Managing Natural Areas for Resilience to Climate Change
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Lessons learned from the Napatree Point Demonstration Project in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Presented by the University of Rhode Island and Watch Hill Conservancy / Watch Hill Fire District.
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Managing Natural Areas for Resilience to Climate Change
- 1. Managing Natural Areas for Resilience to Climate Change: Lessons Learned From the Napatree Point Demonstra=on Project Descrip=on and Goals Charles Roman (Judith Swi5 & Amber Neville) URI Coastal Ins>tute Napatree Point Conserva=on Area Janice Sassi Watch Hill Conservancy & Watch Hill Fire District Managing for Ecosystem Resilience Peter August URI Natural Resources Science Coastal Ins=tute | Napatree Point Conserva=on Area
- 2. Climate Response Demonstra=on Sites: An Introduc=on Issues Confron=ng Coastal Communi=es and Ecosystems Sea Level Rise, Storm Surge, Flooding Rela=ve Sea Level Rise (Newport, RI) Data Source: h-ps://1desandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=8452660 Projected Rela=ve Sea Level Rise (Newport, RI) Data Source: h-p://www.corpsclimate.us/ccaceslcurves.cfm 9 inches of rise over past 86 yrs 6.5 feet (+) of rise by 2100
- 3. Climate Response Demonstra=on Sites: An Introduc=on Photo courtesy, RIEMA Na1onal Weather Service. h-p://www.weather.gov/okx/Hurricane Sandy h-p://queens.brownstoner.com/2012/11/ broad-‐channel-‐also-‐abused-‐by-‐hurricane-‐sandy/ Superstorm Sandy Photo courtesy, Jen Coop/Teresa Crean
- 4. Climate Response Demonstra=on Sites: A Forum for Evalua;ng Adapta;on Prac;ces • Explore adapta=on strategies for communi=es and residents to consider when planning for storm surge, flooding, and sea-‐level rise • Broad collabora=on with partners (towns and ci=es, agencies, conserva=on organiza=ons, community groups, academia, others) • Provide catalyst support and seek external funding to fill informa=on gaps • Share findings throughout RI, the region, and beyond Advance Knowledge Synthesize Informa>on Develop Solu>ons for Sustainable Ecosystems (Coastal Ins>tute mission statement) h-ps://ci.uri.edu/demonstra1on
- 5. Climate Response Demonstra=on Sites -‐-‐ represen;ng RI coastal se?ngs and development types -‐-‐ Mixed-‐Use Areas • town centers • historic heritage • mixed land use • natural areas, open space Natural Areas • undeveloped • ecological values • recrea=onal values Urban Areas • industrial/commercial • economic significance • urban parks
- 6. Climate Response Demonstra=on Sites: An Introduc=on Managing Natural Areas for Resilience to Climate Change Photo courtesy, Janet Freedman
- 7. Janice Sassi Napatree Point Conserva=on Area: An Overview
- 8. Mission MISSION STATEMENT We protect and enhance the ecological condi>on and ecosystem resilience of Napatree Point in order to make it a safe, enjoyable, and informa>ve des>na>on for all visitors. MANAGEMENT • Owned by WH Fire District (86 acres) • Easement by WH Conservancy • 6 small private inholdings (3 acres) • Staff: Rear-‐round manager, seasonal staff of Naturalists & Educators
- 9. Geography Sandy Point Watch Hill Pawcatuck R. Fort Mansfield Lagoon Li-le Narraganse- Bay
- 10. Napatree Point: Early 20th Century • Heavily developed • 39 co-ages along the barrier, beach club, yacht club
- 11. Hurricane of 1938 • All structures swept away • Napatree wiped clean • 15 deaths in WH • 3 breaches (300-‐900 feet wide) 1893 2014
- 12. A Resilient Ecosystem Napatree Now, Eight Decades Post-‐Hurricane of 1938
- 13. Management Challenges • Dogs • Invasive plants • Trampling dunes • People management • Water quality • SLR impacts on access Photo: LLASCC
- 14. Conserva=on Through Educa=on Napatree Inves1gators Classes and Tours
- 15. Geang the Word Out www.napatreepoint.info
- 16. Pete August Managing for Ecosystem Resilience Ecosystem Resilience The capacity of an ecosystem to absorb disturbance without shi5ing to an alterna>ve state and losing func>on and services (Cote & Darling, 2010. PLOS) Two Aspects Resistance: How large a disturbance can the system endure? Recovery: How long will it take to recover?
- 17. Disturbances on Napatree Short-‐term (weeks, months) Trampling vegeta1on, Dogs, aircra`, boats disturbing birds Storms Intermediate-‐term (years) Invasive species Storms Long-‐term (decades) Sea level rise Increased storminess Warming waters and air Altered phenology Photo: LLASCC
- 18. Barrier Migra=on Barriers migrate landward and upward! (Thanks to Bryan Oakley)
- 19. Let the geologic processes… geologize!
- 20. Stewardship to Enhance Ecosystem Resilience Enhancing Plant Diversity for Pollinators Redirec=ng Visitor Traffic Away From Fragile Natural Areas
- 21. Stewardship to Enhance Ecosystem Resilience Rare Species Protec=on Invasive Species Control
- 22. Stewardship to Enhance Ecosystem Resilience Sand–friendly Fencing Minimizing Impacts to Submerged Aqua=c Resources
- 23. Stewardship to Enhance Ecosystem Resilience Encouraging Proper Behavior and Best Prac=ces
- 24. Stewardship Prac=ces to Enhance Ecosystem Resilience Monitoring
- 25. Stewardship at Napatree: It Takes a Village
- 26. Geang the Word Out www.napatreepoint.info