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

CAROLINEAN MARINE PROVINCE BANKS AND SOUNDS

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.

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

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

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

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

The Alligator River Pilot Project

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

SHORELINE EROSION

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

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

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.

SALTWATER INTRUSION

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

RISING WATER AND MOVING HABITATS

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Bryant, Project Leader USFWS North Carolina Coastal Plain Refuges Complex P. O. Box 1969 (shipping: 708 N Hwy 64) Manteo, NC office: ext. 222 cell: fax: Brian Boutin, Ph.D. Climate Adaptation Project Director (252) (Phone) (910) (Mobile) (252) (Fax) nature.org The Nature Conservancy North Carolina Chapter Outer Banks Office 701 West Ocean Acres Drive Kill Devil Hills, NC Dennis Stewart, Refuge Biologist Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Complex P. O. Box 1969 (shipping: 708 N Hwy 64) Manteo, NC Office: ext. 231 Cell: fax:

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