© Jim Gaither/TNC

Recalibrating Conservation

Priorities for Climate Change 7th Annual Drinking Water Protection Seminar 9. 9.13

Joshua Royte, Conservation Planner The Nature Conservancy in Maine

St. John River the North Woods, Maine ©Ami Vitale

To solve critical challenges, The Nature Conservancy aims to

improve the health of important natural systems that also enhance the lives of people around the world.

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.`

The Nature Conservancy has helped protect

>119M acres of land &

>100 marine projects

worldwide.

River leading to Iliamna Lake, Alaska habitat the gravel bottoms provide habitat for king salmon ©Ami Vitale

TNC has >3,500 employees & >4,00 are scientists.

the largest network of private

preserves located in 50 States & >30

countries

Leaves, Cascade Lake ©Michael Melford

What are the most promising ways to sustain & improve the Maine’s ecological

wealth in light of climate change, while enhancing

the lives of people?

What aspects of Climate Change impact how our natural and human

priorities need to change?

• Species range changes

• Coastal flooding (SLR & surges)

• Extreme rainfall & droughts

• Normal flows in stream banks

• Temperatures of all seasons

What else have you heard today?

How will these impact conservation?

Angler on a section of the Penobscot River near Mount Katahdin. ©Bridget Besaw

Diverse & robust terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems will be more

resistant and resilient to impacts.

• Fewer invasive species

• Redundant habitat close to one another

• Abundant legacy features or chance to grow

• Diverse flora, fauna, and smaller organisms

• Connected lands and waters (non-fragmented)

• Include buffer for lands likely flooded in the future

Characteristics of priorities in Maine

Landscapes and aquascapes (includes saltwater)

• Known richness and rarity

• Intact landscapes and aquascapes (self-supporting)

• Diversity of geologic underpinnings

o Bedrock (acid-neutralizing)

o Surficial (water retaining/dispersing sands/fines)

o Elevation, aspect, slope/gradient

• Interconnected lands and waters

• and for safety, some geographic redundancy

(Actually by larger ecoregions)

Physical and Climatic Factors (22)

Topography: Elevation Max Min Range Area Latitude

# of Geology classes: Amount of each: Sedimentary Shale Calcareous Mod Calc Granite Mafic Ultramafic Coarse sand Fine silt

Climate: Mean diurnal temp. range, Mean annual temp. range, Mean annual temp. Mean annual precipitation. Precipitation in . warmest quarter, Min temp. coldest month, Mean temp. coldest quarter.

# of Landforms: Amount of each: Cliff Upper slope Summit Side slope Cove Valley Wet flat Dry flat

A Resilient Network should include some of all Physical Habitats

Flats and gentle slopes (Forests)

Riparian

Tidal marsh & Beach

Steep slopes \ Cliffs

Rivers & Stream

Coves Summits

Freshwater wetlands

And some of all geophysical settings

Sedimentary

Intermediate (mafic) Sedimentary: Quartzite

Mafic -low

Granite

Mixed

Granite

e.g. summits of all types

Local Connectedness

Developed by Brad Compton: UMASS

Regional Connectedness

Where are some diverse interconnected places and how do they mesh with water-providers priorities?

1. Multiple examples of all Land and Water Settings

2. Sites that have high adaptive capacity

3. Lands and aquatic networks that are connected

4. Elbow room, when seas and rivers rise

TNC priorities

and in Beginning

with Habitat

(our State Wildlife Action Plan)

Special Freshwater consideration to protect life and infrastructure in light of Climate Change:

1) Linear connectivity

2) Lateral connectivity

3) Water quality: surrounding land condition

4) In-stream flow regime

5) Access to groundwater

6) Diversity of geophysical settings

A wide variety of size classes (types) of streams and lakes increase the options for species

Long networks are needed for the daily, seasonal movements of the inhabitants

A variety of temperatures and gradients - warm quiet waters to fast cold waters – provide ample microhabitats

Functional conservation needs to ensure links between terrestrial, riparian, freshwater, and marine habitats.

