Living in Water: Climate, Aging, and Socioecology on Smith Island

Jana Kopelent Rehak's We Live in the Water is a captivating tale of environmental crisis and community on Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay, where island environments are particularly vulnerable to the accelerating ecological crisis caused by rapidly rising waters. While we often associate such environmental challenges with regions like the Global North and South, Alaska, or Micronesian and Indian nations, the harsh realities of a changing climate are also felt keenly on islands in the mid-Atlantic.

In this ethnographic account, Rehak illuminates the profound impacts of the changing environment on the small coastal community of Smith Island. Through a combination of socioecology, life course theory, and eco-phenomenology, she delves into the challenges faced by an aging community struggling with flooding, land erosion, and dwindling population. By exploring how residents of Smith Island interact with their ever-changing surroundings, Rehak provides a comprehensive understanding of how their environment influences their way of life.

We Live in the Water offers a fresh perspective on the human dimensions of climate change, allowing readers to observe the complex relationship between the environment and the island's collective identity. Through vivid narratives and personal accounts, Rehak examines the islanders' deep connection to their land and how they adapt their traditions across generations.

By bridging the gap between ecological studies and environmental anthropology, Rehak presents a compelling framework for comprehending the effects of environmental crises on local communities. She emphasizes the significance of integrated research in shaping public discourse and highlights the importance of understanding the impacts of climate change on communities like Smith Island.

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