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Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula

Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula. Christine Pickens, Chuck Peoples, & Aaron McCall Climate, Risk & Resilience Learning Exchange May 29, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo credits: (top) John Warner; (bottom) Kelly Coleman, John Warner. Where We Work. Atlantic Ocean.

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Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula

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  1. Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula Christine Pickens, Chuck Peoples, & Aaron McCall Climate, Risk & Resilience Learning Exchange May 29, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana Photo credits: (top) John Warner; (bottom) Kelly Coleman, John Warner

  2. Where We Work Atlantic Ocean • Slide Text Albemarle Sound Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula Pamlico Sound

  3. Wetland Mosaic Landscape Pocosin Swamp forest Pine flat Hardwood flat Riverine swamp forest Estuarine shrub/scrub Fresh marsh Brackish marsh

  4. Thick Peat Deposits Pocosin Swamp forest Pine flat Hardwood flat Riverine swamp forest Estuarine shrub/scrub Fresh marsh Brackish marsh Peat Depth (ft) 0 7 14

  5. Challenges • Sea-level Rise • 1 – 2 ft average elevation • Habitat conversion • Shoreline erosion • Ditched Landscape • > 280 miles of ditches • From timber harvesting and agriculture • Soil oxidation • Salt water intrusion points • Catastrophic Wildfires • Flammable organic soils • 2011 Fire: 5.5 million tons C lost

  6. Coastal Adaptation Approaches • Restore Hydrology (water patterns) • Water control structures → prevent salt water intrusion • Ditch plugs → keep ground water levels higher, better oyster growing conditions • Construct Oyster Reefs • Marl and shell bag reefs → reduce shoreline erosion, provide habitat for fish • Vegetative Plantings • Flood- and salt-tolerant species → establish native tree species, eventually adds to peat layer, provides habitat

  7. Water Control Structure

  8. Water Control Structure Structure Upstream Structure Structure

  9. Water Control Structure Effectiveness Structure Installed Pains Bay Fire & Hurricane Irene Sound Salinity

  10. Oyster Reefs

  11. Oyster Reefs and Shoreline Erosion No Reef: 4.2 m/yr Established Reef: 1.7 m/yr

  12. Oyster Reefs and Aquatic Faunal Habitat • Oyster Density • Marl: 144 oysters/m2 • Shell Bag: 840 oysters/m2 • Higher species richness along reefs vs. open water

  13. Vegetative Plantings • Planting design • 40 acres • 11,500 bald cypress • 2,000 black gum • 6,750 pond pine • Planted March 2010 • >90% transplant survival • Hurricane Irene 2011 • 2+ m storm surge

  14. Conclusions and Moving Forward • Success with using a mixture of approaches • Natural defenses (oyster reefs) • Infrastructure (water control structures) • Success with willing partners on conservation lands • Improve vegetative planting approach • Evaluate economic benefit of adaptation approaches

  15. Funding Kindly Provided By: Duke Energy TNC-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program SARP-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program FAF-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund Grady-White Boats Private donations Acknowledgments • TNC • Chuck Peoples • Aaron McCall • Kate Murray • Brian Boutin • Becca Benner • Mike Horak • Katherine Skinner • US Fish & Wildlife Service • Mike Bryant • Scott Lanier • Dennis Stewart • Brian van Druten • Volunteers • Kelly & Coleman Davis • Shell bag volunteers

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