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: Most extensive contiguous tidal marsh in NE U.S. Diversity of wetland and forest habitats. 27,000 acres, in a 200,000 acre natural landscape. Conservation priorities: Wintering waterfowl Bald Eagle Tidal marsh birds Delmarva Fox Squirrel
Important Bird Area of global significance - tidal marsh birds Saltmarsh Sparrow WatchList: Red category Black Rail: WatchList Red category Seaside Sparrow WatchList:Red category
Importance to regional economy Ecosystem services: Tourism and recreation - $27 million annually Commercial fisheries vital nursery grounds in tidal creeks. Buffer against storm surges protecting properties. Filter sediments and nutrient pollution improving Chesapeake Bay water quality.
The Conservation Fund Work at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge TCF Acquisitions Refuge Land MD DNR Land
Disappearing marshland. 1938 1957 1989 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Sea level rise and storms an increasing threat to Blackwater Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Sea Level Rise Height Increases + Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk 0.5 meters 1.5 meters Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk 1.0 meters 2.0 meters Sea Level Rise Height Increases + Hurricane Isabel Flooding Risk Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge 0.5 meters 1.5 meters Data from VIMS, Noblis, Inc. & CBOS 1.0 meters 2.0 meters
Marsh migration creates new salt marsh
Tidal marshes for the future? Conservation needs 1. Facilitate tidal marsh migration: Protect migration corridors from development, shoreline hardening. Assist marsh migration via habitat management. 2. Enhance ecological integrity of tidal marshes to increase resilience to sea level rise.
SLR adaptation plan for Dorchester County, Md 2-year project; May 2011 May 2013 Project components - 1. Strategic assessment of current conditions and predicted impacts 2. Comprehensive strategy for SLR adaptation 3. Communications strategy to build support.
Strategic Assessment: 1. Map and prioritize potential marsh migration corridors. Build upon mapping done by Maryland DNR using SLAMM 6.01. Incorporate additional factors to derive marsh suitability surface map: Current land cover. Roads (and other barriers to marsh migration) Ditches (conduits of tidal influence) RTE species (Delmarva Fox Squirrel) Soil type. Salt marsh bird habitat-landscape requirements.
Strategic Assessment: 2. Map areas of high marsh habitat of highest priority for salt marsh birds Unique salt marsh bird assemblage needs Spartina meadows in high marsh for nesting. Habitat-landscape models will be developed to characterize highest priority marshes. Bird and habitat data collected in 2011 marshbird survey. Models will also inform prioritization of new future marshes.
Strategic Assessment: 3. Map areas most suitable for marsh restoration activities. Sediment spraying to raise marsh elevation Invasive species control (Phragmites). Ditch modifications (plugging / unplugging) Pine removal to accelerate marsh establishment?
Comprehensive strategy 1. Land protection and marsh migration Designate corridors to future home. Strategic site selection. Innovative funding Eliminate barriers 2. Marsh restoration and management for bird habitat Prioritize locations, BMPs. BMPs for newly tidal land.
Communication strategy: Build support for implementation Increase awareness of impacts of SLR, and what is at stake in future. Build appreciation that SLR must be addressed now. Give local residents and managers opportunity to tell their stories about changes. Refine messages for diverse audiences
Many partners and advisors United States Fish and Wildlife Service Maryland Department of Natural Resources US Army Corps of Engineers National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Conservancy National Wildlife Refuge Association
Moving toward 2100.