sneapa 2013 thursday d1 3_30_scenario_climate_10-10-13-final

SCENARIO PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Littlemarsh Climate Stakeholders Meeting

Vandana Rao, PhD., Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

E. Heidi Ricci, Mass Audubon - Shaping the Future of Your Community Program

Julie Conroy AICP, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Introduction/Impacts

Vandana Rao, PhD., Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of this generation, with potentially profound effects on

the economy, public health, water resources, infrastructure, coastal resources, energy demand,

natural features, and recreation

HUMAN INFLUENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS CLEAR!

It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-

20th century!- IPCC-WG1, 2013

Change in Average Surface Temperature

Draft National Climate Assessment Northeast

Heat waves, coastal flooding due to SLR, and river flooding due to more extreme precipitation events will challenge to the region’s environmental, social, and economic systems.

Infrastructure will be increasingly compromised by sea level rise and coastal flooding, and intense precipitation events.

Agriculture and ecosystems will be increasingly stressed by climate-related hazards, including higher temperatures, sea level rise and coastal flooding, and more extreme precipitation events.

MassachusettsObserved Annual Average

Temperature

Source: Draft National Climate Assessment

Flooding

Source: U.S. Global Change Research Program Source: When It Rains It Pours, Envi. America, 2012

Increased Precipitatio

n

Source: Stephen Mabee

Photo by J. Kopera

Transportation Impacts

Sea Level Rise

Development Damage

Infrastructure

Heat-related Illness

Source: Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Heat

Source: Birmingham News

Source: Boston Housing Authority

Loss of Development Buffer

Adaptation

 Source: Penney, 2008

ADAPTATION means increasing resiliency and

reducing vulnerability of our natural and built

systems, and better preparing our response

capabilities

Key Concepts

KEY SECTORS Natural Resources and Habitat Human Health and Welfare Key Infrastructure Local Economy Government Land Use and Planning Coastal Zone and Oceans

Need to Think of - PLANNING & LAND USE!

New Development Existing Development Through long-term Planning, Regulation

& Assistance

What is MA Doing?

• GWSA Implementation – Mitigation & Adaptation Subcommittees

• EEA Adaptation Subcommittee• Agency representation from DCR, DEP, DFG, DAR, DOER,

MassDOT (MBTA, Highways, MassPort), DPU, CZM, MassGIS• Federal Partners: USGS, EPA• Regional Partners: MAPC, NEIWPCC• Other: TNC, CLF, Mass Audubon, UMass Boston, UNH, UMass

Amherst

• EEA Workplan• Update on the latest science• Develop climate change scenarios• Incorporate review of climate change effects into MEPA• Develop a Data and Information Tools Workshops• Prioritize strategies to protect infrastructure & human life

• Cross Agency Plan

Natural Resource Protection

E. Heidi Ricci, Mass Audubon - Shaping the Future of Your Community Program

hricci@massaudubon.orgwww.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture

Protect and Restore Nature’s Defenses

• Floodplains, wetlands, stream corridors, upland buffers

• Natural landscapes absorb rainfall during storm events, decreasing flooding, and filter the air and water.

• Compact development and land conservation keeps forested and natural (carbon absorbing) lands intact

• Trees provide shade, reduce heat islands • Priority Protection Areas

• Priority Development Areas

Protect Floodplains and Upland Buffers

Rivers erode and deposit.Give them room to move!

Scour on the outside of meander bends

Deposition on inside of bends

Source: Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Keep Development Out of Floodplains

Protect Built Environment AND Natural Systems

Case Study: Walker Brook, Becket 10/06/05

Source: Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

Intense Precipitation

6/30/2011

Culverts Washed-out & Replaced W/ Same (Undersized)!

