How climate change impacts our region and what local leaders are doing to adapt

Transcription

1 How climate change impacts our region and what local leaders are doing to adapt 1 Libby Zemaitis, Hudson River Estuary Program Climate Smart Communities June 24, 2017

2 2 Roadmap Hudson River Estuary Program Climate hazards + risks Hudson riverfront communities as leaders Adaptation strategies Now open: grant funding! Recap

3 3 The Hudson River Estuary Program Your partner in climate adaptation and resiliency planning in the Hudson Valley

4 4 How our climate is changing

5 New York s climate is changing faster than national and global averages Climate hazards Trends in our climate Climate risks Impacts to humans 5 Increasing temperatures Changing precipitation patterns Rising sea level Heat waves Short-term drought Flooding

6 Climate trends expected to continue through century Climate hazard Observed trend Future projections 7 Increasing temperatures 2 F increase (5 F in winter) since F increase by 2050s, 6-11 F by 2100 * the hottest years on record

7 Climate trends expected to continue through century Climate hazard Observed trend Future projections 8 Changing precipitation patterns 71% increase in intense precipitation since 1958 Up to 11% increase in precipitation by 2050s, 18% by 2100

8 Climate trends expected to continue through century Climate hazard Observed trend Future projections 9 Rising sea level +13 rise since 1900 Up to 27 + by 2050s and 71 + by 2100 NYS officially adopted sealevel rise projections in February 2017

9 Heat waves are the #1 cause of death by natural disaster in the US Climate risk Observed trend Future projections 10 Heat waves 12 days above 90 F between Up to 47 days above 90 F by 2050s

10 Drought threatens our drinking water and food supplies Climate risk Observed trends Future projections 11 Drought Warmer temperatures, more extreme rainfall, less snow pack (138 days below 32 F annually between ) Warmer temperatures, more extreme rainfall, less snow pack (as little as 86 days below 32 F annually by 2050s)

11 40% of businesses that flood never reopen 12 Climate risk Flooding Observed trend 15 flood height of 1% storm ( ) Future projections Today s 1% storm 1.5-2x more likely to occur flood height of future 1% storm in 2050s

12 13 You can explore sea level rise and flood risk along the Hudson River using Scenic Hudson s mapper

13 Current condition 14

14 Current condition + 1% flood 15

15 +12 sea-level rise (~2020s) 16

16 +30 sea-level rise (~2050s) 17

17 +54 sea-level rise (~2080s) 18

18 +72 sea-level rise (~2100) 19

19 20 What can humans do to respond to climate change?

20 CLIMATE ADAPTATION 21 We can mitigate and adapt productively to our changing climate Climate mitigation = reducing the magnitude of climate change Climate adaptation = reducing our vulnerability to climate change

21 22 It s within a community s power to adapt to climate change Mitigation is extremely important, but we all share one atmosphere Climate adaptation is empowering on a smaller scale A landowner, community or business can make themselves more resilient

22 CLIMATE ADAPTATION 23

23 Hudson Riverfront communities are becoming leaders in flood adaptation 24

24 Hudson Valley communities got hit hard by Hurricanes Irene (2011) and Sandy (2012) 25

25 LOCAL LEADERSHIP We developed the Flood Resilience Task Force 26 Communities: Catskill, Kingston, Piermont and Stony Point Partners: DOS, Scenic Hudson, Consensus Building Inst. and more

26 27 All task force communities are working together and making progress 91 adaptation actions 11 complete 25 in process 11 on going 19 grants totaling $4.8M+ Incorporating into existing planning and programs New program: Climate-Adaptive Design

27 The Climate-Adaptive Design studio supports Hudson River communities to envision their future 28 Using design to inspire A collaboration with Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture

28 29 Climate adaptive strategies

29 Made by Scenic Hudson General flood adaptation strategies 30

30 31 Including adapting buildings by elevating + wet floodproofing What: Structure designed or retrofitted to allow water to flow through with minimal to no damage How: First floor + utilities raised above 1% flood elevation, elevated on piles or foundation with flood vents Local examples: Old Savannah Restaurant Clearwater Boathouse (Kingston) Residents (Piermont)

31 32 And many more climate resilient strategies Conserving open space Strategic relocation of highest risk buildings Allowing for marsh migration Increasing shade for cooling Right-sizing culverts and bridges

32 Prioritize water-dependent uses 33

33 Highlight green infrastructure strategies 34

34 35 Innovative shorelines with natural and nature-based features Living shorelines (marsh sill) Ecologically enhanced bulkheads and revetments Constructed wetlands

35 Natural and nature-based features offer many co-benefits Reduces hazard vulnerability ostorm surge/tide reductions, wave attenuation oerosion control and shoreline protection Ecological co-benefits owater purification owildlife, habitat diversity ofishery habitats provision osav, marsh and forest habitats ocarbon sequestrations oair quality improvement 36

36 37 Funding is currently available

37 38 Open now: $670k in Estuary Program grants Local stewardship planning ($450k) $10,500 to 50,000 per project, 15% match Planning and design for: Climate change, flooding, drought, and sea-level rise Water infrastructure Green infrastructure and sewer overflows Watershed management Natural resources and open space Natural scenery Due 3 pm, July 12 th,

38 39 Open now: $670k in Estuary Program grants River Access Improvements for People of All Abilities ($220k) $10,500 to 50,000 per project, 15% match Planning, purchasing and construction to/for: Develop, retrofit, repair, or improve existing river access sites to improve access for boating, fishing, swimming, wildlife-related recreation or education ADA designs, plans, assessments and ADA transition planning for existing access sites Due 3 pm, July 12 th,

39 Open now: $9.5m in Climate Smart Community grants Deadline: 4 pm, July 28, 2017 Award amounts between $100,000 and $2 million (50% match) Implementation projects can include: Construction of natural resiliency measures Relocation or retrofit of climate-vulnerable facilities Conservation or restoration of riparian and tidal marsh migration areas Reduction of flood risk Certification projects can include: Conducting vulnerability assessments Developing climate adaptation strategies Updating hazard mitigation plans to address changing conditions and reduce climate vulnerability 40

40 Fact sheet available: 20 funding programs for waterfront resilience 41 State and federal grants and low cost loans address the following categories:

41 42 Recap The Hudson Valley is faced with more extreme climate change than national and global averages It s within a community s power to adapt to climate change Hudson Riverfront communities are stepping up as leaders in flood adaptation The Estuary Program wants to be your partners in supporting adaptation and resilience

42 43 A lot can change in a 100 years, so it s hard to visualize the future in the present Piermont Salt Marsh

43 How do you envision a climate resilient future in your community? 44 Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY

44 Sign up for grant announcements + more! 45 Climate Resilience in the Hudson River Estuary newsletter For more info, contact Libby Zemaitis Climate Outreach Specialist, Hudson River Estuary Program Libby.zemaitis@dec.ny.gov (845)