Willard Beach, located in South Portland, Maine, was established in the early 1700s. The beach has a rich history, including a fort, a community college, and a surrounding neighborhood with a large  population. It provides a habitat for 850 species of marine life and 150 species of seabirds. 

Like many coastal areas, it faces a variety of environmental, social, and man-made threats. Stormwater flows from city streets, parking lots, and rooftops, and drains into Casco Bay at Willard Beach. This runoff carries pollutants from automobiles, litter, and fertilizers that impact the water quality; this endangers the wildlife and local visitors. Willard Beach has about seven access points for runoff, with every point bringing the risk of pollution flooding directly onto the beach. 

In addition, as climate change accelerates, making storms more frequent and intense and raising the sea level, the shoreline will likely erode more with time.  The City of Portland claims flooding could start to show significantly within twenty-five to seventy years in the future. 

Overall, Willards beach is a beautiful place with many reasons to visit. I hope we do our job as students and members of this community to help combat climate change and limit the pollution we produce; this will help ensure a long-lasting future for our beloved beach.