Post Irene

Replacement Culverts

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 +

years

Estimate for Stream Crossing Span:

Cost of Two Replacements in 6 years:

$130k

$300-400k

Estimated Crossing Lifespan and Costs

10

years

Bronson Brook During and Post Irene

Source: MA Fish & Game Div. of Ecological Restoration

Wetland Restoration & Dam Removal

Natural Buffers:Green Infrastructure

Source: Green Infrastructure Center

Green Infrastructure

Source: City of Portland, Environmental Services

Regulation/Zoning

Julie Conroy, AICP,- Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Local Codes & Regulations

Do They Discourage or Promote LID? Do they Agree/Conflict with Each Other?

Wetland RegulationsStormwater RegulationsZoning Bylaw and Site Plan ReviewSubdivision Rules and Regulations

EPA’s Water Quality Scorecard: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/

2009_1208_wq_scorecard.pdf

Wetlands

Resources:• http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/toolbox/

• http://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/public_documents/DuxburyMA_Conservation

LID / GI/ Stormwater Bylaws

Credits for use of LID/GI General Permit for Certain ActivitiesEngineering Review FeesStormwater Drainage Fee / Utility & Enterprise Fund

Zoning/Site Plan Review

Relax Parking RequirementsUtilize Right-of-Way & Reduce

SetbacksPermit use of Open Drainage

Systems Credits for On-site Retention,

Infiltration, Evapo-transpiration

Incentives:• Fee Discount• Development Incentives • Rebates & Installation

Financing • Awards & Recognition

Programs

Zoning in High Hazard Areas

Natural Resource Protection Zoning

Single Family: Open Space Reserved = 0 Cluster: OSR 30%

Conservation: OSR 50% NRPZ: OSR 80%

What Would NRPZ Look Like? 100 Acre Wooded, Pre-Dvlp.

2-Acre Zoning, Conventional (34 Lots, No Protection)

NRPZ (14 lots, 75% Protect.)

Resources:http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/toolbox/

Yes It Can Be Done!

Receiving area = lot w/in

Residential A or B – w/ municipal

water& sewer

Transfer of Development Rights

Rolling Easements

Source: Georgetown Law; Harrison Inst. For Public Law

Retreat/By-Outs

 Source: flicr user swirlspace

Ocean Beach, San Francisco Planned Retreat:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OixVjHrcWM8

$ Federal Emergency Management Agency

$ Presidential Declaration

$ Local Flood Control(e.g. King County Flood

Control District: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/buyou

t.aspx)

What are MA Communities Doing?

• Chatham – zoning bylaw prohibits new residential units in mapped floodplains - designates ‘conservancy districts’ for land in 100-year floodplain; designates uses as permitted, needing special permit or are altogether prohibited

• Cape Cod Commission – model floodplain district bylaw prohibiting new development in V, no public infrastructure in V and A zones

• Boston – updating their hazard mitigation plan, looking into updating wetlands ordinance - all accommodating for CC

• Cambridge – vulnerability assessment

• Reducing Storm Risk in Developed Areas w FEMA $: Quincy & Scituate help property owners elevate homes/utilities; covers 75% of cost

Town of Littlemarsh Climate Stakeholders Meeting

October 17, 2013

Town Stats

Roles

Planning Board Conservation Commission Board of Selectmen Emergency Management Department of Public Works Business Community Residents

Options for the Committee to Consider

Prioritize and Improve Existing Infrastructure (Culverts, dams, Water supply and Treatment)

Wetlands/Floodplain Bylaws/Ordinances

GI/LID/Stormwater Regulations

Zoning: NRPZ, TDR, Rolling Easements

Retreat and Voluntary Buy-outs

Meeting Outcomes

1. Decide Which Adaptation Measures to Focus on

2. Prioritize Short-Term and Long-Term Actions

3. Establish Action Items for Committee

Questions?

Vandana Rao, MA EEA617-626-1248 vandanarao@state.ma.us

Heidi Ricci, MassAudubon781-259-2172 hricci@massaudubon.org

Julie Conroy, MAPC617-933-0749jconroy@mapc.org

THANK YOU!