Squaxin Sea Level Rise Story Map

Speaker

Candace Penn

Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

Squaxin Island will split in two by 2100, according to new sea level rise projections by the Squaxin Island Tribe. “We know we’re losing a lot of our island,” said Candace Penn, climate change ecologist for the tribe. Squaxin Island is the tribe’s original reservation and is central to the tribe’s natural resources-based economy and culture. It was also home to many Squaxin tribal members until the tribe established a land base in Kamilche in Mason County. “Our island is the bond that unites our past, present and future generations,” Penn said. “We see the island as a place that brings us together. Fishermen camp out there during the fishing season, we dig clams out there and we hunt on the island.” The tribe used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to produce a detailed digital elevation map of Squaxin Island, and model predicted sea levels and shellfish and forage fish habitats. From the LIDAR data, tribal researchers were able to produce more accurate sea level rise maps than those already available. The tribe is looking at the effect sea level rise will have on the natural resources tribal members depend on. “The beaches on Squaxin Island sustain us with their shellfish,” Penn said. “Sea level rise is going to damage shellfish populations, and we want to understand how. If there are no clams to harvest, we can’t teach the next generation those traditional harvest techniques.” The tribe estimates that a third of the shellfish habitat on the island is going to disappear. The tribe will expand its analysis to predict the loss of shellfish habitat in nearby Oakland Bay, which supplies more than half of the nation’s manila clams and will likely see similar habitat loss as Squaxin Island.

Session Title

Sea Level Rise in the Salish Sea

Conference Track

SSE8: Climate Change

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE-traditionals-459

Start Date

26-4-2022 1:30 PM

End Date

26-4-2022 3:00 PM

Type of Presentation

Oral

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Sea level--Washington (State)--Squaxin Island Reservation

Geographic Coverage

Squaxin Island Reservation (Wash.)

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Apr 26th, 1:30 PM Apr 26th, 3:00 PM

Squaxin Sea Level Rise Story Map

Squaxin Island will split in two by 2100, according to new sea level rise projections by the Squaxin Island Tribe. “We know we’re losing a lot of our island,” said Candace Penn, climate change ecologist for the tribe. Squaxin Island is the tribe’s original reservation and is central to the tribe’s natural resources-based economy and culture. It was also home to many Squaxin tribal members until the tribe established a land base in Kamilche in Mason County. “Our island is the bond that unites our past, present and future generations,” Penn said. “We see the island as a place that brings us together. Fishermen camp out there during the fishing season, we dig clams out there and we hunt on the island.” The tribe used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to produce a detailed digital elevation map of Squaxin Island, and model predicted sea levels and shellfish and forage fish habitats. From the LIDAR data, tribal researchers were able to produce more accurate sea level rise maps than those already available. The tribe is looking at the effect sea level rise will have on the natural resources tribal members depend on. “The beaches on Squaxin Island sustain us with their shellfish,” Penn said. “Sea level rise is going to damage shellfish populations, and we want to understand how. If there are no clams to harvest, we can’t teach the next generation those traditional harvest techniques.” The tribe estimates that a third of the shellfish habitat on the island is going to disappear. The tribe will expand its analysis to predict the loss of shellfish habitat in nearby Oakland Bay, which supplies more than half of the nation’s manila clams and will likely see similar habitat loss as Squaxin Island.