Healthy streams are connected and like healthy people are more resistant and resilient to harm

The problem:

~30,000 dams total

~600 waterfalls

• Connectivity analysis

• Ranking tools

• Resident & searun fish

• Habitat quality

• Quality of watershed

• Dams region-wide

• Culverts w/USFWS

More storm intense events mean

More hazards for people and commerce

Catastrophes for water quality

For aquatic habitats and organisms,

And hardships for road and water providers

$14-28 million to upgrade

Maine’s highest priority culverts.

The vast majority of culverts in Maine were designed to meet standards half a century out of date.

© Mark Godfrey

Protected wetlands made a difference during Hurricane Irene

in Vermont

Natural Infrastructure: conserved & restored aquifers, headwater forests,

freshwater and coastal wetlands, lakes, ponds, rivers, &

streams

Howland Dam, where a new fish-way will be constructed. ©Bridget Besaw

Built Infrastructure:

upgraded culverts, dams blocking

high value habitat removed,

LID stormwater projects, & efficient irrigation

Melting stream ©Kyle Ueckermann

Clean Water and Safe Communities Act is a

proposed $50 million bond to invest in natural

and built infrastructure that provides water-

related benefits for communities across Maine.

Royal River ©TNC

County Flood Control AND Drinking Water Benefits

All Benefits (incl. Wildlife Habitat)

Androscoggin $151,621 $22,583,555

Aroostook $7,519,580 $307,198,325

Cumberland $9,429,738 $336,785,692

Franklin $108,548 $85,635,796

Hancock $125,901 $98,316,298

Kennebec $1,871,444 $86,191,368

Knox $282 $83,595,010

Lincoln $360,181 $56,746,864

Oxford $1,236,156 $148,100,576

Penobscot $353,179 $247,651,381

Piscataquis $236,946 $76,057,664

Sagadahoc $250,622 $90,422,770

Somerset $1,556,712 $221,405,287

Waldo $9,091 $72,876,141

Washington $823,790 $390,037,813

York $4,825,043 $339,389,227

Total $28,858,835 $2,662,993,768

Potential Land

Conservation

Infrastructure Options Quantity Present Value Costs (millions)

Riparian buffers (acres) 367 $16.33

Culvert upgrades and replacements (units) 44 $1.38

Conservation certification (acres) 4,699 $0.14

Afforestation/reforestation (acres) 9,395 $14.67

Conservation easements - 80% forest cover (acres) 13,215 $11.85

Green infrastructure total $44.37

Gray infrastructure (membrane filtration) total $155.28

Avoided-cost benefits (gray minus green): $110.91

Green / Gray Infrastructure Analysis: Portland Water District Case Study

York County Flood Mitigation HAZUS Analysis

Watershed Expected Present Value Flood Losses without wetlands

Expected Present Value Flood Losses with wetlands

Expected Present Value of Avoided Flood Damages

Acquisition Costs at State Conserv. Lands Average

Net Benefits

Benefit-Cost Ratio

Branch Brook $4.84 $1.51 $3.33 $4.92 ($1.59) 0.68

Mousam River $87.15 $15.70 $71.45 $8.67 $62.78 8.24

Kennebunk $279.50 $77.53 $201.97 $1.49 $200.48 135.55

Total $371.49 $94.74 $276.75 $15.08 $261.67 18.35

Dan Kusnierz, PIN DNR Testing the Penobscot River

©Bridget Besaw

Thank you

Questions?

Recalibrate conservation & restoration priorities? • Large resilient ecosystems • Protected headwaters/ aquifers • Diversity of intact habitats • Reconnect blocked aquatic networks • Putting $ to areas with most benefit

Melting stream ©Kyle Ueckermann

Thank you Joshua Royte jroyte@tnc.org