great marsh coastal resiliency planning
TRANSCRIPT
Great Marsh SymposiumNovember 12, 2015
Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency
and Adaptation Planning
Presentation Outline
• The science behind climate-driven threats
• Defining vulnerability
• Overview of the resiliency planning initiative
• Work completed to date
• What lies ahead
• Vulnerability findings for Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport
• Vulnerability findings for Essex, Ipswich, and Rowley
Why Here? Why Now?
Essex Technical High School Report – April 2015
Bigger & More Frequent Storms
Bigger Storms Mean More Precipitation
Overview of the Manomet Climate Change Adaptation Project
“Over most regions, precipitation is likely to be less frequent but more intense, and precipitation extremes are very likely to increase”
Sea Level Rise Historical & Longer-term Projections
New
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ErosionClimate Change is the Great Accelerator
Vulnerability = sensitivity + exposure + adaptive capacity
A resource is vulnerable if it is exposed and sensitiveto the effects of climate change and at the same time has only limited capacity to adapt.
Dept. of Interior Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Grants Program
“Community Risk Reduction through Comprehensive Community Resiliency Enhancement for the Great Marsh Ecosystem”
Project Area:• Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, & Rowley.
Resiliency Planning Objectives: • Assess overall community vulnerability as well provide focused assessments of
highly vulnerable high-priority community assets through a comprehensive and integrated approach.
• Identify operationally feasible, site-specific adaptation strategies that serve to reduce risk.
• Engage communities as we work together to lay a framework for future implementation of on-the-ground adaptation strategies.
1. Develop community climate vulnerability assessments2. Conduct comprehensive public outreach & engagement3. Publish an Adaptation Plan & Implementation Roadmap
Community Resiliency Planning
Tasks To Be Completed
Project components
• Community Engagement & Planning
• Hazard Vulnerability and Socio-economic Impact Assessment
• Marsh Adaptation Strategy Tool (MAST)
• Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool (COAST)
Year 1
• Community task force implementation
• Identify community assets & concerns
• Publish community climate-vulnerability assessments
• Community Vulnerability Workshops
Year 2
• Identify adaptation strategies
• Hold community adaptation workshop
• Write community coastal adaptation plans
• Hold regional implementation workshops
Where are we?6 months into the process
Phase 1: Assess Community Vulnerability
Identified resources of concern by…
• Collecting existing data
• Conducting new analyses
Community Vulnerability DocumentsWork to Date
• Review of community exposure, sensitivity, and vulnerability.
• In depth look at high-priority assets in the community
• First drafts written for Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, & Rowley
Work Ahead
• Finalize Vulnerability Assessments
• Continue community outreach
• Develop Adaptation Strategies
• Host public workshops
• Publish Great Marsh Climate Adaptation Plan & Implementation Roadmap
Community Resiliency Task Force Northern Region
(Salisbury-Newburyport-Newbury)
Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency
and Adaptation Planning
Community Resiliency Planning
• Members were appointed to Community Task Forces in April 2015
• Task Forces convened in May & have met three times in regional groups
• Work has continued over past six months in person and off-line
• Committee work
• Sub-projects (MAST & COAST)
• Monthly conference calls
Identifying Current Vulnerabilities:Hazard Mitigation & other plans
• MVPC regional plan includes Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport & Salisbury
• Summarizes specific hazards and “targets” that are vulnerable
• FEMA Flood Risk report Essex County, MA – 2013
• Master plans
• Open space plans
• Natural Heritage Biomapreports
Task forces reviewed and prioritized community assets of highest concern
Prioritization of community resources
Salisbury• Northernmost coastal community in MA
• 15.4 sq. miles land area, 27% of which is Great Marsh
• 8,283 year-round residents, grows to as many as 24,000 in summer
• majority of the town’s infrastructure is located in two sections: Salisbury Beach and Salisbury Square
• Salisbury Beach is a 3.8-mile
barrier beach
• Salisbury Square is 2 miles
inland and is town center with
municipal buildings, stores &
residences
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Salisbury Resiliency Task Force
High-Priority Assets Identified By The Salisbury Resiliency Task Force
Priority Asset Location Hazard Type
Salisbury Barrier Beach 3.8 mile long beach from NH
Border to Merrimack River
Jetty
Erosion, flooding
Salisbury Beach at Broadway East of Broadway, stretching
200ft north and south
Erosion, flooding
Coastal Dune South of
Broadway
Ocean Street to Vermont
Street
Erosion, flooding
Coastal Dune #2 @ Salisbury
Beach
Northeast of Ocean Street Erosion, flooding
Low-lying residential areas
bordering the Blackwater
River salt marsh
9th Street south to Lewis Ave Flooding
North End Boulevardfrom Old Town Way to 18th
street
Flooding
Sewage Pumping Station 228 Beach Rd Flooding
Coastal Dune #1 @ Salisbury
Beach
East of Driftway Rd Erosion, flooding
Seawall @ First Street 32 1st Street Erosion, flooding
Salisbury Beach at Broadway St.
