The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup Rising Tides Photo Contest Returns on November 5-8, 2021

Portsmouth, NH – The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup (CAW) announces the return of the New Hampshire Rising Tides Photo Contest on November 5-8, 2021. Formerly known as the King Tide Photo Contest, the rebranded initiative aims to raise awareness about sea-level rise and the increasing frequency of high tide flooding in New Hampshire.

According to recent guidance developed by the New Hampshire Coastal Flood Risk Science and Technical Advisory Panel, New Hampshire communities should plan for 2.9-6.2 feet of sea-level rise by 2100. Photographing today’s higher than normal tides offers a glimpse of what daily water levels could be like in the future as sea levels rise. Official NOAA Tide Predictions indicate that the late-morning and early afternoon high tides on November 5-8, 2021 will exceed 10 feet at the Hampton Harbor tide gauge in Hampton, NH and reach up to 11 feet at the Fort Point tide gauge in New Castle, NH. These higher than normal high tides may cause coastal flooding in low-lying areas, especially if accompanied by a storm or strong winds. Photo contest 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.

Participation in the Rising Tides Photo Contest is open to all legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia. Important contest details are summarized below. For complete contest rules, terms, and conditions, please visit the CAW website.

CONTEST SUBMISSION PERIOD

• Begins: November 5, 2021 at 12 AM ET
• Ends: November 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET

WHAT TO ENTER
During the Contest Submission Period, entrants may submit a total of four (4) photos. Each photo must be entered into one of the contest categories below. Entrants may enter all of their photos in a single category, or select different categories for different photos. The same photo cannot be entered twice. Photos must be taken during the Contest Submission Period. See official contest rules for additional entry requirements and content restrictions.

• High Tide Flooding – Atlantic Coast: Photos of people, places, and things impacted by high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Atlantic Coast communities: Hampton, Hampton Falls, New Castle, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, and Seabrook. Examples include photos of flooded buildings, roadways, beach and estuary shorelines, and other community assets and infrastructure.
• High Tide Flooding – Great Bay: Photos of people, places, and things impacted by high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Great Bay communities: Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Rollinsford, and Stratham. Examples include photos of flooded buildings, roadways, beach and estuary shorelines, and other community assets and infrastructure.
• Community Resilience – Atlantic Coast: Photos showcasing community resilience to high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Atlantic Coast communities: Hampton, Hampton Falls, New Castle, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, and Seabrook. Examples include photos of flood mitigation strategies (e.g., elevated homes or building utilities, flood walls and barriers), natural flood storage areas (e.g., salt marshes and wetlands), social connectedness among residents, public health and community services, and other community or neighborhood flood preparedness activities.
• Community Resilience – Great Bay: Photos showcasing community resilience to high tide flooding in New Hampshire’s Great Bay communities: Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Madbury, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Rollinsford, and Stratham. Examples include photos of flood mitigation strategies (e.g., elevated homes or building utilities, flood walls and barriers), natural flood storage areas (e.g., salt marshes and wetlands), social connectedness among residents, public health and community services, and other community or neighborhood flood preparedness activities.

HOW TO ENTER
All entries must be submitted via the online entry form available on the CAW website during the Contest 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.

WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES
One winning entry will be selected in each of the Contest Categories. Contest winners will be determined through a public voting process. Beginning November 10, 2021 at 12:00 AM ET, members of the public may visit the CAW website to vote for their favorite entries in each of the Contest Categories. Limit one vote per entry per person/email address. The entries that receive the most votes by the end of the voting period on December 2, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET will win a $100 gift card to a local restaurant of the winner’s choosing. Restaurants must be located within one of New Hampshire’s coastal watershed communities. Limit one prize per entrant. Winners will be announced no later than November 29, 2021.

For all contest updates, follow @nhcaw on Twitter and @nhcoastaladaptation on Facebook and Instagram.

For questions, please contact Nathalie DiGeronimo with the NHDES Coastal Program at nathalie.m.digeronimo@des.nh.gov, or at (603) 559-0029.

The New Hampshire Coastal Adaptation Workgroup is a collaboration of 30+ 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.