Swinomish Climate Change Initiative: Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan ATNI Tribal Leaders Summit on Climate Change March 10, 2015 Larry Campbell &Jamie Donatuto, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
SWINOMISH INDIAN RESERVATION ISLAND FIDALGO Swinomish Village Tribal HQ Swinomish Indian Reservation
Sea Level Rise + Tidal Storm Surge = Bigger Storm Waves Today’s 100-yr flood event becomes a 10-yr event at ~2050. By 2100, it becomes a 1-yr event.
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative Year 1 – Technical Report (2009): - Impact assessment - Vulnerability assessment - Risk analysis Year 2 – Action Plan (2010): - Review strategies, criteria - Assess requirements - Develop/prioritize recommendations nsn.gov/climate_change/project/reports. html
Impact Scoping Matrix Swinomish Climate Change Initiative
Fishing facilities Shellfish Beach seining Impacts on Tribal Resources Wetlands Groundwater recharge TOO MUCH WATER: Streamflows TOO LITTLE WATER:
Structures Property TypeNumberAcres Approximate Value Residential 1,3681,995$ 493,688,000 Non-Residential 9143$ 4,806,000 Buildable Lots 18380$ 19,918,000 TOTAL 1,5602,218$ 518,412,000 Wildfire Risk Zone
Impacts on Human Health Heat-related illness (exhaustion, stroke) Respiratory problems (asthma, air quality) Opportunistic viruses (West Nile, flu) Emerging health threats (fungal, viral) Food-borne/pollution related threats (toxins, water quality)
Action Plan, Chpt 4: Cultural Tradition and Community Health “ Community wellness” addresses issues of community resilience and cultural sovereignty that are vital to preparing for significant changes health indicators -- community cohesion, food security, ceremonial use, knowledge transmission, and self determination. e.g., healing gardens, language programs
Sea Level Rise Seawalls (Armoring) Access/ Sediments (erosion) Shellfish Overview: 2013 NPLCC Pilot Study Swinomish Community Health JD
By 2100 ~27% decrease in suitable shellfish growth & harvest area Today there are roughly 20 acres suitable for growing and harvesting shellfish at Lone Tree Point JD
Community-based Indigenous health indicators (IHIs): COMMUNITY CONNECTION SELF DETERMINATION CALM MIND (BALANCE OR EMOTIONAL STABILITY) NATURAL RESOURCES SECURITY CULTURAL USE EDUCATION
Workshops Access: On a scale of 1- 4, are there enough locations available to harvest? 1. Things are very bad 2. Not very good 3. Looking pretty good 4. We’re doing great Access: On a scale of 1-4, will there be enough locations available to harvest in 2100? Now: 0% 46% 8% 2100: 18% 64% 18% 0%
NRS = Natural Resources SecurityCU = Cultural Use ED = EducationCC = Community Connection SD = Self-Determination CM = Calm Mind (Emitional Security)
EPA STAR Project: First Foods and Habitats Associated Habitats Pocket estuaries Eelgrass beds Beach Bluff and backshore Agent of Change (Drivers) Sea-Level Rise Storm Surge and Waves Sediment Dynamics Salinity Gradients Concerns Salmon Forage Fish Juvenile Crab Clams Traditional Plants Cultural Sites
Assess First Foods’ nearshore habitats Nearshore area lost Maps & models of potential impacts to Swinomish first foods & culturally important areas Inundation increases 5%-24% by 2100
Community Advisory Board & Workshops
Education & Dissemination Environmental Education & Community Health Education projects within Tribe Regional & national conferences Short film(s) Webinars “Template” booklet of methods to share with other Tribes Support undergraduate and graduate interns
THANK YOU For more information, please contact: Larry Campbell (360) Dr. Jamie Donatuto (360) Research supported by: Swinomish Tribe; EPA STAR # & # ; NPLCC & USFWS #F12AP00994 IHI website: