Regional Climate Adaptation Planning in Northern Virginia

A M E R I C A N P L A N N I N G A S S O C I AT I O N 8 t h M I D - AT L A N T I C R E G I O N A L P L A N N I N G R O U N D TA B L E

M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 2

L A U R A G R A P E S E N I O R E N V I R O N M E N TA L P L A N N E R

Regional Climate Adaptation Planningin Northern Virginia

Sustainable Shorelines & Community Management

Conservation Corridor Planning in Northern Virginia

Collecting DataAssessing Vulnerability

Sea Level Rise Storm Surge

Developing Strategies Protect Accommodate Retreat

Adapting to Change

Identifying Natural AssetsQuantifying Benefits

Water & Air Quality Carbon Sequestration

Highlighting Relationships Basic Needs/Public Health Cultural/Recreational

Connecting the Region

A Snapshot of Two Projects

Relative Sea Level Rise Rates

Steady StateObserved historic trend at Washington, D.C. gage.

(NOAA Tides and Currents, Station 8594900)

3.2 mm/year(1 foot by 2100)

Average Accelerated

Average projected sea level rise rate for the Chesapeake Bay region.

(IPCC, 2007; STAC, 2008; and GCCC, 2008)

11.6 mm/year(1.9 feet by 2050;3.8 feet by 2100)

Worst Case

Highest projected rate for the mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay regions.

(STAC, 2008; and GCCC, 2008)

16 mm/year(2.6 feet by 2050;5.2 feet by 2100)

Historic Storm Surge

Source: Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region.

US Climate Change Science Program, January 2009.

Belle Haven/New Alexandria During Isabel

Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Police Department

Sea Level Rise Storm Surge

Areas at Risk in Northern Virginia

City of Alexandria’s Energy and Climate Change Action Plan 2012 - 2020http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/tes/oeq/info/EnergyandClimateActionPlan_April-20-2011-EPC.pdf

Environmental Assets in the Region

10

206.2 acres of Tier 1 Habitat

DoI = 300 acres

4 Elements of Occurrence

Loudoun

County

Fairfax

County

% Tree Canopy 83.8 percent(988.6 acres)

Lbs of Air Pollutants removed 99,578($266,616)

Tons of Carbon StoredTons of Carbon Sequestered

42,539331

Cu. Ft of Stormwater Retained (estimated)

6,292,791($37,756,749)

11

Relationship between drinking water

resources and natural resources.

A

B

C

D

E

POTOMAC RIVER CORRIDOR

POTOMAC GORGE – QUANTICO CORRIDOR

BULL RUN – OCCOQUAN CORRIDOR

BULL RUN MTN – CATOCTIN MTN CORRIDORBLUE RIDGE – SHORT HILL CORRIDOR

Regional Connections

Laura GrapeSenior Environmental Planner

Northern Virginia Regional [email protected]

703.642.0700

Thank you!