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© Jim Gaither/TNC
Recalibrating Conservation
Priorities for Climate Change 7th Annual Drinking Water Protection Seminar 9. 9.13
Joshua Royte, Conservation Planner The Nature Conservancy in Maine
St. John River the North Woods, Maine ©Ami Vitale
To solve critical challenges, The Nature Conservancy aims to
improve the health of important natural systems that also enhance the lives of people around the world.
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.`
The Nature Conservancy has helped protect
>119M acres of land &
>100 marine projects
worldwide.
River leading to Iliamna Lake, Alaska habitat the gravel bottoms provide habitat for king salmon ©Ami Vitale
TNC has >3,500 employees & >4,00 are scientists.
the largest network of private
preserves located in 50 States & >30
countries
Leaves, Cascade Lake ©Michael Melford
What are the most promising ways to sustain & improve the Maine’s ecological
wealth in light of climate change, while enhancing
the lives of people?
What aspects of Climate Change impact how our natural and human
priorities need to change?
• Species range changes
• Coastal flooding (SLR & surges)
• Extreme rainfall & droughts
• Normal flows in stream banks
• Temperatures of all seasons
What else have you heard today?
How will these impact conservation?
Angler on a section of the Penobscot River near Mount Katahdin. ©Bridget Besaw
Diverse & robust terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems will be more
resistant and resilient to impacts.
• Fewer invasive species
• Redundant habitat close to one another
• Abundant legacy features or chance to grow
• Diverse flora, fauna, and smaller organisms
• Connected lands and waters (non-fragmented)
• Include buffer for lands likely flooded in the future
Characteristics of priorities in Maine
Landscapes and aquascapes (includes saltwater)
• Known richness and rarity
• Intact landscapes and aquascapes (self-supporting)
• Diversity of geologic underpinnings
o Bedrock (acid-neutralizing)
o Surficial (water retaining/dispersing sands/fines)
o Elevation, aspect, slope/gradient
• Interconnected lands and waters
• and for safety, some geographic redundancy
(Actually by larger ecoregions)
Physical and Climatic Factors (22)
Topography: Elevation Max Min Range Area Latitude
# of Geology classes: Amount of each: Sedimentary Shale Calcareous Mod Calc Granite Mafic Ultramafic Coarse sand Fine silt
Climate: Mean diurnal temp. range, Mean annual temp. range, Mean annual temp. Mean annual precipitation. Precipitation in . warmest quarter, Min temp. coldest month, Mean temp. coldest quarter.
# of Landforms: Amount of each: Cliff Upper slope Summit Side slope Cove Valley Wet flat Dry flat
A Resilient Network should include some of all Physical Habitats
Flats and gentle slopes (Forests)
Riparian
Tidal marsh & Beach
Steep slopes \ Cliffs
Rivers & Stream
Coves Summits
Freshwater wetlands
And some of all geophysical settings
Sedimentary
Intermediate (mafic) Sedimentary: Quartzite
Mafic -low
Granite
Mixed
Granite
e.g. summits of all types
Local Connectedness
Developed by Brad Compton: UMASS
Regional Connectedness
Where are some diverse interconnected places and how do they mesh with water-providers priorities?
1. Multiple examples of all Land and Water Settings
2. Sites that have high adaptive capacity
3. Lands and aquatic networks that are connected
4. Elbow room, when seas and rivers rise
TNC priorities
and in Beginning
with Habitat
(our State Wildlife Action Plan)
Special Freshwater consideration to protect life and infrastructure in light of Climate Change:
1) Linear connectivity
2) Lateral connectivity
3) Water quality: surrounding land condition
4) In-stream flow regime
5) Access to groundwater
6) Diversity of geophysical settings
A wide variety of size classes (types) of streams and lakes increase the options for species
Long networks are needed for the daily, seasonal movements of the inhabitants
A variety of temperatures and gradients - warm quiet waters to fast cold waters – provide ample microhabitats
Functional conservation needs to ensure links between terrestrial, riparian, freshwater, and marine habitats.
