Making Decisions To Protect Our Coast and Our Future from Climate Change

Our guest speakers will discuss information on the current coastal conditions based on the Trustees “State of the Coast – North Shore” report, the challenges posed by sea level rise, and opportunities for coastal restoration. They will also address current projects to allow community residents to continue to protect and access our coastline.

Ipswich Town departments and other organizations will be providing information on their programs and citizen opportunities.

Where: EBSCO HALL, 5 Peatfield St., Ipswich

Parking: On site or in the Town/MBTA parking lot

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Speakers:
Cynthia Dittbrenner: MS in Forest Ecology and Soils from the University of Washington and a
Certificate in Nonprofit Finance from Cornell University. She is the Director of Coast and
Natural Resources at The Trustees where she oversees a team charged with the health and
resilience of the natural resources on our reservations across the state. She also leads the State of
the Coast initiative, providing the public with information on the impacts of sea level rise and
storm surge on our coastal habitats and communities.
Cynthia will be reporting on the information included in the recent report State of the Coast –
North Shore prepared by The Trustees. She will discuss information on resources and habitats in
the land that makes up the Ipswich coastal area, current conditions in those environments, and
projections of change in the coastal and salt marsh environments due to climate change.

Frank Ventimiglia: He is the Operations Manager for the Ipswich Department of Public Works
since 2010. He has a BS in Plant Facilities and Environmental Engineering from Mass Maritime
Academy.
Frank will present information and discuss the current status of theproject to raise Argilla Rd as
well as provide an update on the status of the Jeffrey’s Neck Rd project, He will also provide
preliminary work on coastal related projects on High St, Town Farm Rd. and the Pump Station
for the Ipswich wastewater system.

Erin Bonney-Casey: BS Bates College: MS from Oxford University in Water Science, Policy,
and Management. She is the Planning and Resiliency Program Manager with the Ipswich River
Watershed Association (IRWA)
Based on IRWA’s long involvement in the coastal Ipswich resilience conversation, the
presentation will put ongoing resiliency projects (i.e. marsh restoration, culvert replacement) in
Ipswich in the context of planning efforts for a resilient coastline.

RSVP so we know you’re coming!