Dewey Climate Change Committee holds first meeting of 2025

The Dewey Beach Climate Change Committee met Jan. 18 for the first time since September.

Looking forward, the committee will be spending much of the next year or two focusing on several projects, including flood mitigation projects for Read Avenue, Jersey Street and Van Dyke Avenue bayside, and the living shoreline project, on which it’s been collaborating with the Center for the Inland Bays.

The committee is also trying to get a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant from the University of Delaware’s Grant Assistance Program for about $375,000 to purchase a generator for the new town hall.

Town Manager Bill Zolper projects the committee will need about $300,000 next year for infrastructure projects.

The committee discussed establishing a resiliency fund – and a resiliency fund subcommittee – for the town in case of future storm or flood damage. 

Member Dave Davis suggested the committee take some time in each of its next several meetings to dig deeper into what a Dewey Beach resiliency fund could look like, possible funding sources, how the fund could be implemented and how neighboring towns have approached the idea.

There’s more work to be done, Davis said, before the fund can be brought before town council. A large part of it is defining the town’s priorities in case of storm or flood damage.

Committee member Liam McDermott suggested they bring in a consultant to create a resiliency plan, like Fenwick Island has in the past.

The committee also discussed how to bring awareness to the resources and educational materials they provide, and voted to appoint Sally Silver to be the liaison between them and the town’s marketing committee.

The committee’s next meeting will likely be in March, but the date is still to be determined.