ed christopher, rf pocosin lakes national wildlife refuge carolinas drought early warning scoping...

Ed Christopher, RF

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Public Lands and Drought

Carolinas Drought Early Warning Scoping Workshop

July 31, 2012

*Public lands of coastal NC

*Regional climate related impacts

• Shoreline erosion• Catastrophic wildfire• Saltwater intrusion• Species invasion• Habitat transition

*Sea level rise

*Salinity

*Tidal issues coupled with drought

*Vegetation change or loss

*Peat Soil (baby charcoal)

*Hydrophobic

*Fire

*Suppression actions

*Loss of land (topography changing events)

*Insects and Disease

*Southern Pine Beetle

*Laurel Wilt Disease

Challenges and Risk

*Challenges and Risk Continued…

*Funding (projects, personnel, etc.)

*Private land management

*Getting the message out there!

*Different priorities

*Desire to collaborate…funding?

*Other state/federal agency lands

*Different missions/priorities

*Ex. USAF and USFWS

POCOSIN LAKES EXAMPLE

*Opportunities

*Utilizing weather and drought forecasts

*Management implications

*Water

*Personnel

*Equipment

*Funding

*Develop Partnerships (private, state, NGO, federal)

*Exchange Information

*Seek Grants (partnerships)

*Questions?