Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change

Transcription

1 Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change Citizen Planner Training Conference Holy Cross College, Worcester March 16, 2013 E. Heidi Ricci Senior Policy Analyst Mass Audubon Thanks to Scott Horsley, Horsley and Witten and Carrie Banks, MA Div. of Ecological Restoration for contributing slides

2 Shaping the Future of Your Community Program Working in the state s fastest developing regions to provide community leaders and concerned citizens with tools and support to chart a more sustainable future

3 Water Resources and Climate Change

4 More Intense Storms 100-year - 24 hour Design Storm Comparison County TP-40 Rainfall NRCC Rainfall Percent (inches) (inches) Change Barnstable % Berkshire % Bristol % Dukes % Essex % Franklin % Hampden % Hampshire % Middlesex % Plymouth % Worcester %

5 Image Credit: New England Integrated Sciences and Assessment,

6 Image credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program (

7 Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change Climate Change Paradox Housatonic River More Floods Westfield River More Droughts Mass Rivers Alliance 2009

8 Rivers use their floodplains River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

9 Protect Green Infrastructure Keep development out of floodplains River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

10 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration Rivers erode and deposit. Give them room to move Scour on the outside of meander bends Deposition on inside of bends

11 Bank hardening transfers energy downstream Photo: NRCS Photo: Matthew Grallert Photo: NRCS Swift River, Cummington River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

12 Undersized culverts Walker Brook, Becket (10/06/05) River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

13 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

14 Same Site Culverts washed out in 2005 replaced with similarly undersized culverts 6/30/2011 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

15 Post Irene River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

16 Post Irene Replacement Culverts River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

17 Comparison of Estimated Crossing Lifespan and Costs Cost of Two Replacements in 6 years: $130k Estimate for Stream Crossing Span: 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 + years $ k River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

18 Design with the river in mind! Bronson Brook, Worthington 2-10 foot box culverts washed out in Road was closed to all traffic. Culvert had a history of clogging with debris River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

19 Bronson Brook During and Post Irene River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

20 Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

21 Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

22 Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

23 Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

24 Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

25 Horizontal Septic Setback (Viruses) = 200 feet Under Sea Level rise = 150 feet Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

26 4 foot compliance without sea level rise, but only 2 foot with SLR Horsley Witten Group, Inc.

27 Clean Energy and Climate Change Tools Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Green Communities Greening Transportation Energy Efficiency Protecting Natural Carbon Storage and Resiliency Andrew Sylvia, Westford Solar Park

28 Costs of Sprawl Energy Intensive, Water Impacts

29 Preserving Forest Lands Compact development and land conservation keeps forested and natural (carbon absorbing) lands intact Massachusetts forests are sequestering 12% of our annual carbon emissions! Every acre of forest holds 85 TONS of carbon Natural landscapes absorb rainfall during storm events, decreasing flooding, and filter the air and our drinking water

30 No Regrets Solutions Remove barriers to fish and accommodate storm flows Green infrastructure and low impact development

31 Heidi Ricci