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Tidal Marshes & Rising Tides:Facilitating ecological resilience
in the Fraser River deltaEric Balke, MSc
South Coast Conservation Land Management Program
Photo: E. Balke
South Coast Conservation
Land Management Program
Image: Rivershed Society of BC
Figures: Clague and Turner, 2003
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: E. Balke Photo: Tomohiro Kuwae
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: National Marine Biological Laboratory Photo: Tavish Campbell
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: E. BalkePhoto: E. Balke
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Wildlife Management Areas
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Images: S. Boyd (L), S. Northrup (R)
Image: Google Earth
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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Lulu
Island
Westham
Island
Brunswick Point
Map: Community Mapping Network and Fraser Basin Council
Costal marshes
Sea-level rise
Sea-level rise marsh migrates landward
Costal marshes with dike
Sea-level rise with dike
Sea-level rise with dike coastal squeeze
Map: Community Mapping Network and Fraser Basin Council
Build dike higher
Build dike higher
Build dike higher marsh loss
Build dike higher
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe increase marsh resilience
Build dike higher + gradually widen dike toe marsh survives with SLR?
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory
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0 5 10 15 km
Photo: E. Balke
Take Away1. Estuary is unique, important, degraded, at risk of
continued loss
2. Sea-level rise poses an unprecedented threat
3. Ecosystems are infrastructure!
