Regional Solutions: How a Resilient Great Marsh is our Number One Defense. Wayne Castonguay, Executive Director Ipswich River Watershed Association

1. Great Marsh Symposium
November 9, 2017
A Resilient Great Marsh
Is Our Number One Defense

2. Coastal Resiliency Planning Process

3. Climate Adaptation Strategies
Climate
Adaptation &
Resilience
Policy
Natural
Solutions
Nature-Based
& Hybrid
Gray
Infrastructure

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7. Wetlands Reduce Flooding!
Coastal wetlands are
estimated to have saved
$625 million in flood
damages during Hurricane
Sandy.
- COASTAL WETLANDS AND FLOOD
DAMAGE REDUCTION Using Risk Industry-based
Models to Assess Natural Defenses in the Northeastern
USA

9. #1 Adaptation Strategy:
Increase Natural Security
! Protect natural habitats
! Restore degraded natural habitats
! Replicate natural systems & cycles
in developed areas

10. Great Marsh
Natural Resource Partners

11. Natural Defenses
BEACHES & DUNESSALT MARSHES
RIVERS & FLOODPLAINS BIODIVERSITY

12. Natural Strategies
DUNE RESTORATION
INVASIVE SPECIES
REMOVAL
SALT MARSH
RESTORATION RESTORE CONNECTIVITY

13. Natural and Nature-Based Strategies
! Restore connectivity of river and coastal systems
! Use living shorelines to stabilize shoreline edges
! Protect and enhance shellfish reefs and beds
! Protect and restore barrier beaches and dunes
! Beneficially reuse dredged material
! Restore submerged-aquatic vegetation
! Protect and restore salt marshes
! Facilitate marsh migration
! Enhance land conservation efforts
! Protect & enhance biodiversity

14. Great Marsh Barriers Assessment

15. Dune Restoration

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Great Marsh Land Conservation

17. Policy Strategies
LAND-USE REGS
CLIMATE-SMART
DEVELOPMENT
WATER RESOURCES MGT.
POLLUTION CONTROL

18. Land-use Planning and Policy
! Update municipal policies
! Prioritize low-impact development (LID) practices
! Revise local wetlands protection bylaws and regulations
! Move development away from the coast and wetlands
! Create “freeboard incentive” for buildings
! Use incentives (e.g. TDCs) to reduce risky development
! Institute comprehensive water resources management

19. Low-Impact/Climate-Smart
Development & Retrofits

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21. Great Marsh
Major Nitrogen
Sources
01

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