Coastal Habitats in San Diego: Sea Level Rise

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Coastal Habitats in San Diego Sea Level Rise
Implications for Adaptation

• PI Dr Rick Gersberg, SDSU
• GIS Kayo Watanabe, SDSU
• Warren Pinnacle Consulting
• J. Kovecses, San Diego Coastkeeper
• Ocean Weather Changes Impacting Business and
  Infrastructure Conference
• March 4, 2011

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San Diego Coastkeeper
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Setting the Stage

• Goal how will coastal habitat change?
• Communication gt adaptation
• San Diego Foundation local driver

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Coastal Habitats of San Diego
www.handsontheland.org/wildtech
www.batiquitosfoundation.org
www.sdcoos.org
www.nationalwetlandsawards.org
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SLAMM!

• Processes
• Inundation
• Erosion
• Overwash
• Saturation
• Accretion

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Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Initial
San Diego Bay
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Impacts of Sea Level Rise

• Unprotected 2m

• Protected 2m

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Changes at the Regional Level

• San Diego is predicted to lose
• A1B max scenario (0.7 m rise)
• 20 of its Tidal Swamp
• 43 of its Ocean Beach
• 4 of its Tidal Fresh Marsh
• Under more extreme scenarios (1.5m rise),
• 5 of its Developed Land
• 35 of its Tidal Swamp
• 35 of its Ocean Beach
• 42 of its Tidal Fresh Marsh

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Flood Risk
From ICLEI Existing Conditions Rpt, modeling by
Dr. Gersberg
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Challenges for Local Adaptation Management
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Coastkeeper Focus

• identify vulnerabilities plan holistically
• Just say no to cement
• Involve stakeholders
• Incorporating space for habitats to change
• Comprehensive shoreline management plans
• Leveraging other opportunities (Low Impact Dev)

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Local Example Chula Vista
Port of San Diego
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Thank You!