Announcing the Winners of the 2021 New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup Rising Tides Photo Contest

After receiving over 60 entries, the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup is excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Rising Tides Photo Contest. Formerly known as the King Tide Photo Contest, the rebranded initiative aims to raise awareness about sea-level rise and the increasing frequency of high tide flooding in New Hampshire.

Members of the public were invited to vote online for the photos in each of the four contest categories that best showcase the vulnerability and resilience of people, places, and things impacted by high tide flooding in New Hampshire. The following submissions received the most votes in each category and are hereby declared the winners of the 2021 Rising Tides Contest.

HIGH TIDE FLOODING – ATLANTIC COAST

People, places and things impacted by the high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Atlantic Coast communities:
Hampton, Hampton Falls, New Castle, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, and Seabrook

Futuristic Reflections: The properties of this little community have become one with the Atlantic Ocean during King Tide, making daily life a bit more challenging. Credit: Ned Harvey / 2021 Rising Tides Photo Contest, High Tide Flooding – Atlantic Coast Winner

HIGH TIDE FLOODING – GREAT BAY

People, places and things impacted by the high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Great Bay communities:
Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Rollinsford, and Stratham

Follow the Red Brick Road: Vulnerability of Durham Landing. King tides don't just affect the coast, they have a disruptive effect on the bays and rivers as well. Credit: Jennifer Dubois / 2021 Rising Tides Photo Contest, High Tide Flooding – Great Bay Winner

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE – ATLANTIC COAST

Community resilience in in New Hampshire’s Atlantic Coast communities:
Hampton Falls, New Castle, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye and Seabrook

The seawall in Hampton helps protect Route 1A and nearby businesses from high tide flooding.  But, even with the seawall, high tides, especially those that coincide with storm events, can breach the wall, leading to localized flooding and hazardous road conditions. Credit: Melissa Brogle / 2021 Rising Tides Photo Contest, Community Resilience – Atlantic Coast Winner

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE – GREAT BAY

Community resilience in in New Hampshire’s Great Bay communities:
Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Rollinsford, and Stratham Hampton,

Sea level rise is detrimental to our salt marsh habitat – one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. But innovative stabilization techniques like this "living shoreline" at Wagon Hill Farm in Durham are helping this natural shoreline habitat survive as the waters rise. Credit: Alaina Rogers / 2021 Rising Tides Photo Contest, Community Resilience – Great Bay Winner

Contest winners have been notified and will receive a $100 gift card to a local restaurant of their choosing.

For questions, please contact Nathalie DiGeronimo with the NHDES Coastal Program at nathalie.m.digeronimo@des.nh.gov, or at (603) 559-0029.

The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup is a collaboration of 30+ organizations, including the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, working to ensure that New Hampshire's coastal watershed communities are resourceful, ready, and resilient to extreme weather and long-term climate change.