Post on 18-Dec-2015
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Chris LowieRefuge Manager
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
1763 – George Washington Visited the Swamp
1909 – Camp Manufacturing Lumber Company
Logging was a significant activity for centuries for financial benefit
Camp logged for nearly 40 years
Completely changed the habitat communities of the swamp to what it is today
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
1974 – Great Dismal Swamp NWR“A Gift To The Nation”
Land donated by Union Camp Corp. in 1973 as Dismal Swamp NWR
Partnership with The Nature Conservancy 49,000 acres - largest donation of public land
Dismal Swamp Act of 1974 established Great Dismal Swamp NWR“ . . . primary purpose of protecting and
preserving a unique and outstanding ecosystem, as well as protecting and perpetuating the diversity of life therein.”
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
To Today Over 112,900 acres of
forested wetland Ecosystem Inherited 150 miles of ditches Highly altered hydrology
175 square miles
Great Dismal Swamp NWR Hydrologic History
1890 1973
Why Great Dismal Swamp for NAI Workshop
A Glimpse Into the Future
(from Present Occurrences)
Lateral WestSouth One
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Current Fire Statistics for Albermarle Sound Refuges
GDSNWR; 2004 - 2011 11 wildfires 15 starts in one month in 2007 2 largest and most expensive in Refuge and VA
history in last three years
3 Refuges combined in Albermarle Watershed 2008 and 2011; four fires 94,000 acres 20 million metric tons of carbon
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
We estimate that the 20 million metric tons of carbon released in four fires would equate to annual greenhouse gas emissions from over 14,000,000 passenger vehicles or annual CO2 emissions of 17 coal fired power plants.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Atlantic White Cedar
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Atlantic White Cedar
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service Climate Change Strategic Plan
Adaptation
Mitigation
Engagement
Hydrologic Restoration to Increase Resiliency
of the NWRs
It’s Good for Wildlife and PeopleIt’s Good for Wildlife and People
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Water Management
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
What We Know: Our system of ditches drain away precipitation quicker than
what would have taken place historically
Frequent and prolonged periods of drought significantly lower our water table, leaving peat soils vulnerable to wildfire, soil subsidence, and oxidation of carbon
Frequency, severity, and intensity of wildfires has increased dramatically in recent years
Coastal mid-Atlantic conservation lands are experiencing loss of habitat due to rising sea levels and ground subsidence (Alligator River NWR)
Many plant species have begun to bloom earlier
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
What We Think Is Likely:
Wildlife will need escape routes to higher habitat as rising sea levels inundate coastal areas
Extreme weather events (hurricanes, droughts) to increase in frequency
Altered synchronology – food web disturbances Certain species may become at risk due to lack of
availability of expected food sources upon their migratory arrivals (birds) or from emergence (insects)
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
What We Are Doing: Hydrological research to determine the actual
impact of the ditch systems on the ground water table
Installation of more water control structures to increase resiliency (adaptation)
Working with partners to conserve wildlife corridors allowing for upland movement of species
Soil accretion for carbon sequestration (mitigation)
Contributing to priority action items of the FWS Climate Change Strategic Plan
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Who We Are Telling: Agency leaders – RO, WO, DOI; Refuges,
Ecological Services, Migratory Birds Partners and potential funding sources
And How: Fact sheets Video Face-to-Face briefings
Wildlife-oriented recreation: Hiking
Now, how do we tell our story to the public?
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge