Watershed Management: Conservation in a changing climate (Page 1)  
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map
location map


Watershed Management: Conservation in a changing climate

Maryland’s extensive aquatic ecosystems range from freshwater swamps and bogs to freshwater rivers and marshes to coastal bays and salt marshes. These ecosystems are influenced by precipitation, temperature, tropical storms, and human activity. Human development and pollution have degraded their natural resilience, leaving them more vulnerable to climate change and extreme events. One hundred years of data show that Maryland is getting warmer on average by 1.8°F but by as much as 3.6°F in the winter. Warmer air holds more moisture, so we should expect changes in our rainfall. Over the last century, Maryland has become wetter in March and autumn and drier in July and August. For aquatic ecosystems this may alter salinity in the Bay and impact streamflow and stream temperature, all of which could shift where species live and affect watershed restoration projects. A changing climate will mean we all have to plan for more uncertainty.

Keywords:

IAN Author(s)Marcus Griswold, Caroline Donovan
PublisherMaryland Department of Natural Resources and the Integration and Application Network
Date Published2013-07-12
TypeNewsletter
ProjectCoordination support for adapting to climate change
Location(s)Anacostia River
Baltimore Harbor
Chesapeake Bay
Chester River
Choptank River
Lower Eastern Shore (Tangier)
Lower Western Shore (MD)
Magothy River
Mid Bay
Miles River
Monie Bay
Nanticoke River
Patapsco and Back Rivers
Patuxent River
Potomac River
Sassafras River
Severn River
South River
Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds
Upper Bay
Upper Eastern Shore
Upper Western Shore
West and Rhode Rivers
Wye River
Number of Pages4
Filesize1.6 MB
View PDF