Climate Adaptation Planning: from Vulnerability Assessment to Strategy Identification -A New York Workshop Case Study- Chris Hilke Climate Change Adaptation Program National Wildlife Federation

Identifying Adaptation Strategies: Utilizing the “New Hampshire Method” 1. Identify adaptation targets (species-habitats) 2. Summarize the vulnerability of the targets 3. Develop full range of adaptation options 4. Prioritize adaptation options 5. Identify potential implementation partners 6. Group, Filter, and Highlight

NY Adaptation Workshop Stage 1: Summarize Vulnerability Data Stage 2: Identify Vulnerable Targets Stage 3: Delineate Breakout Groups Stage 4: Identify “Operationally Feasible” Adaptation Strategies Stage 6: Prioritize strategies

Adaptation Strategy Gradients GeneralSpecific Low cost Low engineering High cost Multi-phase Long-term Implementation Near-term Implementation Identifying “Operationally Feasible” Strategies

Stage 1: Summarize Vulnerability Data New York Habitat Vulnerability Assessment Galbraith, H. et al Vulnerability of At-risk Species to Climate Change in New York Schlesinger, M. et al. 2011

Stage 2: Identify Vulnerable Targets Freshwater Systems Species: Dwarf Wedge Mussel Bog Turtle Lake Sturgeon Hellbender Habitats: Cold water habitats Emergent marsh Shrub swamp Stratified lakes Upland Systems Species: Spruce Grouse Indiana Bat Karner Blue butterfly Moose Habitats: Montane Spruce-fir N. Hardwood forests Tundra Boreal bog

Stage 3: Delineate Breakout Groups Target Vulnerability Summary Climate Exposure Summary Example Adaptation Strategies 1.Upland Systems 2.Freshwater Systems

Stage 4: Identify “Operationally Feasible” Adaptation Strategies 30 minutes per target to identify as many strategies as possible that increase the resiliency and/or adaptive capacity of the targets FHWA

Stage 5: Prioritize Strategies

Group, Filter and Highlight 1.Group strategies by common theme, category 2.Filter groups based upon feasibility, cost, implementation potential 3.Highlight a suite of top 5 strategies for each target

Montane spruce-fir Patch clear cut management for fir regeneration Expand Catskills to ADK to Canada connectivity N. Hardwood forests Manage for southern spp./promote climate-resilient assemblages Conduct deer management based on vegetation cover metrics Tundra Limit visitation impacts with trail carrying capacity limits Monitor tundra pollinators Boreal bog Reduce bog draining and peat harvest on private lands Implement existing wetland protection strategies Upland Systems: Habitats

Upland Systems: Species Spruce Grouse Facilitate range shift through connectivity Monitor likely disappearance Facilitate translocation for isolated populations Indiana Bat Landowner incentives to maintain snags Increased investment in fungal disease research Increased hibernacula protection measures Moose Improve connectivity across altitudinal gradients - over-underpass Reduce deer population for disease management Karner Blue butterfly Continue/expand prescribed fire for habitat restoration Protect/manage islands around core habitat to facilitate meta- population dynamics

Freshwater Systems: Habitats Cold water habitats Acquire intact “in fee” lands along shores and stream banks Stream management programs for local communities Emergent marsh Amend state wetland maps to include > wetlands – utilize previous wetland map expansions Increase staff to implement current program objectives Shrub swamp Remove obsolete impoundments to restore natural hydrology Increase capacity-funding for existing water protection program implementation Stratified lakes Improve sewage facilities for lakeshore residents – stormwater Expand watershed management focus for nonpoint discharges

Freshwater Systems: Species Dwarf Wedge Mussel Decrease in-stream disturbance Increase aquatic connectivity - dam removal Improve water quality Bog Turtle Control sediment runoff Acquisition of habitat for key populations Develop captive breeding program Lake Sturgeon Reduce length of harvest season Minimize water withdrawal impacts - entrainment Hellbender Unblock migration routes – aquatic connectivity Population re-establishment in climate-appropriate habitats

Thank You Lake Champlain, VT Chris Hilke National Wildlife Federation