Sea level rise and fringe wetlands in North Carolina: Recommendations from a workshop on management and research

Journal Article · · Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:5083052

Brinson, M M; Moorhead, K K ^[1]

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1. East Carolina Univ., Greenville, NC (United States)

At a workshop held on March 1, 1989, recommendations were made for management and research on the wetlands that occupy much of the estuarine shorelines in North Carolina. Acceleration in the rate of sea level rise caused by global warming will alter the location and quality of fringe wetlands in the state. Management recommendations fell into two categories: those that are possible with current frameworks and those that will require changes in existing regulations. The first category can be implemented largely by understanding the short and long term implications of sea level rise for coastal wetlands and adjacent regions. Planning will require cost-benefit analyses, better estimation of sea level rise, updating maps of flood-prone areas creative approaches to wildlife, fisheries, and silviculture management in the flood plan. The second category will require removal of incentives for wetland alteration and creation of disincentives for activities that interfere with shorelines processes important to wetland maintenance. Research is needed to reduce the many uncertainties that exist on rates and timing of sea level rise, site-specific changes in shoreline position and erosion rates, and the influence of larger scale phenomena such as climatic patterns and oceanic circulation on wetland ecosystems. Rates of accretion of wetland surfaces; effects of alterations such as ditches, impoundments, and altered hydrology; and the ecological role of wetlands on a landscape scale are a few of the issues which need to be addressed. 9 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5083052
• Journal Information: Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society; (United States) Vol. 105:4; ISSN JEMSA; ISSN 0013-6220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
COASTAL WATERS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ESTUARIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
LEVELS
MANAGEMENT
MEETINGS
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
RESOURCES
SEA LEVEL
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER RESOURCES
WETLANDS