Coastal dunes
Newburyport• Bordered by Merrimack River to north, Newbury to
south• Includes northern tip of Plum Island• 17,800 year-round residents• historic downtown • waterfront district is the civic and commercial center of the city• Industrial Park along border with Newbury is home to approx. 60 industrial businesses
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Newburyport Resiliency Task Force
High-Priority Assets Identified By The Newburyport Resiliency Task Force
Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type
Plum Island Turnpike Joppa Flats Nature Center East
to Sunset Dr.
Tidal and storm flooding
Waste Water Treatment Facility 157 Water Street Flooding from storm surge and
SLR
Lower Artichoke Reservoir West end of Newburyport
south of Merrimack River
Salt-water intrusion
Bartlett Spring Pond 742 Spring Ln Salt-water intrusion
Merrimack River Jetty System Mouth of the Merrimack River Deteriorates over time;
potentially increases erosion
Scotland Rd at Little River/Parker Street Flooding
Water StreetPlum Island Turnpike to
Merrimack Street
Flooding
Central WaterfrontCashman Park to US Coast
Guard Station
Flooding
Revetment at Cashman Park Cashman Park Degrading over time
Revetment at Harbor Master
Building
Cashman Park Degrading over time
Waste Water
Treatment Facility
Central Waterfront &
Downtown businesses
COAST: Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool
One-time Damages from 100-year Flood in Newburyport, MA Study Area
Year Sea Level RiseDamage to Buildings
2030 Low (0.31 ft) $14.1 Million
2030 Med (0.50 ft) $14.9 Million
2030 High (0.72 ft) $15.8 Million
2070 Low (1.09 ft) $18.3 Million
2070 Med (2.19 ft) $24.2 Million
2070 High (3.45 ft) $32.4 Million
Newbury
• 24.2 square miles, 30% of land area is Great Marsh
• 6,666 year-round residents, swells in summer due to Plum Island’s seasonal homes, many located along coast of island
• Town’s infrastructure is located in three distinct sections: Old Town, Byfield, and Plum Island
• Parker River & Little River & low-lying topography contribute to tidal & inland flooding
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Newbury Resiliency Task ForceHigh-Priority Assets Identified By The Newbury Resiliency Task Force
Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type
Plum Island Turnpike/Plumbush
Downs
MA Audubon’s Joppa Flats
Education Center East to Sunset Dr.
Tidal and storm flooding
Sewage Pumping Station on Plum
Island
Webbers Ct. & Olga Way Near area subject to overtopping
Newbury Elementary School 63 Hanover St. Emergency shelter – access points
flood.
Newburyport Turnpike/Rt. 1 Rt.1 at Parker River bridge Tidal and storm flooding
Newburyport Industrial Park Parker St, Scotland Rd Flooding caused by small culverts
Triton Middle & High School - Elm
St/Central St -
112 Elm St, Byfield, MA 01922 Possible future flooding of ball
fields
Newburyport train station Route 1 rotary near Little River &
back end of Parker St
Flooding
Pine Island Roadoff of 1A Flooding, ice cakes, high winds,
zero visibility
Cottage Road off of 1A near Parker River Flooding from Parker River
Central St. dam 70 Central St Flooding, possible dam failure
River St./Forest St. dam Byfield Flooding, possible dam failure
Groin/Jetty @ Plum Island
Boulevard
Plum Island Deteriorates over time, possible
erosion
Plum
Island
Turnpike/
Plumbush
Downs
Industrial
Park &
Little River
area
• The Salisbury and Plum Island Barrier Beaches are the #1 line of defense for our communities
• Unfortunately, developedbarrier beaches are much less resilient to impacts of climate change.
