Page 1
Photo credits (top) ;Andy Drumm; (bottom) Mark Godfrey
Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico PeninsulaChristine Pickens, Chuck Peoples, & Aaron McCallClimate, Risk & Resilience Learning ExchangeMay 29, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana
Photo credits: (top) John Warner; (bottom) Kelly Coleman, John Warner
Page 2
Where We Work
Slide Text
Albemarle-Pamlico
Peninsula
Albemarle Sound
Pamlico Sound
Atlantic Ocean
Page 3
Wetland Mosaic Landscape
PocosinSwamp forestPine flatHardwood flatRiverine swamp forestEstuarine shrub/scrubFresh marshBrackish marsh
Page 4
Thick Peat Deposits
Peat Depth (ft)
PocosinSwamp forestPine flatHardwood flatRiverine swamp forestEstuarine shrub/scrubFresh marshBrackish marsh
0 7 14
Page 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
Page 6
Coastal Adaptation Approaches
1. Restore Hydrology (water patterns)
a) Water control structures → prevent salt water intrusion
b) Ditch plugs → keep ground water levels higher, better oyster growing conditions
2. Construct Oyster Reefsa) Marl and shell bag reefs → reduce
shoreline erosion, provide habitat for fish
3. Vegetative Plantingsa) Flood- and salt-tolerant species →
establish native tree species, eventually adds to peat layer, provides habitat
Page 7
Water Control Structure
Page 8
Water Control Structure
UpstreamStructure
StructureStructure
Page 9
Water Control Structure Effectiveness
Structure Installed
Pains Bay Fire & Hurricane Irene
Sound Salinity
Page 11
Oyster Reefs and Shoreline Erosion
No Reef: 4.2 m/yrEstablished Reef: 1.7 m/yr
Page 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
Page 13
Vegetative Plantings
Planting design40 acres11,500 bald cypress 2,000 black gum 6,750 pond pine
Planted March 2010 >90% transplant survival Hurricane Irene 2011
2+ m storm surge
Page 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
Page 15
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
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