Hawaiian Islands Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Synthesis

The goal of the Hawaiian Islands Climate Synthesis Project was to develop comprehensive, science-based syntheses of current and projected future climate change impacts on, and adaptation options for, terrestrial and freshwater resources within the main Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Islands Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Synthesis presents the results of the major project components - climate impacts assessment, vulnerability assessment, and adaptation planning - and provides an inter-island analysis of the findings. More detailed information is available in the individual vulnerability assessment syntheses and adaptation summaries, and should be referred to for decision support, which can be found at http://bit.ly/HawaiiClimate.

Coastal Adaptation Strategies: Case Studies

Innovative and unique solutions are being devised throughout the national park system to adapt to climate change in coastal parks. The 24 case studies in this document describe efforts at national park units in a variety of settings to prepare for and respond to climate change impacts that can take the form of either an event or a trend. Examples of these impacts include increased storminess, sea level rise, shoreline erosion, melting sea ice and permafrost, ocean acidification, warming temperatures, groundwater inundation, precipitation, and drought. The adaptation efforts described here include historic structure preservation, archeological surveys, baseline data collection and documentation, habitat restoration, engineering solutions, redesign and relocation of infrastructure, and development of broad management plans that consider climate change. Each case study also includes a point of contact for park managers to request additional information and insight.

These case studies initially were developed by park managers as part of a NPS-led coastal adaptation to climate change training hosted by Western Carolina University in May 2012. The case studies format follows the format created for EcoAdapt’s Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) database that identified a list of adaptation strategies. All case studies were updated and modified in September 2013 and March 2015 in response to a growing number of requests from coastal parks and other coastal management agencies looking for examples of climate change adaptation strategies for natural and cultural resources and assets along their ocean, lacustrine, and riverine coasts. 

Storm Surge and Sea Level Change Data Support Planning, NPS Geologic Resources Division, Colorado

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Thu, 2015-11-26 02:58

Location

Denver , CO
United States
39° 44' 21.2496" N, 104° 59' 24.9036" W
See map: Google Maps
Colorado US
Author Name(s): 
Rebecca Beavers, Maria Caffrey
Organization: 
National Park Service - Geologic Resources Division
Summary: 

The National Park Service Geologic Resources Division (NPS GRD) is working with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop sea level change and storm surge data that parks can use for planning purposes over multiple time horizons. 

Incorporating Climate Change Response into a General Management Plan, Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Thu, 2015-11-26 02:48

Location

United States
38° 6' 41.2704" N, 75° 12' 19.9296" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Author Name(s): 
Trish Kicklighter
Organization: 
Assateague Island National Seashore
Summary: 

Assateague Island National Seashore is developing a general management plan that addresses projected climate change impacts on resources and infrastructure. The plan must include a range of management tools for improving resource resiliency and repairing facilities that will be impacted by climate change and storms. 

Developing a Multiagency Vision for an Urban Coastline, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Thu, 2015-11-26 02:36

Location

United States
37° 49' 31.1808" N, 122° 29' 55.536" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Author Name(s): 
Jodi Eshleman and Kristen Ward
Organization: 
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Summary: 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies to develop a long-term management strategy for Ocean Beach, where bluff erosion threatens natural and recreational resources, wastewater infrastructure, and a roadway (the Great Highway). Sea level rise and increased storminess are expected to increase the frequency of erosional events. 

Incorporating Climate Change into Florida’s State Wildlife Action Plan

Submitted by dparsons on Thu, 2015-11-26 02:10

Location

United States
27° 53' 15.5004" N, 81° 17' 55.7808" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Organization: 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Summary: 

Although Florida habitats and species face significant threats related to sea level rise, Florida’s first state wildlife action plan did not comprehensively consider climate change impacts. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) worked with partners to assess species vulnerability using new models and approaches during the first revision of the state wildlife action plan. 

Establishing Alternative Transportation to Fort Pickens to Supplement Vulnerable Road Access, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Thu, 2015-11-26 01:36

Location

United States
30° 23' 37.6512" N, 86° 45' 51.0588" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Author Name(s): 
Dan Brown
Organization: 
Gulf Islands National Seashore - Florida District
Summary: 

In Florida, the Fort Pickens Road within Gulf Islands National Seashore is regularly destroyed by storms, and repairs are expensive and time consuming. The park continues to reevaluate the local conditions and implement cost-effective, sustainable modes of visitor access to Fort Pickens beaches and the historic fort. 

Relocating Visitor Facilities Threatened by Erosion, Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Thu, 2015-11-26 01:07

Location

11800 Marsh View Ln
21811 Berlin , MD
United States
38° 19' 21.414" N, 75° 13' 3.6804" W
See map: Google Maps
Maryland US
Author Name(s): 
Ish Ennis
Organization: 
Assateague Island National Seashore
Summary: 

Assateague Island National Seashore is responsible for maintaining and managing access to a recreational beach that is impacted by storms multiple times each year. Maintaining the recreational beach in its present location is unsustainable in the face of continued storms, shoreline erosion, and sea level rise. The park must develop cost-effective, sustainable ways to provide a recreational beach and beach access that are acceptable to local interests and visitors. 

Large-Scale Restoration of Barrier Island Systems and Cultural Resource Protection through Sediment Placement, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Wed, 2015-11-25 22:27

Location

United States
30° 12' 40.5396" N, 88° 57' 24.066" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Author Name(s): 
Larissa Read
Organization: 
Gulf Islands National Seashore - Mississippi District
Summary: 

The large-scale project known as the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP) is intended to restore multiple barrier islands and protect cultural resources within Gulf Islands National Seashore by recreating sediment transport processes and replacing a portion of sediment lost to dredging and storm impacts. 

Consideration of Shackleford Banks Renourishment, Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina

Submitted by Rachel.Gregg on Wed, 2015-11-25 22:14

Location

United States
34° 40' 31.2924" N, 76° 37' 54.1164" W
See map: Google Maps
US
Author Name(s): 
Mark Kinzer and Patrick Kenney
Organization: 
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Summary: 

Cape Lookout National Seashore had to evaluate whether it was appropriate to pursue opportunities to mitigate shoreline erosion along Shackleford Banks, a proposed wilderness area.