Regional resources of collective concern to the northern task force
Community Resiliency Task Force Southern Region
(Essex-Ipswich-Rowley)
Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency
and Adaptation Planning
Identifying Current Vulnerabilities:Hazard Mitigation Plans
• Ipswich & Essex Hazard Mitigation Plans with MAPC
• MVPC regional plan includes Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport & Salisbury
• Summarizes specific hazards and “targets” that are vulnerable
Community Resiliency Planning
• Members were appointed to Community Task Forces in April 2015
• Task Forces convened in May & have met three times in regional groups
• Work has continued over past six months in person and off-line
• Committee work
• Monthly conference calls
Task forces reviewed and prioritized community assets of highest concern
Prioritization of community resources
Essex
• 16 sq. miles of which 48% is forested and 34% is Great Marsh
• 3504 residents
• Majority of infrastructure located along Rt 133/ Main St Causeway spanning salt marsh and Essex River
• Causeway is a critical transportation corridor
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Essex Resiliency Task Force
High-Priority Assets Identified By The Essex Resiliency Task ForcePriority Asset Location Hazard Type
Main Street Causeway &
Woodman's Beach
74 Main St. to 166 Main St. Flooding
Eastern Avenue at Ebben
Creek
81 Eastern Ave to 97 Eastern
Ave
Flooding
Conomo Point Rd All of Conomo Point Rd Flooding
Crane Beach (tip of point) Erosion
Farnham’s Restaurant culvert 88 Eastern Ave Flooding
Eastern Ave and Grove St Intersection of Eastern Ave
and Grove St
Richdale’s Gas Station 156 Main Street Flooding
Ball fields (high school
baseball) and playground
behind Town Hall Flooding
Landing Road culvert Alewife Brook crossing off of
Western Ave
Flooding
Apple Street culvert near Andrews Street Flooding
Main Street Causeway &
Woodman's Beach
Conomo Point Road
Ipswich
• 33 sq. miles, 21% of land area is Great Marsh
• 13,175 residents
• Dense downtown along the banks of Ipswich River house most of town infrastructure
• Crane Beach is important community resource for recreation and tourism
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Ipswich Resiliency Task ForceHigh-Priority Assets Identified By The Ipswich Resiliency Task Force
Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type
Jeffrey’s Neck Road Beachview Lane northeast
to 144 Jeffrey's Neck Rd
Flooding
Downtown Ipswich Main St businesses and
County Rd near Choate
Bridge
Flooding
Crane Beach End of Argilla Road Erosion
Route 1A at Muddy Run 188 High Street Flooding
South Main Street 45 S Main Street Flooding
Town Wharf + pumping
station
68 East St Flooding
Labor in Vain Road Bridge 80 Labor In vain Road Flooding
Fox Creek Bridge 200 Argilla Road Flooding
Choate Bridge Downtown Flooding
Crane Beach
Town Wharf
& Sewage
Pumping
Station
Rowley
• Rural coastal community of 5856 residents, located between Newbury and Ipswich
• 19 sq. miles in size, of which 20% is Great Marsh
• 90% of town is zoned for residential use; business development along Route 1 & Route 1A corridors
High-Priority Assets Identified By The
Rowley Resiliency Task Force
High-Priority Assets Identified By The Rowley Resiliency Task Force
Priority Asset Location Hazard Type
Route 133 at Bachelder Brook North of Route 1 intersection Flooding
Jewell Mill Dam Off Route 1 near Newbury town
line
Dam failure/flooding
Rowley Town Well # 3 Along Mill River off of Boxford
Road
Flooding, inundation of well
pump station
13 acres of beach on Parker
River National Wildlife Refuge
Plum Island Erosion
Hillside St culvert at tributary to Mill River Flooding
Newbury Road South of Route 133 Flooding
Stackyard RoadEast of Route 1A at north end of
town
Flooding
Communications Cell Tower 594 Main Street Flooding
Jewel Mill
Dam at Mill
River
Route 133 at
Batchelder
Brook
culvert
Barrier beaches that are undeveloped but are seeing changes due to climate impacts
Regional resources of collective concern to the southern task force
Plum Island
Crane Beach
Rowley
Ipswich
Essex
Thank You!Great Marsh Resiliency Partnership
Community Vulnerability Assessment Introduction to Table Discussions
• Each table will have:
• List of assets • Maps to review• Facilitator• Note taker• Questions to spark discussion
Community Vulnerability DocumentsQuestions for Table Discussions
General• What climate-driven threats are you most concerned about ?• What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of climate threats? • What’s the best way to disseminate vulnerability information in your community?• How can we get our towns and general public to think more long term?
Specific• Are there additional vulnerable assets that we missed?• Of the high-priority assets we’ve identified, which assets are the most critical?• Looking 20 years into the future, how do you envision your community changing
and how will those changes exacerbate or mitigate climate-driven threats?
Thank You!Great Marsh Resiliency Partnership