A Guide to Planning for Climate Change on Maryland's Public Lands
a collaborative project between noaa's coastal management fellowship and the Maryland department of Natural Resources
Are you a land manager who is concerned about climate change? Do you work to protect natural resources from climate impacts such as flooding, increasing temperature, and biodiversity loss? Is your land in need of a climate change plan?
Use this climate change planning site to prepare for climate change in Maryland.
Maryland is well known for its wildlife and natural resources – the Chesapeake Bay, blue crabs, and the wild horses at Assateague State Park are some of our state’s most recognizable symbols. Every year millions of Marylanders, as well as visitors to the state, enjoy the many recreational opportunities DNR’s state parks have to offer.
But what if that were all to change? Maryland is one of the most vulnerable states to climate change in the United States. Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, flooding, sea level rise, and invasive species all have an effect on the way our state’s natural resources can be enjoyed. To protect these opportunities and our natural resources, advanced planning, determination, and a commitment to the future is necessary.
In coordination with the NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship Program, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake and Coastal Service (CCS) has created this website to serve as a climate change adaptation and resilience planning guide for state and local land managers. Tools are provided to help evaluate climate hazards, impacts from climate change, and potential adaptation strategies and implementation opportunities. Three example plans have also been created that serve as climate change adaptation and resilience planning guides for a state park, state wildlife management area, and a state forest.
Planning Objective
To understand climate vulnerability and threats on Maryland’s public lands and identify strategies to promote resilience and adaptation by using nature-based solutions to protect natural resources and recreational opportunities for future generations.
Why is a climate change planning guide necessary?
Maryland is vulnerable to climate change and it is essential to protect our natural resources and the ecosystems we love!
Increasing temperatures impact natural resources and public health and safety. Heat stress could become more common. Changing temperatures encourage unique species migrations, meaning that invasive species could be a potential problem for native species. Maryland State Summary
Sea level rise is predicted to be 1.7 feet by the year 2050.
Sea level rise leads to increased coastal and high tide flooding and increases the potential for saltwater intrusion. High tide flooding is already occurring during extreme high tide events, including those not associated with larger scale storms. Additionally, increasing salinization from saltwater intrusion may have an impact on marsh vegetation and its chance of survival, thus impacting biodiversity and habitat availability. Sea Level Rise Guidance Document
There is an expected increase in the frequency and intensity of more severe storms.
More extreme storms lead to increased flooding and damaging winds, placing natural resources, recreation, and infrastructure at risk. During tropical storms, evacuations are initiated. Maryland State Summary
Increasing precipitation could lead to numerous problems on site including increased flooding of roads, parking lots, and trails, further decreasing access to recreational resources. Increasing precipitation may also lead to erosion. Projected (IDF) Curve Data Tool
Invasive species are becoming more common.
Invasive species may become more prevalent, leading to species shifts and biodiversity loss. Currently, phragmites, thistle, honeysuckle, Japanese stiltgrass, multiflora rose, Japanese knotweed, mile-a-minute, spotted lantern fly, and spongy moth are of high concern in Maryland. MidAtlantic Invasive Species
Want to communicate the impacts of climate change in your community? Download the following graphic!
