Designing Salt Marshes for 2100: Climate Adaptation in the Chesapeake Bay

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1 THE CONSERVATION FUND Designing Salt Marshes for 2100: Climate Adaptation in the Chesapeake Bay Who We Are Results and Recognition Our Partners Areas of Expertise

THE CONSERVATION FUND Who We Are At The Conservation Fund, we combine a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit to protect your favorite places before they

2 THE CONSERVATION FUND Who We Are At The Conservation Fund, we combine a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit to protect your favorite places before they become just a memory. A hallmark of our work is our deep, unwavering understanding that for conservation solutions to last, they need to make economic sense.

THE CONSERVATION FUND Results and Recognition

for the sixth year in a row, and an A+ from the

3 THE CONSERVATION FUND Results and Recognition We have protected nearly 7 million acres nationwide since 1985, and have earned the highest possible ranking from Charity Navigator for the sixth year in a row, and an A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

4 THE CONSERVATION FUND Our Partners Corporations and Foundations State and Federal Agencies Local Land Trusts Community Partners Elected Officials Private Landowners

5 THE CONSERVATION FUND Areas of Expertise Land and Water Conservation Community and Economic Development Conservation Lleadership and Education

6 Photo by Dave Harp Climate Change and Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge: Public Awareness and Response (CSSPAR)

7 Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge: Coastal Vulnerability Index National Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise E. Robert Thieler, S. Jeffress Williams, Erika Hammar-Klose

9 The Conservation Fund Work at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge TCF Acquisitions Refuge Land MD DNR Land

10 Disappearing salt marshes Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

The great hurricane of 1933 passed right through Washington, D.C.

11 Storm Surge in the Chesapeake Storm tracks of hurricanes and nor easters after 1900 (yellow) form clots in the Chesapeake region. The great hurricane of 1933 passed right through Washington, D.C. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 veered west, but the hurricane s eastern flank caused great damage throughout the Bay.

Sea level rise and storms an increasing threat to Blackwater Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Sea Level Rise Height Increases + Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Hurricane 0.5 meters Isabel 1.

12 Sea level rise and storms an increasing threat to Blackwater Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Sea Level Rise Height Increases + Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Hurricane 0.5 meters Isabel 1.5 Flooding metersrisk Sea 1.0 Level meters Rise Height 2.0 Increases meters + Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Blackwater National Wildlife 0.5 Refuge meters 1.5 meters 1.0 meters 2.0 meters Data from VIMS, Noblis, Inc. & CBOS

13 Adapting to Climate Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 A joint project of The Conservation Fund and Audubon MD- DC Generously supported by a grant from the Town Creek Foundation

14 Adapting to Climate Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Project Partners Include: Project partners include United States Fish and Wildlife Service Maryland Department of Natural Resources US Army Corps of Engineers National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Conservancy and others.

15 Adapting to Climate Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Strategic assessment of the current conditions and predicted sea level rise impacts Comprehensive strategy for protection, restoration and marsh migration (adaptation) Communication strategy

16 Adapting to Climate Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Assessment phase Data Acquisition MD DNR data SLAMM US FWS and Audubon Society Soils types Wetlands losses, gains in target study area Sedimentation rates

19 Adapting Audubon to Climate MD-DC Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Audubon bird surveys 2011, 2012 Establish Important Bird Areas based on modeling black_rail/

20 Adapting to Climate Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Feasibility Analysis Feasibility analysis Coastal Protection Storm surge protection, erosion controls (+cost) Coastal Marsh Rehabilitation Feasibility of marsh restoration Sources of sediment Invasive vegetation controls Migration Areas and Corridors Weigh potential conservation options Examine feasibility, cost aspects of options

21 Optimization Adapting to Climate Analysis Change: Safeguarding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for 2100 Optimization Selection of best approaches to conservation Land Acquisition / Easement Coastal Rehabilitation, Coastal Protection Protection of wildlife Delmarva Fox Squirrel Important Bird Areas Minimization of costs for maximum conservation objectives realized

22 A presentation to the Global Summit on Coastal Seas by Erik J. Meyers, Vice President for Sustainable Programs, The Conservation Fund Baltimore, Maryland (USA) August 31, 2011

Chesapeake Bay adaptation Designing marshes for David Curson, National Audubon Society Erik Meyers, The Conservation Fund

Chesapeake Bay adaptation Designing marshes for 2100 David Curson, National Audubon Society Erik Meyers, The Conservation Fund Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Maryland s Everglades Biological Resources: