Snap the Shore, Track the Change: Bristol, RI

MyCoast: Rhode Island is a portal used to collect and analyze photos of changing shorelines, flood events, and storm impacts across the Ocean State. Information collected is used to capture the impact of hazards today and to illustrate possible future conditions. Photos—linked to data about weather and tides—create reports that help stakeholders like government agencies, business owners, and residents to understand shoreline change and make informed decisions.

All photos in this StoryMap are from MyCoast: Rhode Island.

Bristol has experienced a rise in nuisance flooding events due to heavy precipitation, storms, extreme tides, and rising seas. The intensity and magnitude of the precipitation and coastal inundation events increasingly overwhelm Bristol's natural waterways and stormwater management systems. There are multiple areas of flooding concern throughout Bristol. These location include a variety of infrastructure types, such as coastal access sites, roadways, historic sites, and municipal properties. The most frequently cited flooding occurs on Hope Street at Silver Creek, where the creek passes under the bridge. This bridge was recently reinforced by the state to repair structural deficiencies, but it was not elevated.

To date, we have collected 205 reports from 43 reporters in Bristol. Since the start of 2024, MyCoast members have uploaded 5 King Tide Reports and 22 Storm Reports in Bristol.  We are always building our network of volunteer reporters.  

Explore the images below to see how extreme high tide events and storms impact areas throughout Bristol.

Extreme high tide and storm surge events can wreak havoc on a community. Continue below to see how these events can impact transportation, infrastructure, and public access in Bristol.

Sections of roadways in Bristol experience flooding during storm events and high tides. As sea level rise and storm intensity increase, the potential for damage across the transportation sector increases. The map below displays the impacts of 1, 3, and 7 feet of sea level rise on the hurricane evacuation routes in Bristol. As sea levels continue to rise and as storms become more prevalent, the current emergency evacuation routes may become flooded during severe weather events and extreme tides.

Sea level rise and storm surge events can damage critical infrastructure through erosion. The map below displays the modeled storm damage to structures, infrastructure, and public safety (Coastal Environmental Risk Index or CERI) throughout Bristol in the event of a storm with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year (a "100-Year Storm"), with no sea level rise. Pan around on the map below and zoom to explore areas that may be at risk of infrastructure damage in the event of this storm event.

The map below displays the modeled storm damage to structures throughout Bristol in the event of a storm with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year (a "100-Year Storm") with 3 feet of sea level rise. According to the  Interagency Sea Level Rise Scenario Tool , 3 feet of sea level rise could occur by 2070. Compare the map below to the one above to visualize how sea level rise can further exacerbate the impact of storm events.

Public access points, public spaces, and critical infrastructure, such as roads, can all be negatively impacted by high tide and storm events. Flooding events can make roads unpassable, which can cut off access to utilities and emergency services. Look at the images below to see how flooding has impacted your neighborhood.

Extreme high tide and storm events can impact public access points throughout the town. Flooded docks, inaccessible pathways, and eroded trails and beaches can limit public access to the coast. The map below displays public access points and flooding hotspots throughout Bristol. Many of Bristol's public shoreline access points are found within the town's frequently flooded areas.

According to the  Interagency Sea Level Rise Scenario Tool , sea levels are expected to rise up to 1.6 feet by 2050 and 6.5 feet by 2100. A rise in sea levels will cause an increase in nuisance flooding during high tide events, negatively impacting public access points and critical infrastructure. These extreme high tides will impact daily life in a community. Today, extreme Nor'easters inundate houses, roads, and shorelines, causing inconvenience and damage to people and properties. As seas continue to rise, more water will be pushed inland during future storm events, exacerbating the amount of flooding that occurs. Click on the arrow on the picture below to see the current impacts of storm events throughout Bristol.

Be sure to read the pop-up introduction prior to exploring the map. Once ready, click the blue button to enter the map. Read the "Getting Started" column upon entering the web map.

Click on various points on the map to see the corresponding MyCoast uploads and photos. Scroll down on the sidebar to view the location's corresponding photo. Click the Report URL to access the full MyCoast submission and view tide data.

MyCoast RI helps to document the impact of king tides, storm surges, and sea level rise on critical infrastructure, public access points, and communities through participatory science efforts. Municipalities, such as Bristol, can use this data to apply for coastal resilience grant programs, allocate funds to flood-impacted areas, identify future coastal adaptation projects, improve resilience planning, assess and improve stormwater management, enhance public access points, and conceptualize coastal adaptation plans.

Researchers can use MyCoast data to validate storm models, collaborate on municipal management plans, identify areas most heavily impacted by flooding and erosion, analyze flooding impacts on infrastructure and rights of way, and effectively communicate storm impacts to stakeholders. MyCoast RI has helped Bristol identify flood hotspots and document storm damage throughout the community. Bristol has been identifying flooding hotpots, collecting reference photos of hotspots during a "typical" non-flooded day, and documenting storm damage throughout the community.

If you have a smartphone, you can participate by snapping pictures and uploading them to the MyCoast RI app directly or  through the MyCoast RI website . For example, you may choose to share photos of high-tide flooding in your neighborhood, or post-storm damages to roads or other infrastructure at a favorite shoreline access point. Our website and other MyCoast resources can help you choose sites that are convenient and in need of photos; all we ask is that you only take pictures when it's safe and the weather permits!