Photo credits (top) ;Andy Drumm; (bottom) Mark Godfrey Climate Adaptation on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula Christine Pickens, Chuck Peoples, & Aaron McCall Climate, Risk & Resilience Learning Exchange May 29, 2013 New Orleans, Louisiana Photo credits: (top) John Warner; (bottom) Kelly Coleman, John Warner

Where We Work Slide Text Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula Albemarle Sound Pamlico Sound Atlantic Ocean

Wetland Mosaic Landscape Pocosin Swamp forest Pine flat Hardwood flat Riverine swamp forest Estuarine shrub/scrub Fresh marsh Brackish marsh

Thick Peat Deposits Peat Depth (ft) Pocosin Swamp forest Pine flat Hardwood flat Riverine swamp forest Estuarine shrub/scrub Fresh marsh Brackish marsh

Challenges  Sea-level Rise  1 – 2 ft average elevation  Habitat conversion  Shoreline erosion  Ditched Landscape  > 280 miles of ditches  From timber harvesting and agriculture  Soil oxidation  Salt water intrusion points  Catastrophic Wildfires  Flammable organic soils  2011 Fire: 5.5 million tons C lost

Coastal Adaptation Approaches 1.Restore Hydrology (water patterns) a)Water control structures → prevent salt water intrusion b)Ditch plugs → keep ground water levels higher, better oyster growing conditions 2.Construct Oyster Reefs a)Marl and shell bag reefs → reduce shoreline erosion, provide habitat for fish 3.Vegetative Plantings a)Flood- and salt-tolerant species → establish native tree species, eventually adds to peat layer, provides habitat

Water Control Structure

Upstream Structure

Water Control Structure Effectiveness Structure Installed Pains Bay Fire & Hurricane Irene Sound Salinity

Oyster Reefs

Oyster Reefs and Shoreline Erosion No Reef: 4.2 m/yr Established Reef: 1.7 m/yr

Oyster Reefs and Aquatic Faunal Habitat  Oyster Density  Marl: 144 oysters/m 2  Shell Bag: 840 oysters/m 2  Higher species richness along reefs vs. open water

Vegetative Plantings  Planting design  40 acres  11,500 bald cypress  2,000 black gum  6,750 pond pine  Planted March 2010  >90% transplant survival  Hurricane Irene 2011  2+ m storm surge

Conclusions and Moving Forward  Success with using a mixture of approaches  Natural defenses (oyster reefs)  Infrastructure (water control structures)  Success with willing partners on conservation lands  Improve vegetative planting approach  Evaluate economic benefit of adaptation approaches

Acknowledgments TNC –Chuck Peoples –Aaron McCall –Kate Murray –Brian Boutin –Becca Benner –Mike Horak –Katherine Skinner US Fish & Wildlife Service –Mike Bryant –Scott Lanier –Dennis Stewart –Brian van Druten Volunteers –Kelly & Coleman Davis –Shell bag volunteers Funding Kindly Provided By: –Duke Energy –TNC-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program –SARP-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program –FAF-NOAA Community-based Restoration Program –Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program –Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund –Grady-White Boats –Private donations