photo: r. hancock sea levels affecting marshes model using slamm to conserve rhode island coastal...
TRANSCRIPT
Photo: R. Hancock
Sea Levels Affecting Marshes ModelUsing SLAMM to Conserve
Rhode Island Coastal Wetlands
Coastal Resources Management CouncilCoastal Education Series
May 27, 2014
James Boyd, CRMC Coastal Policy Analyst
Rhode Island has lost 53% of its historic salt marshes over the last two centuries* due to man-made alterations (ditching and filling) resulting in a loss of about 4000 acres statewide
* Bromberg and Bertness, 2005
2010
2004
STB’s 10 years of restoration monitoring has shown that conditions can change rapidly in tidally restricted marshes
Recently, similar degraded conditions have been observed in marshes with no tidal restrictions
2010Source: Save The Bay
Marsh Migration
Source: W. Ferguson, Save The Bay
Marsh Migration
Source: J. Boyd 05/15/14
HEIGHT NOW
Adapted from: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/
sltrends_station.shtml?stnid=8452660%20Newport,%20RIBoothroyd 2013
Rate of Rise 1930-201310.8 +/- .7 inch/100 yr
USACE and NOAA SLR Curves
http://corpsclimate.us/ccaceslcurves.cfm
Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM)North Kingstown Pilot Project (2011)
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/climate/habitat.html
All 21 Coastal Communities Completed
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
SLAMM Project Goals1. Develop marsh migration modeling results (maps)
2. Identify existing vulnerable wetlands
3. Identify impacted upland parcels – opportunities and challenges
4. Develop new CRMC coastal program adaptive strategies, policies and standards (Beach SAMP)
5. Increase local capacity to proactively incorporate sea level rise for wetlands (e.g., comprehensive plans, zoning codes, conservation, etc.)
Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM)
Simulates the dominant processes involved in wetland conversions during long term
sea level rise
Applied and improved since 1985
Used throughout the world
http://www.warrenpinnacle.com/prof/SLAMM/
Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model
Topography is the basis for Model
Modeling – Current Conditions
Model Results – 1’ SLR
Model Results – 3’ SLR
Model Results – 5’ SLR
Model Results – 5’ SLR
SLAMM Predicted Statewide Salt Marsh Changes due to Sea Level Rise
SLR 1 Ft. 3 Ft. 5 Ft.
Loss (Acres) 450 1895 3189
Gain (Acres) 1057 1148 2151
Net Change (Acres)
607 -747 -1038
½ of Current Salt Marshes
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/climate/habitat.html www.beachsamp.org
SLAMM Project is part of the Beach SAMP