Ed Christopher, RF

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Public Lands and Drought

Carolinas Drought Early Warning Scoping Workshop

July 31, 2012

*Public lands of coastal NC

*Regional climate related impacts

• Shoreline erosion• Catastrophic wildfire• Saltwater intrusion• Species invasion• Habitat transition

*Sea level rise

*Salinity

*Tidal issues coupled with drought

*Vegetation change or loss

*Peat Soil (baby charcoal)

*Hydrophobic

*Fire

*Suppression actions

*Loss of land (topography changing events)

*Insects and Disease

*Southern Pine Beetle

*Laurel Wilt Disease

Challenges and Risk

*Challenges and Risk Continued…

*Funding (projects, personnel, etc.)

*Private land management

*Getting the message out there!

*Different priorities

*Desire to collaborate…funding?

*Other state/federal agency lands

*Different missions/priorities

*Ex. USAF and USFWS

POCOSIN LAKES EXAMPLE

*Opportunities

*Utilizing weather and drought forecasts

*Management implications

*Water

*Personnel

*Equipment

*Funding

*Develop Partnerships (private, state, NGO, federal)

*Exchange Information

*Seek Grants (partnerships)

*Questions?