Cape May County:
Cape May County is located on New Jersey’s southern tip, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Delaware Bay on the west. Less than 200 miles from New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, the beaches of Cape May County attract millions of visitors each year. Vacationers and residents enjoy its temperate coastal climate, bird-watching opportunities, beaches, and a small-town atmosphere. During the seasonal months Cape May County’s population almost doubles with visitors. Cape May County is one of the premier areas in the nation for bird watching and contributes millions to the county annually. With such attractions and visitors, Cape May County’s economy has been growing rapidly and is projected to continue to do so.
Growing population and tourism are intensifying
demands on Cape May County’s
resources. A challenge facing local decision-makers and stakeholders is fostering
economic growth while maintaining the environmental integrity upon quality of
life and tourism depend.
CARA and Cape May County:
CARA has investigated how changes in climate and land use in Cape May County
might affect human and natural ecosystems. A summer 2003 survey explored
Cape May County residents’ willingness to make tradeoffs among bird
habitat, drinking water quality, traffic congestion, flood risk, and local
taxes, fees and prices. Another CARA study looked at the linkages between
climate change and the county’s vulnerability to sea-level rise. Cape
May County can use the findings to help in planning for the future. Other
coastal areas might want to launch similar studies.