Healthy streams are connected and like healthy people are more resistant and resilient to harm
The problem:
~30,000 dams total
~600 waterfalls
• Connectivity analysis
• Ranking tools
• Resident & searun fish
• Habitat quality
• Quality of watershed
• Dams region-wide
• Culverts w/USFWS
More storm intense events mean
More hazards for people and commerce
Catastrophes for water quality
For aquatic habitats and organisms,
And hardships for road and water providers
$14-28 million to upgrade
Maine’s highest priority culverts.
The vast majority of culverts in Maine were designed to meet standards half a century out of date.
© Mark Godfrey
Protected wetlands made a difference during Hurricane Irene
in Vermont
Natural Infrastructure: conserved & restored aquifers, headwater forests,
freshwater and coastal wetlands, lakes, ponds, rivers, &
streams
Howland Dam, where a new fish-way will be constructed. ©Bridget Besaw
Built Infrastructure:
upgraded culverts, dams blocking
high value habitat removed,
LID stormwater projects, & efficient irrigation
Melting stream ©Kyle Ueckermann
Clean Water and Safe Communities Act is a
proposed $50 million bond to invest in natural
and built infrastructure that provides water-
related benefits for communities across Maine.
Royal River ©TNC
County Flood Control AND Drinking Water Benefits
All Benefits (incl. Wildlife Habitat)
Androscoggin $151,621 $22,583,555
Aroostook $7,519,580 $307,198,325
Cumberland $9,429,738 $336,785,692
Franklin $108,548 $85,635,796
Hancock $125,901 $98,316,298
Kennebec $1,871,444 $86,191,368
Knox $282 $83,595,010
Lincoln $360,181 $56,746,864
Oxford $1,236,156 $148,100,576
Penobscot $353,179 $247,651,381
Piscataquis $236,946 $76,057,664
Sagadahoc $250,622 $90,422,770
Somerset $1,556,712 $221,405,287
Waldo $9,091 $72,876,141
Washington $823,790 $390,037,813
York $4,825,043 $339,389,227
Total $28,858,835 $2,662,993,768
Potential Land
Conservation
Infrastructure Options Quantity Present Value Costs (millions)
Riparian buffers (acres) 367 $16.33
Culvert upgrades and replacements (units) 44 $1.38
Conservation certification (acres) 4,699 $0.14
Afforestation/reforestation (acres) 9,395 $14.67
Conservation easements - 80% forest cover (acres) 13,215 $11.85
Green infrastructure total $44.37
Gray infrastructure (membrane filtration) total $155.28
Avoided-cost benefits (gray minus green): $110.91
Green / Gray Infrastructure Analysis: Portland Water District Case Study
York County Flood Mitigation HAZUS Analysis
Watershed Expected Present Value Flood Losses without wetlands
Expected Present Value Flood Losses with wetlands
Expected Present Value of Avoided Flood Damages
Acquisition Costs at State Conserv. Lands Average
Net Benefits
Benefit-Cost Ratio
Branch Brook $4.84 $1.51 $3.33 $4.92 ($1.59) 0.68
Mousam River $87.15 $15.70 $71.45 $8.67 $62.78 8.24
Kennebunk $279.50 $77.53 $201.97 $1.49 $200.48 135.55
Total $371.49 $94.74 $276.75 $15.08 $261.67 18.35
Dan Kusnierz, PIN DNR Testing the Penobscot River
©Bridget Besaw
Thank you
Questions?
Recalibrate conservation & restoration priorities? • Large resilient ecosystems • Protected headwaters/ aquifers • Diversity of intact habitats • Reconnect blocked aquatic networks • Putting $ to areas with most benefit
Melting stream ©Kyle Ueckermann
Thank you Joshua Royte jroyte@tnc.org
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