Conserving Freshwater and Coastal Resources in a Changing Climate

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Table 13. Recommendations: Saltwater Wetland Ecosystems Climate Driven Change Sea-Level Rise Increased water temperature Increased storm intensity Technology or Future Research Recommendations • LIDAR mapping • Inundation modeling • Assess the land slope adjacent to wetland ecosystems as well as existence of human development to determine potential for wetland migration • Run models at least 150 years into the future to predict wetlands response • Determine which properties will be viable in the decades to come • Research species’ tolerance to increased temperature and decreased oxygen levels • Research species’ tolerance to increased water and soil salinity • Storm-water management modeling • Hydrological modeling Potential Adaptation Techniques • Protect upland buffers • Remove hard structures impeding supply of sediment into wetlands • Promote low impact or restricted development on property abutting wetlands • Ensure adequate sediment supply into wetlands • Promote conservation oriented land-use methods and policies • Implement wetland creation conservation projects (Example: Jamaica Bay) • Remove hard structures to protect tidal inputs to ensure adequate mixing • Protect barrier beaches • Promote storm-water management policies • Implement policies regulating pollution to decrease toxins entering wetlands from storm-water run-off • Consider constructing living shoreline structures to reduce wave energy 47 There are a number of adaptation techniques available for promoting the conservation of these aquatic ecosystems. They are divided into three different types. Accommodation measures attempt to temper the severity of climate-driven change through management strategies to provide for expected changes in ecosystems, such as providing migration corridors and improving water management. Protection measures attempt to protect and restore resilient and functioning ecosystems through development of protected areas and undertaking projects to restore ecosystem functions and processes. Retreat measures acknowledge that an area will soon become unsuitable for a species, or group of species and put people and property in harms way. Providing more room for these areas to shift and adapt to these changes will benefit species and natural communities while simultaneously taking people out of harms way. Each adaptation tool has different benefits and limitations. It is important to carefully evaluate each ecosystem and its location in order to determine which technique would be most appropriate. Conserving Freshwater and Coastal Resources in a Changing Climate
Table 14. Recommendations: Coastal Region Ecosystems Climate Driven Change Sea-Level Rise: Inundation Sea-Level Rise: Increased water depth along coasts Sea-Level Rise: Salinity intrusion into estuaries and groundwater Increased water temperature Technology or Future Research Recommendations • LIDAR mapping • Inundation modeling • LIDAR mapping • Inundation modeling • Research effects of increased water depth on species • Intrusion modeling through combined hydrological and inundation modeling • Research invasive species • Assess costs and benefits of implementing hard barriers to prevent salt intrusion into the groundwater supply • Species modeling to understand impacts of increased temperatures on species’ survival • Identify potential northern spawning grounds for migratory fish Potential Adaptation Techniques • Allow beaches and wetlands to migrate • Promote conservation oriented land-use methods and policies • Create living shorelines where appropriate (along sheltered costs) • Assess costs and benefits of beach nourishment • Deconstruct beach stabilizing structures, such as seawalls • Remove shoreline armoring • Consider groynes where critical sand habitat exists • Dune creation • Remove shoreline armoring • Assess development of artificial reefs to create new habitat • Dam removal, where possible and appropriate • Maintain and improve fish ladders to facilitate up-stream mobility • Sustainable water flow management around dams • Promote sustainable fishing practices • Implement marine protected areas • Limit development of coastal areas This report documents both the vulnerability and resiliency of aquatic ecosystems. These natural areas have been under increasing stress for centuries, yet have managed to adapt and continue to thrive. Those organizations devoted to protecting ecosystems at risk have an important role to play in preparing for and reacting to climate change. By integrating climate change concerns into their operations and the evaluation of their properties, conservation organizations will be better equipped to anticipate negative changes before they occur. This will allow conservation planning to become more proactive, providing freshwater and coastal ecosystems a greater chance of survival, a critical element for the health of the natural world as a whole. Climate change is already affecting aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, immediate action is imperative. Conserving Freshwater and Coastal Resources in a Changing Climate 48
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Conserving Freshwater and Coastal R
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Table of Contents Acknowledgements
Page 5 and 6: Executive Summary Climate change pr
Page 7 and 8: Photography by Stephen G. Maka Coas
Page 9 and 10: - Research adaptation techniques fo
Page 11 and 12: an integral role in the biodiversit
Page 13 and 14: Emissions reduction efforts are a k
Page 15 and 16: Timing of Seasonal Phenomena: • T
Page 17 and 18: Case Study: Freshwater Mussels Resp
Page 19 and 20: Drought and Low Flow in the Ipswich
Page 21 and 22: Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): A po
Page 23 and 24: Table 2. Freshwater Wetlands: Impac
Page 25 and 26: mixing in the spring. Air temperatu
Page 27 and 28: Table 3. Lakes: Impacts of Climate
Page 29 and 30: Jamaica Bay, Long Island: Marsh Res
Page 31 and 32: Table 4. Saltwater Wetlands: Impact
Page 33 and 34: Eelgrass (Zostera marina): A possib
Page 35 and 36: Map 1. Regional Coastal Vulnerabili
Page 37 and 38: Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
Page 39 and 40: which will be especially valuable f
Page 41 and 42: Photography by Bill Silliker Jr. We
Page 43 and 44: to a property. For example, a coven
Page 45 and 46: North Carolina Setback Requirements
Page 47 and 48: Table 7. Adaptation Techniques - Ac
Page 49 and 50: Table 9. Adaptation Techniques - Pr
Page 51 and 52: Develop a “Climate Endangered Eco
Page 53 and 54: Table 10. Recommendations: River an
Page 55: Table 12. Recommendations: Lake Eco
Page 59 and 60: Map 2. Relative Sea Level Rise Cons
Page 61 and 62: Map 4. Coastal Slope Conserving Fre
Page 63 and 64: Fang, X., Stefan, H.G. (1998). Pote
Page 65 and 66: National Biological Service (1995).
Page 67 and 68: List of Interviews Dr. Paul Angerme
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Conserving Freshwater and Coastal Resources in a Changing Climate

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