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R. Hancock

Sea Level Rise and the Conservation of Coastal Wetlands. LOCAL SOLUTIONS: Northeast Climate Preparedness Conference May 20, 2014. R. Hancock. Why does it matter?. RI has lost 53% of its salt marshes over the last 200 years due to man-made alterations (Bromberg and Bertness, 2005).

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R. Hancock

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  1. Sea Level Rise and the Conservation of Coastal Wetlands LOCAL SOLUTIONS: Northeast Climate Preparedness Conference May 20, 2014 R. Hancock

  2. Why does it matter? RI has lost 53% of its salt marshes over the last 200 years due to man-made alterations(Bromberg and Bertness, 2005) Hancock 2009

  3. Why is Salt Marsh Important? Forage and nursery habitat Nesting and migratory sites Carbon sink • $6,471/acre/yr for maintaining fisheries (US East Coast) • $75 M in commercial fishery landings (RI) • $150 M recreational fishery (RI)

  4. Why is Salt Marsh Important? Reduces storm damage $2,931/acre/year (RI) Costanza et al., 2008 $5 billion of Rhode Island property protected by coastal habitats by 2100 Arkema et al., 2013

  5. Why is Salt Marsh Important? Clean water:trap sediments, sequester nitrogen $780-$15,000/acre/yr for water purification

  6. STB’s 10 years of restoration monitoring has shown that conditions can change rapidly in tidally restricted marshes Recently, similar degraded conditions have been observed in marshes with no tidal restrictions 2004 2010 2010 Source: Save The Bay

  7. High Tides Affect our Communities Today American Tourister, Warren R. Calabro, 09/29/11 2.2’ MHHW South Shore Ave., Warwick W. Ferguson, 06/04/12 2.4’ MHHW North Avenue, Jamestown R. Calabro, 06/03/12 2’ MHHW Bold Point Park East Providence J. Boyd, 10/27/11 2’ MHHW

  8. Impediments to Coastal Marsh Migration

  9. Project Framework Develop marsh migration modeling results Identify existing vulnerable wetlands Identify upland parcels where wetlands will likely migrate Develop new state coastal program adaptive strategies, policies and standards Increase local capacity to proactively incorporate adaptation policy for wetlands (comprehensive plans, zoning codes, etc.)

  10. Opportunities for Upland Migration and Restoration Opportunities for Upland Migration and Restoration With the proper conditions, salt marsh can migrate upland We can model likely future habitat

  11. Model Inputs - Each area is unique

  12. Modeling – Current Conditions

  13. Model Results – 1’ SLR

  14. Model Results – 3’ SLR

  15. Model Results – 5’ SLR

  16. Municipal Work Sessions: Identifying Issues & Opportunities

  17. Barrington Much of this land is protected or under easement, so future migration will be possible Property flooding and “road shortening” Consider buyouts

  18. Bristol Low-lying area; currently floods during storms Redirect traffic Impassableduring Sandy New causeway Enlarge culverts

  19. East Providence Move mow line back at golf course Enlarge culvert This will be a park Floods now during spring tide Raise road to improve flushing Move parking lot back

  20. Local Considerations Planning Conservation Union Studio Architects Infrastructure Operations

  21. Work Underway… http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/climate/habitat.html www.beachsamp.org

  22. Questions?

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