Refuge at Risk Mapping Salt Water Intrusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Cambridge, MD The Refuge is located in Cambridge, Maryland and is 25,000 acres of estuarine marshland ecosystem. In addition to marshland, Blackwater Refuge consists of smaller areas of mixed evergreen and deciduous forests, managed freshwater impoundments and cropland. There are over 250 species of birds and 35 species of reptiles and amphibians. During peak migration seasons, Blackwater hosts tens of thousands of geese and ducks. The more permanent residing mammals include whitetail deer, sika deer, foxes, otters, and raccoons. In addition, several recovering species can be seen at the Refuge, including the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, the American bald eagle, and the migrant peregrine falcon. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge 2145 Key Wallace Dr Cambridge, MD 21613 ³ VA MD MD DE VA DC NJ Blackwater Refuge BlackwaterBoundaries In 2012, the Chesapeake Bay Journal published that water levels in the area are increasing exponentially over the past several decades. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program Science and Technical Advisory Committee, sea levels will rise 2 to 5 feet within the next century. Blackwater, however, will be long gone before the century is out at this rate in sea level rise. Looking into the future, the magnitude of the effects salt water invasion will have on the Blackwater Refuge become very clear. Numerically speaking, the graph conveys that over 80% of the land apart of the Refuge will be lost to salt water invasion after just 2 feet in sea level rise. The maps below demonstrate how Blackwater and the area surrounding it will change at varying levels of sea rise. It is evident that only a few feet’s rise, an increasing large percent of the land will be at or below sea level. Percentage of Total Land Lost Due To Sea Level Rise 0.82 0.58 0.54 0.63 0.76 0.68 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 3 inches 6 inches 9 inches 12 inches 18 inches 24 inches Sea Level Rise Refuge Land Lost Current Sea Level 3 inch rise 12 inch rise NDVI or the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index has been used for many years to measure and monitor plant vigor, vegetation cover, and biomass production. It is used to analyze remote sensing measurements to asses the live green vegetation. Change in NDVI is when multi-temporal imagery of Landsat GLS NDVI is combined from varying years and compiled into one image. Looking at the change in NDVI for two time periods, the difference in vegetation can be seen and the deterioration of the Refuge due to sea level rise. In the two images, 1990-2000 and 2000-2005, the areas the darkest have the lowest level of vegetation. In this case, low vegetation means that it is submerged below sea level with salt water being the primary cause of deterioration. Comparing the two images, it is evident that there is far more dark area in the image of the more recent years. The change in level of plant growth in the Blackwater area shows us that the NDVI decreased since 1990. 2000-2005 1990-2000 As shown in this 3-D representation of the elevation of Refuge, the land is incredibly flat. Currently, roughly 50% of the land within the Blackwater boundary lines is at or below sea level and 61% is classified as "Low" level land. Therefore, with just the slightest increase in sea level rise, Refuge land will be lost. Only the Northeastern corner and some other Northern areas are slightly more protected from salt water invasion due to their higher levels of elevation. Elevation Breakdown in Blackwater Refuge 61% 24% 7% 5% 3% Low Low Medium Medium High Medium High Map Created by Samantha Brothers Sources incude ESRI, USGS, Chesapeake Bay Foundatoin, USFWS, NOAA, Conservation Fund 0 2 4 6 1 Miles

Refuge at Risk - Washington-Liberty · Refuge at Risk Mapping Salt Water Intrusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Cambridge, MD The Refuge is located in Cambridge, Maryland

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Refuge at RiskMapping Salt Water Intrusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Cambridge, MD

The Refuge is located in Cambridge, Maryland and is25,000 acres of estuarine marshland ecosystem. Inaddition to marshland, Blackwater Refuge consists ofsmaller areas of mixed evergreen and deciduous forests,managed freshwater impoundments and cropland.There are over 250 species of birds and 35 species ofreptiles and amphibians. During peak migration seasons,Blackwater hosts tens of thousands of geese and ducks.The more permanent residing mammals include whitetaildeer, sika deer, foxes, otters, and raccoons. In addition,several recovering species can be seen at the Refuge,including the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, theAmerican bald eagle, and the migrant peregrine falcon.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge2145 Key Wallace Dr

Cambridge, MD 21613

³³VA

MDMD

Blackwater Refuge

BlackwaterBoundaries

In 2012, the Chesapeake Bay Journal published that water levels in the area are increasing exponentiallyover the past several decades. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program Science and TechnicalAdvisory Committee, sea levels will rise 2 to 5 feet within the next century. Blackwater, however, will belong gone before the century is out at this rate in sea level rise. Looking into the future, the magnitude of the effects salt water invasion will have on the Blackwater Refugebecome very clear. Numerically speaking, the graph conveys that over 80% of the land apart of the Refugewill be lost to salt water invasion after just 2 feet in sea level rise.The maps below demonstrate how Blackwater and the area surrounding it will change at varying levels ofsea rise. It is evident that only a few feet’s rise, an increasing large percent of the land will be at or below sealevel.

Percentage of Total Land Lost Due To Sea Level Rise

0.82

0.580.54 0.630.760.68

00.20.40.60.8

3 inches 6 inches 9 inches 12 inches 18 inches 24 inchesSea Level Rise

Refug

e Lan

d Lost

Current Sea Level 3 inch rise 12 inch rise

NDVI or the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index has been used for many years to measure andmonitor plant vigor, vegetation cover, and biomass production. It is used to analyze remote sensing

measurements to asses the live green vegetation. Change in NDVI is when multi-temporal imagery ofLandsat GLS NDVI is combined from varying years and compiled into one image.

Looking at the change in NDVI for two time periods, the difference in vegetation can be seen and thedeterioration of the Refuge due to sea level rise. In the two images, 1990-2000 and 2000-2005, the areas

the darkest have the lowest level of vegetation. In this case, low vegetation means that it is submergedbelow sea level with salt water being the primary cause of deterioration. Comparing the two images,

it is evident that there is far more dark area in the image of the more recent years. The change in level ofplant growth in the Blackwater area shows us that the NDVI decreased since 1990.

2000-2005

1990-2000

As shown in this 3-D representation of the elevation of Refuge, theland is incredibly flat. Currently, roughly 50% of the land within the

Blackwater boundary lines is at or below sea level and 61% isclassified as "Low" level land. Therefore, with just the slightest

increase in sea level rise, Refuge land will be lost. Only theNortheastern corner and some other Northern areas are slightly

more protected from salt water invasion due to their higherlevels of elevation.

Elevation Breakdown in Blackwater Refuge

61%24%

7%5% 3%

LowLow MediumMediumHigh MediumHigh

Map Created by Samantha BrothersSources incude ESRI, USGS,Chesapeake Bay Foundatoin,USFWS, NOAA, Conservation Fund

0 2 4 61 Miles