Tybee Island homeowners are looking for ways to adapt to rising sea levels.

Educators and city officials this week conducted a three day workshop.

The project is a joint effort between five different federal and state agencies and is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA officials say, the seas around Tybee Island have risen about ten inches since 1935.

Residents say, they're most concerned about accesss to the island on US Hwy. 80.

The University of Georgia's Jason Evans says, possible solutions include raising roads, building more sand dunes and moving facilities.

"What we're here to do is basically just give the tool for the city for them to look at just a range of options for them to kind of think about what they want to do for the future," Evans says.

The University of Southern Maine scientist Sam Merrill says, it's important to address denial about sea level rise to get residents to act.

"It's a simple fact that sea levels are rising, have been, and we're getting more and more wet on a more and more frequent basis," Merrill says. "So the question is what are we going to do about that?”

The proposals could require lots of money, however.

A final report due next year will offer ideas.

But the city is under no obligation to adopt them.

Tags: University of Georgia, Tybee Island, climate change, GPB News, orlando montoya, rising sea level, Sam Merrill, Jason Evans, University of Southern Maine