Coastal South Carolina’s population is on the rise. As development to support this growth increases, communities must contend with the increase in stormwater runoff that accompanies the spread of roads, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces. Rather than soaking into the ground, much of this stormwater is flowing directly into coastal water bodies, changing the ecological conditions in which the region’s fish and shellfish thrive. To protect coastal waters, officials from the state’s Beaufort County need to know which areas are most sensitive to the impacts of this runoff so they can allocate their resources effectively.

Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces severely impacts Ohio’s coastal communities and environments. It erodes streams, overloads drainage systems and water treatment facilities, increases flooding, impairs water quality, and degrades habitats. The severity of these impacts has increased with the number of heavy storms in Ohio, which are up 31 percent over the past 50 years. Traditional “pipe and pond” approaches to stormwater management do not adequately prevent flooding or protect water quality.

This project will 1) quantify pathogens, nutrients, and sediment delivery to the Rachel Carson Reserve; 2) create predictive models for shellfish and recreational waters in the North Carolina Reserve by using this information, along with decades of historical data; 3) engage stakeholders and end users to prioritize management options; and 4) engage coastal decision makers, community members, K-12 students, and teachers in hands-on education on stormwater runoff and its impacts.

In this project, National Estuarine Research Reserves in North and South Carolina worked to improve local understanding of climate change effects on southeastern salt marsh and provide decision makers with the information and skills they need to address these vulnerabilities. North Carolina Reserve staff members were trained in the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Coastal Habitats (CCVATCH) by their colleagues from North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve. This decision support tool incorporates existing information on climate change impacts with knowledge of local conditions to help users develop vulnerability scores for specific areas. The project team used CCVATCH to conduct habitat vulnerability assessments for seven estuaries in North and South Carolina, summarized regional findings to help managers in the Southeast improve salt marsh resilience, and developed guidance and outreach products. This science transfer project was funded by NOAA through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative to promote the use of science. It did not produce any new data.

Known for its beautiful beaches and marshlands, coastal South Carolina has seen a 20 percent population increase over the past decades, which in turn has led to an increase in land covered by impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots. This has led to higher volumes of stormwater runoff, which heightens flood risk and degrades water quality. Climate change will only make this problem worse. To address these challenges, South Carolina decision-makers will need locally relevant information and guidance to help them implement innovative low impact development techniques that mimic natural landscapes and hydrologic processes.

One of the few pristine, mangrove-forested estuaries in the country, Florida’s Rookery Bay Estuary is a critical breeding ground for the fisheries that underpin the region’s economy. Balancing the freshwater needs of the estuary with those of local communities is increasingly challenging as population growth and sea level rise tax freshwater resources. Decision-makers need information about freshwater requirements of the estuary and the perspectives of water users to effectively manage water resources.

This dataset includes census block group level component scores of various indices from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Community Risk Assessment of Flooding and Heat Hazards in Baltimore, MD. Indices included in this archived dataset include SoVI(R), ecosystem services valuation, structural exposure, urban heat hazard, and flood hazard. Each component score is aggregated to the block group level geography provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, intermediary raster-based datasets on stormwater flooding hazard are provided, as well as spatial data on wetlands and protected areas. This assessment uses a geospatial, indicator-driven approach to integrate data from a variety of sources related to community risk in Baltimore, MD and the surrounding 5 counties of Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Queen Anne's. SoVI(R) was derived from Census data and applied to each block group. Stormwater flooding potential was calculated using an application of the "FIGUSED" methodology based on locally relevant datasets. This methodology incorporates seven indicators frequently used to identify areas of high flooding potential. These indicators are: "F" = flow accumulation, "I" = rainfall intensity, "G" = geology (hydrologic soil groups), "U" = land use, "S" = slope, "E" = elevation, and "D" = distance from the drainage network. For each of these indicators, a value of 1 corresponds to higher flood potential, while values closer to zero (or null) correspond to lower flood potential. The final raster dataset ranges from 0-7, and all data were resampled to a 30 meter resolution grid and also applied to each block group. A structural exposure index was calculated by aggregating each contributing indicator to the block group. An ecosystem service value index was created by averaging a total ecosystem service valuation model across each block group. Sea level rise projections and storm surge estimates from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration were calculated at the block group level. An urban heat index was derived using a combination of sensor data from Johns Hopkins University (for Baltimore City) and remotely sensed data, in conjunction with land use/land cover data, for suburban and rural areas. Both raster and block group aggregations are available. Additionally, data on wetland extent and protected areas are included in the archival package.

A new tool has been developed, the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Coastal Habitats (CCVATCH), to help land managers, decision makers, and researchers develop conservation, management, and restoration plans for coastal habitats. This assessment tool identifies primary sources of vulnerability to assist with prioritizing coastal habitat management actions. As part of this project, four estuarine reserves in New England will conduct assessments of their areas, demonstrating the utility of the tool to support adaptive management in response to climate change. This science transfer project was funded by NOAA through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative to promote the use of science. It did not produce any new data.

Rising sea levels, severe storms, flooding, and erosion are reshaping the San Francisco Bay area’s coastline, threatening both natural areas and critical infrastructure. Preparing for these climate change impacts may be the greatest challenge facing local decision-makers, yet often they can’t access the information they need to plan effectively, and they are challenged by the uncertainty of how and when these impacts will occur.

Using a collaborative approach that engages researchers and local business owners, the project team will adapt a tourism-resilience index for southern Maine businesses. After pilot-testing, a broader community of local business leaders will complete facilitated self-assessments in Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, Maine. Participating businesses will be given their custom tourism-resilience index, or score, along with a set of suggested steps they can take to increase their resiliency to natural disasters. The project team will meet with these same businesses one year later to reassess and measure progress. The project team will aggregate the indices of participating businesses and a summary of lessons learned will be shared with southern Maine chambers of commerce, municipalities and climate adaptation professionals. Strategies for adapting and implementing the tourism resilience index in different regions will also be shared with business communities, climate adaptation professionals, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. Project results will highlight common gaps and barriers businesses share when it comes to increasing their resilience to natural disaster. This science transfer project was funded by NOAA through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative to promote the use of science. It did not produce any new data.