在波士顿不断扩张的海港水是一种威胁

In Boston’s Expanding Seaport¹, Water Is a Threat

Big things are happening in the Seaport District of Boston, Massachusetts.

General Electric is building its new world headquarters there. Amazon plans to bring in thousands of its workers to the district. The sign of Reebok -- the footwear and clothing business -- sits on top of the new office it opened last year.

The Associated Press reports that three technology companies are testing self-driving cars in the area. In addition, crews are busy building restaurants and apartment housing.

But after bad flooding this past winter, critics are wondering if it is a good idea to put so many people on a man-made peninsula that sits just above the sea level.

“That was the first winter where we really saw waves splashing³ onto the boardwalk and water in the streets,” said Greg Hoffmeister. He watched the flooding from the third-floor Seaport office of his business.

He added, “You start to think: Is that what we’re in for, as sea levels rise?”

Boston officials say they are taking steps to prepare for increased flooding and rising sea levels. When English settlers arrived in 1630, the city covered an area of about 200 hectares. Now it is much larger and includes over 2,000 hectares of man-made landfill.

“We know the water is going to be coming in through South Boston, pretty much from every direction, by 2070,” noted⁴ Richard McGuinness, a city planner. He was talking about the neighborhood that includes the Seaport District.

A 2016 city report predicted that sea levels could rise up to 20 centimeters by the year 2030, with the Seaport the area most affected⁵.

By 2070, seas could rise 91 centimeters higher than water levels in 2000, affecting some 90,000 people and 12,000 buildings in the area. The economic losses could be in the billions, the report said.

While some developers are designing buildings to survive climate change, many structures that were put up years ago are not ready.

Environmental activists⁶ and some researchers believe Boston officials should be trying harder to change development patterns.

Officials say they are looking at ways to change and improve the city’s building rules. They are also considering large and costly⁷ public work projects to hold the water back. One proposal calls for building a barrier across Boston Harbor. That project could cost $12 billion and take 30 years to complete.

Last October, the Boston Planning and Development Agency also amended⁸ its “climate-ready checklist” for developers. The list requires them to explain how the buildings they design will help lessen⁹ the effects of climate change.

But the city does not require developers to follow through, noted Bradley Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental group.

Boston officials say that many newer Seaport developers are preparing for the worst.

General Electric moved its headquarters from Connecticut to temporary offices in Boston’s Seaport in 2016. The company says the first floor of its new offices will be raised nearly 1.5 meters, or enough to protect it from the higher sea levels. Electrical systems are also being put on the second floor, and emergency power supplies will be on top of the 12-floor building.

The developers of Seaport Square says its buildings stayed dry last winter because of their design.

“We believe in science,” said Yanni Tsipis of WS Development. Seaport Square is a mix of offices, apartment buildings and stores. Amazon says 2,000 of its workers will one day occupy space on the property.

But environmental activists warn much of the district simply is not ready for the rising sea levels. Many young people have moved to the area in recent years. It has become one of the city’s most pricey neighborhoods.

The weakest structures are historic¹⁰ buildings. It is very costly and sometimes impossible to improve them, city officials have said.

A federal report released recently found that nationally, high-tide flooding is happening at two times the rate it was just 30 years ago. The report warned that flooding records will continue to be broken for many years.

By the international airport in East Boston, the city government is investing in a 2-meter high temporary floodwall. In Charlestown, where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought during the American Revolution, crews are raising the main street more than half a meter.

Deb Friedman, a local woman, wondered if these actions will help. A few months ago, sea water flooded her apartment building.

“Water has a mind of its own, anyway,” she said.

I’m Susan Shand. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.

Words in This Story

district – n. an area established by a government or community

peninsula – n. a piece of land that is almost entirely¹¹ surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area

splash² – v. to make something wet, usually in a noisy way

boardwalk – n. a walkway along the sea or coastline

pattern – n. something designed or used as a model for making things

tide – n. the rising and falling of the surface of the ocean

1 seaport   

n.海港，港口，港市

参考例句：

• Ostend is the most important seaport in Belgium.奥斯坦德是比利时最重要的海港。
• A seaport where ships can take on supplies of coal.轮船能够补充煤炭的海港。

2 splash   

v.溅，泼；n.溅泼声，溅出的水等，斑点

参考例句：

• I fell into the water with a splash.我跌入水中，激起水花四溅。
• There's a splash of paint on the white wall.白墙上溅上了一片油漆。

3 splashing   

v.使（液体）溅起( splash的现在分词 )；（指液体）溅落；击水声

参考例句：

• Water was splashing down from a large hole in the roof. 雨水从房顶上的一个大洞里倾泻下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The children love splashing water over each other. 儿童喜欢互相泼水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

9 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

10 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。