The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup: Participate in the Picturing Rising Tides Annual Event March 9-12, 2024

Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup is inviting coastal New Hampshire community residents and visitors to participate in the Picturing Rising Tides Annual Event March 9-12, 2024. This January, two storms produced historic flooding, storm damage and coastal erosion along New Hampshire’s tidal shoreline. Individuals, families and businesses experienced significant and costly impacts. These events show that flooding is already a very challenging and real experience for people living and working along New Hampshire’s tidal shoreline. 

This year, the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) has renamed what was previously the Annual Rising Tides Photo Contest to “Picturing Rising Tides.” The goal of Picturing Rising Tides is to generate visual and written accounts of high tide impacts and showcase the need to plan for an increasing frequency and extent of high tide flooding from sea-level rise and storms. Participants are invited to submit photographs and videos taken during the submission period, March 9-12, 2024; photos and videos taken in the last year (since March 13, 2023) are also eligible. Ten entries will be selected through a public voting process to be displayed at local events, libraries and community spaces. These displays will promote critical dialogue about rising sea levels. 

Official NOAA Tide Predictions indicate that the late morning and early afternoon high tides on March 9-12, 2024, will exceed 10 feet at the Hampton Harbor tide gauge in Hampton, N.H., and the Fort Point tide gauge in New Castle, N.H. (Predicted tide heights are relative to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)). Higher-than-normal tides may cause coastal flooding in low-lying areas, especially if accompanied by a storm or strong winds. Picturing Rising Tides participants are urged to exercise caution and avoid existing and potentially hazardous conditions; obey all road closures, barricades, and other public access restrictions; and respect private property.

Important event details are summarized below. For complete Picturing Rising Tides rules, terms and conditions, please visit the CAW website.

SUBMISSION PERIOD

• Begins: March 9, 2024, at 12:00 AM ET
• Ends: March 12, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET

WHAT TO ENTER
During the submission period, participants may submit four entries. All entries must be photographs or videos. Entries may show high water, flooding, flood impacts, flood safety, flood mitigation, flood proofing, erosion, local landmarks, buildings, bridges, culverts, piers, seawalls, roadways, beaches, people, wildlife, salt marsh, rivers, and estuarine environments. AI-generated photographs, AI-generated videos, and duplicate entries are not eligible. Entries must showcase New Hampshire’s tidal shoreline.

New Hampshire communities with tidal shoreline include Hampton, Hampton Falls, New Castle, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, Seabrook, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Rollinsford, and Stratham. See official rules for additional information and content restrictions.

HOW TO ENTER
All entries must be submitted via the online entry form available on the CAW website during the submission period. Entries submitted via mail, email or social media will not be accepted. One form is required per entry. Photos must be in .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, or .png file format and must not exceed 50MB. Videos must be in .mov or .mp4 file format and must not exceed 50MB.  

SELECTION OF ENTRIES FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY
Ten entries will be selected for public display through a public voting process. Beginning March 13, 2024, at 12:00 AM ET, members of the public may visit the CAW website to vote. Limit one vote per entry per person/email address. The 10 entries that receive the most votes by the end of the voting period on March 19, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET will be displayed at local community events and libraries. Photos will be printed; videos will be displayed on a screen, where possible. Limit two (2) selections per entrant. The 10 entries selected will be announced no later than Thursday, April 4, 2024.

LEARN ABOUT RISING TIDES AT THE SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER SITE VISIT
Back by popular demand, the New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) will host a site visit at the Seacoast Science Center on Tuesday, March 12 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. The site visit will provide a unique opportunity to learn about, observe, and capture images of the incoming tide. All are welcome. Volunteer boards and municipal staff, technical assistance providers, natural resource professionals, researchers and students, elected officials, interested residents or community members, and Picturing Rising Tides participants especially are encouraged to attend.

To register for the site visit, fill out this Google Form. Registration is free but required to participate. The registration deadline is 5:00 PM Monday, March 11. For more information, visit the CAW website. CAW is committed to hosting inclusive, accessible site visits that enable all individuals to participate fully. To request accommodations, for inquiries about accessibility, or with general questions, please contact Lucy Perkins at (603) 559-9101 / lucy.l.perkins@des.nh.gov or Lisa Wise (603) 696-4078 / lisa.wise@unh.edu. For all Picturing Rising Tides updates, follow @nhcoastaladaptation on Facebook and Instagram.
The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup is a collaboration of 35 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.