Swinomish Climate Change Initiative: Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan

ATNI Tribal Leaders Summit on Climate Change

March 10 , 2015

Larry Campbell &Jamie Donatuto, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

SWINOMISHINDIAN

RESERVATION

ISLANDFIDALGO

Swinomish

Village

Tribal HQ

Swinomish Indian Reservation

Sea Level Rise + Tidal Storm Surge = Bigger Storm Waves

Today’s 100-yr flood event

becomes a 10-yr event at ~2050.

By 2100, it becomes a 1-yr

event.

Swinomish Climate Change Initiative

Year 1 – Technical Report (2009):- Impact assessment- Vulnerability assessment- Risk analysis

Year 2 – Action Plan (2010):- Review strategies, criteria- Assess requirements- Develop/prioritize recommendations

www.swinomish-nsn.gov/climate_change/project/reports.html

Impact Scoping MatrixSwinomish Climate Change Initiative

Fishing facilities ShellfishBeach seining

Impacts on Tribal Resources

Wetlands Groundwater recharge

TOO MUCH WATER:

Streamflows

TOO LITTLE WATER:

Structures

Property Type Number AcresApproximate

Value

Residential 1,368 1,995 $ 493,688,000

Non-Residential 9 143 $ 4,806,000

Buildable Lots 183 80 $ 19,918,000

TOTAL 1,560 2,218 $ 518,412,000

Wildfire Risk Zone

Impacts on Human Health

Heat-related illness (exhaustion, stroke)

Respiratory problems (asthma, air quality)

Opportunistic viruses (West Nile, flu)

Emerging health threats (fungal, viral)

Food-borne/pollution related threats (toxins, water quality)

Action Plan, Chpt 4: Cultural Tradition and Community Health

“Community wellness” addresses issues of community resilience and cultural sovereignty that are vital to preparing for significant changes

health indicators -- community cohesion, food security, ceremonial use, knowledge transmission, and self determination.

• e.g., healing gardens, language programs

Sea Level Rise

Seawalls (Armoring)

Access/Sediments (erosion)

Shellfish

Overview: 2013 NPLCC Pilot Study

Swinomish Community Health

JD

2100

By 2100 ~27% decrease in suitable shellfish growth & harvest area

Shellfish Area

Today there are roughly 20 acres suitable for growing and harvesting shellfish at Lone Tree Point

2013

JD

Community-based Indigenous health indicators (IHIs):

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

SELF DETERMINATION

CALM MIND (BALANCE OR EMOTIONAL STABILITY)

NATURAL RESOURCES SECURITY

CULTURAL USE

EDUCATION

Workshops

Access: On a scale of 1-4, are there enough locations available to harvest?

1. Things are very bad

2. Not very good

3. Looking pretty good

4. We’re doing great

Access: On a scale of 1-4, will there be enough locations available to harvest in 2100?

Now:

0%

46%

46%

8%

2100:18%64%18%

0%

NRS = Natural Resources Security CU = Cultural UseED = Education CC = Community ConnectionSD = Self-Determination CM = Calm Mind (Emitional

Security)

EPA STAR Project: First Foods and Habitats

Associated Habitats Pocket estuaries

Eelgrass beds

Beach

Bluff and backshore

Agent of Change (Drivers)

Sea-Level Rise

Storm Surge and Waves

Sediment Dynamics

Salinity Gradients

Concerns Salmon

Forage Fish

Juvenile Crab

Clams

Traditional Plants

Cultural Sites

Assess First Foods’ nearshore habitats

Nearshore area lost

Maps & models of potential impacts to Swinomish first foods & culturally important areas

Inundation increases5%-24% by 2100

Community Advisory Board & Workshops

Education & Dissemination

Environmental Education & Community Health Education projects within Tribe

Regional & national conferences

Short film(s)

Webinars

“Template” booklet of methods to share with other Tribes

Support undergraduate and graduate interns

THANK YOU

For more information, please contact:

Larry Campbell(360) 466-7352lcampbell@swinomish.nsn.us

Dr. Jamie Donatuto(360) 466-1532jdonatuto@

swinomish.nsn.us

Research supported by: Swinomish Tribe; EPA STAR #83479101 & #83559501; NPLCC & USFWS

#F12AP00994

IHI website: www.swinomish-nsn.gov/ihi/