TOWN OF OXFORD Sustainability: the capacity to endure Resiliency: the ability to recover from or...
If you can't read please download the document
TOWN OF OXFORD Sustainability: the capacity to endure Resiliency: the ability to recover from or adjust to change Cheryl Lewis, Town Administrator, Town
TOWN OF OXFORD Sustainability: the capacity to endure
Resiliency: the ability to recover from or adjust to change Cheryl
Lewis, Town Administrator, Town of Oxford, 2013
Slide 2
Things I remember my Grandfather saying in the 60's: That damn
Talbot County Council!!! Dont tell your Grandmother This is where
the snakes hide
Slide 3
Lessons Learned: My Grandfather was cool History repeats
itself, and Be aware of your environment. and this ROCK marks how
far the TIDE came in...
Slide 4
We are surrounded by water The Port of Oxford
Slide 5
Is the water rising? Isabel 2003 (photo Don Biresch ) December
21, 2012
Slide 6
Is the land sinking? Tidal water back flowing into the cement
weir of the wastewater contact tank. December 21, 2012
Slide 7
Cambridge MD Report of the Maryland Commission on Climate
Change Adaptation and Response Working Group - August 2008
Cambridge Sea-level Rising 1.15 feet per century Land Subsiding.66
feet per century 2008
Slide 8
Since 2007, melted Arctic ice opened the Northwest Passage, a
development that could have a dramatic effect on weather patterns.
Last spring's unseasonable warmth caused places like Rochester,
Minn., to set record daytime highs. By midcentury, this will be the
new normal. How do you deal with extreme heat in the summer? It's
going to be a challenge, but humans are adaptable. It's not going
to be easy, just like a 13- foot storm surge will be the new norm
on the Eastern seaboard. Daniel P. Schrag, Sturgis Hooper Professor
of Geology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences / Professor of
Environmental Sciences, Director Harvard University Center for the
Environment What do Scientist say....
Slide 9
Andrea June 6, 2013 High Tide Dec 2012 Sandy Oct 2012 What we
do know... Isabel 2003 (photo Don Biresch ) High Tide Dec 2012
Slide 10
Tide gates are installed in several locations, although the
bulkheads are often breached in major tidal events reducing their
effectiveness.
Slide 11
Building Codes and Ordinances Flood Elevations & Stormwater
Management New Construction - 2012 Isabel 2003 (photo Don Biresch
)
Slide 12
Modifications to older structures Raising of buildings Raising
of mechanical equipment Properly installed vents Open area under
buildings
Slide 13
Stormwater Management Codes CommercialResidential
Slide 14
Rain Barrels - Stormwater Retention Ponds Oxford Community
Center 2013 Oxford School House 1928 Photos: June 6, 2013
Slide 15
Leading by example
Slide 16
Sustainable Planting Andrea - June 6, 2013 Isabel 2003 (photo
Don Biresch ) Plantings courtesy of Preservation Green, Oxford, MD
Manages normal stormwater, yet able to survive major events
Slide 17
Environmentally Friendly Stormwater Management Bio-Swale
planted by volunteers on Sept 28, 2013.
Slide 18
Living shorelines reduce impact of extreme high tidal water,
saving replenishment expenses. Built by Environmental Concerns,
photos: June 6, 2013
Slide 19
Private Citizen Rain Gardens and Living Shorelines
Slide 20
Education and Early Warnings Social Networking and
Technology
Slide 21
Stormwater/Tide markers Conceptualized, constructed and
installed by Oxford Staff. Photos: June 6, 2013 let citizens know
how high the stormwater or tidal water is on town roads.
Slide 22
Stormwater Task Force Technical Assistance from the
Environmental Finance Center University of Maryland Provide through
an award from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation With assistance
from partners, like Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Chesapeake
Bay Foundation, we are seeking solutions to minimize our impacts on
the environment due to storm and tidal water runoff. Bio Bag
Slide 23
What do we do next? How creative will we need to be? Should we
look at large stormwater management ponds or constructed wetlands
within the town? Should we look at the possibilities of installing
pumps in lowest lying areas to dewater during or after events?
Should we be considering retaining walls? How do we pay for it? We
are continuing to investigate our options as a Community.
Slide 24
In elementary school we thought we would be preparing for the
return of the ice age... Is Global warming a reality? Maybe, maybe
not. Is the climate changing? It did before we were here and it
will after we are gone. What can we do? Know you environment,
protect your environment, do what you can to reduce your impact on
the earth and at the same time build resiliency in your
communities. Parting Thoughts:
Slide 25
"The obsession with researching and reducing the human effects
on climate has obscured the more important problems of how to build
more resilient and sustainable societies Daniel Sarewitz, director
of Arizona State University's Consortium for Science, Policy &
Outcomes Cheryl Lewis, Town Administrator, Town of Oxford, June 24,
2013