(Indian River, Delaware) - Hermine has come and gone but with each passing storm the water level is on the rise according to State Climatologist Dan Leathers. He says, Delaware is sinking as well.
Hurricane season is in full effect, Paul Burdett says, "I think that Dewey has a little bid of a natural protection because down in Indian River beach the shoreline comes in a little bit. Rehoboth seems to get more direct hits."
Leather said, Delaware's sea level is rising at a rate of 1-2mm per year. Also, that the state is sinking about 1.7 mm per year. The sea level would rise about 13 inches over the next century if that continues.
Beach goer Sean Nolan thinks,"really erodes the beach then they have to drudge everything and it takes a while for everything to come back."
University of Delaware researchers say that bowers beach right here in Delaware has the highest elevated sea level along the Atlantic coast.
Bill Via, a Delaware Native thinks "Bowers Beach, if the water level keeps rising I don't think there is going to be a Bowers Beach. They get rain down there and that whole place is under water."
Delaware has use techniques like dredging to help with beach replenishment. Over the past decade it has cost the state over $130 million according to DNREC.
Via says, "DNREC is doing a great job replenishing the beaches. They are planting more sea grass to hold back the water."
For now dredging and beach replenishment are the only options, but in the next 15 years Delaware could be in some deep water.