1. Assessment of Ecosystem Services in Galveston Bay Area Using InVEST Models Greg Guannel, Jorge Brenner, Joe Faries, Anne Guerry, Jennifer Proft, Jess Silver, Mike Thompson

2. Coastal Resilience Initiative www.slrportal.org http://gulfmex.coastalresilience.org Assess Risk and Vulnerability to coastal hazards Identify Solutions using built and nature-based infrastructure Take Action to implement adaptation solutions Measure Effectiveness of reducing risk

3. Galveston Bay Project Partners: Funding: Study area: Focus in Galveston Bay Climate-Societal Interactions Project Goal: Assess Nature-based Adaptation Solutions to Climate Change Duration: Finalized by February 2014

4.  Identify real world coastal planning question  Assess capacity to provide benefits using InVEST models  Quantify benefits provided by natural systems  Envision management strategies that maximize resilience Objectives Products:  Access to InVEST models & white paper  Ecosystem services and InVEST models training  Access to results through online Decision Support Tool

6. Habitat Service BeachesWetlands Seagrass Beds Oyster Reefs Blue Carbon -Storage and sequestration- Fisheries Habitat (blue crabs, shrimps, …) Food+ Habitat Coastal Protection Erosion Waves and surge; Sediment loss; Runoff Waves and surge; Sediment loss Recreation All around fun, Boating, Rec. fishing, Bird watching - Ecosystem Services in the Bay

7. 1- Climate Stressors and Scenarios 2- Preliminary Outputs of Service Models 3- Conclusion Quantification of Marine Ecosystem Services in Galveston Bay

8. Climate Stressors No trends in wave height, wind speed, temperature

9. Climate Stressors Sea level is rising

10. Marsh Type Mean SLR Projection 1 m SLR Projection 2 m SLR Projection Regularly flooded 11%175%43% Irregularly flooded -1%-49%-14% Transitional salt -21%177%38%

11.  Carbon sequestration  Fished species response to changes in coastal habitats  Coastal Protection  Water storage capacity of wetlands  Attenuation of waves by oyster reefs  Attenuation of waves by wetlands  Attenuation of surge by wetlands  Location and relative importance of recreation areas in the region Study Objectives

12. Carbon Stored – 2004 and 2050

13. Carbon Sequestered (Now – 2050)

14. Fisheries

15. Gain or Loss of Marsh Habitat? Habitat Change and Blue Crab Population

17. Coastal Protection

18. oyster reef seagrass beds marshes mangroves coral reefs sand dunes Coastal Protection

19. Surge Modeling

20. Waves

21. Wetlands Attenuate Waves + Levee Height

22. interiorclip.com Wetlands Can Replace/Help Structures

23. Surge Height Seawall Levee No Vegetation Levee Vegetation 1 m3.5 m0.5 m0 m 2 m4.5 m2.5 m1.2 m interiorclip.com Wetlands Can Replace/Help Structures

24. bayareaobserver.com Protect Marshes

25. Design Wave H=1m; T=3s Example Outputs: Oyster Reefs bayareaobserver.com

26. Oysters to the Rescue

27.  Quantify E.S. in Galveston using simple process based models  Tons of carbon sequestered in wetlands  Conserve wetlands = more blue crabs  Wetlands reduce waves  Oyster reefs can protect wetlands Conclusion

28. Future Steps  Storm surge analysis  Shrimp population model  Recreation  Valuation - $ mymauisunset

30. Evaluating changes in habitat using SLAMM Gain or Loss of Marsh Habitat?