere, there are also ways it is influencing your community and your life.  Watching the news, we see all the huge floods and hurricanes and wildfires happening far away, but what we don’t realize is that similar things are happening here, just on a smaller scale. 

       Climate change is exactly what it sounds like: Earth’s climate and environment changing, often seen through global warming and extreme weather events.  The earth has gone through many large changes throughout its history, and while these changes are natural, the rate at which they are now happening is, to many, becoming scary.  As climate change progresses, extreme weather patterns and events begin to occur, for as the earth heats up due to an excess of harmful gasses the patterns of both the ocean and atmosphere are altered.  Climate change is an issue that is widely debated in both social and political circles, even though it is an event backed by scientists around the world.  One likely reason that people are so keen to dispute it is that climate change is an enormous topic to grapple with, and often makes us spiral into feeling hopeless and frustrated, making ignorance seem like the best option.  In addition to this, observing natural disasters in other areas of the world can make it difficult to recognize the effects of climate change we see daily, leading to a false sense of security/immunity and thinking it is a change that only affects others, not us.

       But climate change is affecting us.  Last year there was a huge storm in December that sent rain pelting and waves crashing far up on Willard beach.  This storm washed away about 15 feet of the dunes that were there, destroying the habitat and leaving infrastructure such as pipes more vulnerable to the ocean and elements.  The University of New Hampshire states that dunes help protect infrastructure, and two sewer manholes along the beach had to be replaced/reinforced as a result of the storm washing away the dunes.  In addition to the dune decimation, the epa gives us a clear view of precipitation and how it affects erosion, giving us reason to believe that the extreme water exposure has also led to the erosion of the dirt bank behind the beach, caving parts of a walking path and making it dangerous and unwalkable.  The storm even washed away two fishing shacks from Fisherman’s Point, which was a wake-up call for many people.  The shacks were an important part of South Portland history, and the footage of them disappearing into the waves evoked feelings of sadness and loss in many locals.

       Although climate change is a huge and overwhelming issue to tackle, people are doing smaller things attempting to restore the dunes and protect them in the future.  NOAA and the Portland Press Herald both say that one thing being done is putting old Christmas trees in the dune area in hopes that they will help prevent sand from blowing away.  The sand stopped by the trees will eventually build up and create new dunes.  In addition to this, one organization has reported that grasses are also being planted, and these roots and grass aid to anchor dunes and catch sand.  Projects like these are good ways to combat the effects of climate change and help without having to face climate change as a whole, which can be very overwhelming.  You may not be able to save the world, but if everyone focuses on making their corner of it a little better it will make a bigger impact than you expect.