Great Marsh Adaptation Planning

Great Marsh Symposium

November 17, 2016

Presentation Outline Project Overview

Great Marsh Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Project Community Planning Component

Adaptation Planning Process Strategy Identification Strategy Selection

Adaptation Strategies for the Great Marsh Region Natural Solutions Nature & Nature-based Strategies Grey Infrastructure Policy Strategies

Summary of What’s Next

A Healthy Ecosystem Under Threat

Photo credit: Abigail Manzi uploaded to MyCoast

Wetlands Reduce Flooding?

Coastal wetlands are estimated to have saved $625 million in flood damages during Hurricane Sandy. - COASTAL WETLANDS AND FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION Using Risk Industry-based Models to Assess Natural Defenses in the Northeastern USA

Holistic Coastal Resiliency Enhancement &Community Risk

Reduction in the Great Marsh•Marsh Restoration • Invasive species control• SAV restoration

•Dune Restoration• Re-nourishment• Re-vegetation

•Hydro-barriers Assessment•Hydro-dynamic Sediment Transport & Salinity Modeling•Community Resiliency Planning• Vulnerability assessment• Adaptation planning

Community Resiliency Planning

1. Develop community climate vulnerability assessments

2. Conduct comprehensive public outreach & engagement

3. Publish an Implementation Roadmap & Climate Adaptation Plan

Project Area: Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, & Rowley.

Climate Adaptation Plan

Town-specific Climate

Vulnerability Assessments

Adaptation

Strategy Summary

Implementation Roadma

p

Adaptation PlanningStep 1: Synthesis of Relevant Strategies

Reviewed and synthesized over 50 documents

Identified a full array of adaptation strategies

Adaptation PlanningStep 2: Expand the list of strategies

through facilitated process

Adaptation Catalog reviewed by stakeholders and local input incorporated

Adaptation PlanningStep 3: Categorize & Prioritize Strategies

Adaptation Catalog

Identified top-strategies for assets in each community

Technical input

Adaptation PlanningStep 4: Create Detailed Adaptation

Strategy Summary Document

To include strategies that reduce vulnerability of… Specific assets Natural resources Overall community/economics/demographics

Identifying & Selecting Adaptation Strategies

Summarize range of

adaptation strategies to

reduce vulnerability of top-tier assets

Expand list of strategies through

facilitated process

Prioritize strategies and tailor to site-

specific conditions

Create detailed Adaptation Strategy Summary

Revise strategy summary based on stakeholder

and expert review/input

Final Climate Adaptation Plan

Climate Adaptation Strategies

Climate Adaptatio

n & Resilience

Policy

Natural Solution

s

Nature-Based & Hybrid

Gray Infrastruct

ure

What are your Project Goals?

Flood Protection

Wave Attenuation

Water Quality

Erosion Control

Habitat Restoration

Scenic/Recreational Value

Natural Solutions

DUNESSALT MARSHES

BEACHES

Natural Solutions

DUNE REVEGETATION

INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL

DITCH REMEDIATION

Natural Solutions

Advantages: Multiple Co-benefits Long-term protection Often more resilient Cost-effective

Potential Challenges:

Variable protection Takes time to

establish Requires space

LIVING SHORELINES

Nature-Based & Hybrid Strategies

DUNE CREATION

WETLAND CREATION

Nature-Based & Hybrid Strategies

BIOSWALES

GEOGRIDS

OYSTER CASTLES

Advantages: Multiple Co-benefits Create new habitat Effective in high

energy areas Cost-effective

Potential Challenges:

Variable protection Requires space Require maintenance

Nature-Based & Hybrid Strategies

Gray Infrastructure

JETTIES

BULKHEADS

REVETMENTS

Advantages: Design & build expertise Familiarity Ready-to-go on day 1

Potential Challenges: Limited-No adaptive

capacity Weakens over time Causes habitat loss Expensive

Gray Infrastructure

Policy Strategies

ZONING

CLIMATE-SMART DEVELOPMENT

FREEBOARD INCENTIVES

Policy Strategies

Advantages: Multiple Co-benefits Long-term protection Promotes systems

approach

Potential Challenges:

Requires legislative process

Can lead to legal challenges

Requires community buy-in

Avoiding Maladaptation

No silver bullet!

Adaptation is site specific

SYSTEMS vs. Project approach

Solutions require adaptive management

Montauk, NY

Questions?Taj Schottland

Coastal Adaptation SpecialistSchottlandT@nwf.org

Melissa GaydosWildlife Adaptation Coordinator

GaydosM@nwf.org