1. ALBEMARLE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PROJECT USING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO BUILD ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE TO RISING SEAS

2. CAROLINEAN MARINE PROVINCE BANKS AND SOUNDS

3. The Albemarle Region is critical for the conservation of our global natural heritage. More than 540,000 acres on the Peninsula currently under conservation protection.

4. Southeast Virginia/ Northeast North Carolina Coastal Plain 120 miles 154 miles Z Atlantic Ocean Outer Banks Region NC VA Eleven National Wildlife Refuge

5. The Albemarle Region is the portion of NC’s coast most vulnerable to sea level rise.

6. Relative sea- level rise: 2 in/decade At the present rate, all the blue areas will be inundated in 200 years

7. Over 1 million acres will be inundated as sea-level rises over the next few centuries SLR Simulation: 4 in increments up to 32 in Current rate = 200 years Best case = 150 years

8. The Alligator River Pilot Project

9. THE MAIN THREATS WE WILL ENCOUNTER FROM SEA LEVEL RISE: Increased shoreline erosion Salt intrusion into the interior via ditches Sea-level rising faster than vegetation can retreat RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

10. SHORELINE EROSION

11. GLOBAL WARMING /CLIMATE CHANGE/SEA LEVEL RISE Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge The forest is disappearing Alligator River

12. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Point Peter Road Climate Change Project OYSTER REEF CONSTRUCTION SITE Water Control Structure Site Tree planting site PROJECT PARTNERS  Duke Energy  SARP - NOAA

13. ADAPTATION STRATEGY 1: Use oyster reefs to buffer wave action and to slow currents. Oyster reefs will also sequester new carbon, help to ensure clean water, and provide habitat for many species in addition to oysters.

14. SALTWATER INTRUSION

15. ADAPTATION STRATEGY 2: Use water control structures equipped with flashboard risers and tide gates to restore the hydrology of interior wetlands and prevent saltwater intrusion

16. RISING WATER AND MOVING HABITATS

17. ADAPTATION STRATEGY 3: Plant salt- and flood-tolerant vegetation ahead of the moving front.

18. First Steps Point Peter Road Point Peter Road –Construct oyster reef –Replace inadequate water control structure –Plant test plots of bald cypress, black gum, and green ash in peat soils

19. March 2010 Tree Planting Contractor planted 11,500 bald cypress, 2,000 black gum, and 6,750 pond pine over 40 acres in 8-five acre plots along with 4-five acre plots as a control Now, we can do the science and find out how many survive and what are their growth rates

20. N. C. State University Carbon /Nitrogen Flux Research Project Evaluating mechanistic linkages ecosystem carbon balance Nitrogen mineralization Monitor changes with changing ground water level climatic drivers Proxies for climate change and rising sea level

21. Adaptation  Adaptation is the management actions we will take to reduce impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife and habitats

22. Mike Bryant, Project Leader USFWS North Carolina Coastal Plain Refuges Complex P. O. Box 1969 (shipping: 708 N Hwy 64) Manteo, NC 27954 office: 252-473-1131 ext. 222 cell: 252- 216-7505 fax: 252-473-1668 mike_bryant@fws.gov Brian Boutin, Ph.D. Climate Adaptation Project Director bboutin@tnc.org (252) 441-2525 (Phone) (910) 599-2559 (Mobile) (252) 441-1271 (Fax) nature.org The Nature Conservancy North Carolina Chapter Outer Banks Office 701 West Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 Dennis Stewart, Refuge Biologist Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Complex P. O. Box 1969 (shipping: 708 N Hwy 64) Manteo, NC 27954 Office: 252-473-1131 ext. 231 Cell: 252-475-0962 fax: 252-473-1668 dennis_stewart@fws.gov

23. To-date: Funds contributed by- And OTHERS: Several anonymous donors to TNC