This image depicts climate change in six different environments: urban, forest streams, coastal agriculture, coastal marsh, forest, and a beach coast. Impacts include temperature rise, flooding, building damage, tree loss, erosion, degraded water quality, precipitation, sea level rise, runoff, saltwater intrusion, marsh migration, invasive species, and biodiversity loss. 

Public health impacts are a major concern in urban environments, as there is an increasing risk of heat strokes and asthma, among other health concerns. 

Biodiversity loss depicted throughout the graphics, including tree loss, vegetation decline due to increasing inundation, and invasive species impacts the ability of an area to reduce flooding and erosion and provide shade. This can lead to degraded water quality and increasing erosion. 

This image depicts tree loss, erosion, and degraded water quality in a forest stream environment. Adaptation options include floodplain connection, step pools, beaver dam analogs, toe wood and live stakes. 

Many common impacts seen across the state include tree loss due to invasive species, increasing temperatures, and sea level rise. Reconnecting the floodplain to it's historical hydrology can reduce flooding by allowing water to spread horizontally. Step pools can slow the flow of water by decreasing slope. Beaver dam analogs also slow water flow by absorbing impact with a natural material. Toe wood reduces wave energy when placed on the shoreline and redirects water to reduce erosion. Live stakes strengthen soil by mimicking vegetation with large root masses, which can reduce erosion.

This image depicts flooding, erosion, runoff, and road collapse due to increasing precipitation and storm events. Adaptation options include riparian buffers, allowing for wetland expansion, relocating roads, and creating floodplain parks. 

Roads can collapse when the ground beneath them is saturated or culverts become compromised. One option to protect roads is by introducing a riparian (vegetation) buffer to absorb water and reduce runoff and erosion. Similarly, expanding a wetland will allow water to flow in the floodplain instead of over a road. Relocating roads further from water sources or further uphill will reduce infrastructure stresses. Upon relocation, the area that was once a road could be turned into a floodplain park. 

This image is intended to inform tree planting for various ecological provinces across the state of Maryland. Graphics depict species that may be new to a habitat that have migration potential, species new to the habitat, and species that are existing and likely to increase. It is important to consider the micro-site characteristics; some sites may be more sheltered or wetter. 

Trees provide valuable carbon sequestration for reducing greenhouse gases that become trapped in the atmosphere. Trees also have long roots that reduce flooding by stabilizing soil to reduce erosion and absorbing water. As such, reforestation should be considered as an essential climate change adaptation opportunity. Adapting to a warming temperature means planting trees that will still provide ecological value while being able to survive in hotter environments. 

This image depicts declines in biodiversity such as species loss and habitat loss, in addition to the increase of invasive species and decrease in carbon sequestration capacity of forests. To address these impacts, invasive species should be managed and removed and climate tolerant vegetation should be planted. Understanding the transition from forest to marsh and whether to facilitate that transition is also important. 

Increasing temperature is going to increase disease risk, code red days and invasive species. Increasing tree cover, installing shade tents, and using cooling structures can all be ways to respond to increasing temperature to protect human and environmental health. 

Some of these adaptation opportunities can double to enhance recreation. Cooling centers can become event spaces and venues, or even shelters during an event. Increasing tree cover may increase biodiversity, thus creating a more exciting experience for visitors and a healthier habitat. 

Climate impacts to coastal agriculture include increasing precipitation, marsh migration, salt inundation, and sea level rise are highly likely in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore. Potential adaptation options include relocating agriculture and planting salt tolerant species such as sorghum, or removing agriculture entirely and allowing for restoration and wetland migration. 

When removing agriculture it is important to plant vegetation where the agricultural crops once were, as they played a valuable role in reducing erosion, enhancing carbon sequestration, and providing habitat. Removing agriculture can be a way to reconnect the floodplain. 

This graphic shows how saltwater intrusion, sea level rise, and increasing precipitation will impact a coastal marsh. There may be declines in biodiversity loss due to invasive species and inundation, in addition to marsh migration. Thin layer placement, replanting natives, runnels, living shorelines and marsh sills all may be potential adaptation options. 

Thin layer placement encourages soil accretion and shoreline stabilization, whereas runnels redirect waterflow and reduce excess water in a wetland. This doubles as a way to protect vegetation and reduce mosquito breeding. Living shorelines and marsh sills reduce wave energy through their curvature and vegetation, thus reducing erosion and increasing accretion. 

Flooding, road collapse and culvert failure are all storm impacts to roadways. A potential adaptation option includes enlarging culverts in the design process to allow for better and increased water flow and to enhance structural integrity. 

To assess precipitation changes, see the "Projected Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) Curve Data Tool for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Virginia" on the tools page.  

This graphic summarizes climate change impacts and adaptation opportunities in various environments including: urban, forest stream, coastal agriculture, coastal marsh, forest, and coastal beach environments.