The Puget Sound Coastal Resilience Tool: Metrics and models to assess vulnerability and resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems
Presentation Abstract
The web-based Puget Sound Coastal Resilience Tool integrates new high resolution topographic LiDAR and nearshore bathymetry with current dynamic water level measurements and future scenarios to assess coastal habitat, infrastructure and community vulnerability to the joint occurrence of sea level rise, river flooding, storm surge, and wave impacts. Working with a diverse set of communities, metrics have been developed and mapped to help decision makers evaluate and detect areas of vulnerability and resilience and opportunities for adaptive management. Metrics measuring extent, change, and frequency of impact of estuary and nearshore habitat and infrastructure, particularly in the agricultural sector, are projected out to the year 2100 helping to identify vulnerable settings that likely provide mutual benefits to ecosystem restoration and coastal hazard mitigation. Initial model outputs focus on habitat, ecosystem restoration projects, and infrastructure within the footprints of the Nooksack, Skagit-Padilla-Samish, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Nisqually and Skokomish Deltas. However, outputs along nearby shorelines and beach systems help to inform decisions aimed at protecting and restoring habitats that support outmigrating salmon, shellfish harvest and access, forage fish spawning beaches and cultural resources particularly vulnerable where shoreline armoring will constrain nearshore processes and shoreline migration.
Session Title
Session S-04H: Technical Tools to Support Sea Level Rise Adaptation in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Shorelines
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 10:00 AM
Location
Room 607
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Coastal ecosystem health--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Mathematical models; Climatic changes--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Mathematical models; Climate change mitigation--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Mathematical models
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
The Puget Sound Coastal Resilience Tool: Metrics and models to assess vulnerability and resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems
Room 607
The web-based Puget Sound Coastal Resilience Tool integrates new high resolution topographic LiDAR and nearshore bathymetry with current dynamic water level measurements and future scenarios to assess coastal habitat, infrastructure and community vulnerability to the joint occurrence of sea level rise, river flooding, storm surge, and wave impacts. Working with a diverse set of communities, metrics have been developed and mapped to help decision makers evaluate and detect areas of vulnerability and resilience and opportunities for adaptive management. Metrics measuring extent, change, and frequency of impact of estuary and nearshore habitat and infrastructure, particularly in the agricultural sector, are projected out to the year 2100 helping to identify vulnerable settings that likely provide mutual benefits to ecosystem restoration and coastal hazard mitigation. Initial model outputs focus on habitat, ecosystem restoration projects, and infrastructure within the footprints of the Nooksack, Skagit-Padilla-Samish, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Nisqually and Skokomish Deltas. However, outputs along nearby shorelines and beach systems help to inform decisions aimed at protecting and restoring habitats that support outmigrating salmon, shellfish harvest and access, forage fish spawning beaches and cultural resources particularly vulnerable where shoreline armoring will constrain nearshore processes and shoreline migration.
