Effects of Sea-Level Rise and Extreme Storms on California Coastal Habitats: Part 2

In California, the near-shore area where the ocean meets the land is a highly productive yet sensitive region that supports a wealth of wildlife, including several native bird species. These saltmarshes, mudflats, and shallow bays are not only critical for wildlife, but they also provide economic and recreational benefits to local communities. Today, sea-level rise, more frequent and stronger storms, saltwater intrusion, and warming water temperatures are among the threats that are altering these important habitats.

 

Much of the existing research on anticipating the effects of changing conditions on coastal ecosystems relies on global or regional scale data, meaning that the detailed information necessary for local-scale decision making is often not available. Building on data collected by previous Southwest CSC research, this project focuses on local-scale monitoring of coastal habitats in California to capture current trends and effects of storm events and inundation, and to inform more detailed projections of the impacts of future changes. Researchers are working closely with federal, state, and local management agencies throughout the process, from data collection to results sharing. 

 

So far, results suggest that moderate to high rates of sea-level rise would result in a loss of coastal wetlands, with implications for the ecosystem services that these ecosystems provide – such as wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, improved water quality, and coastal protection from storms. The results provide detailed information that can be used by California’s coastal land managers to understand the vulnerability of specific sites to changing conditions, enabling decision-makers to effectively implement adaptive management strategies that will sustain the critical function of coastal habitats.