Tara Baranowski TNC OHIOLake Erie Coast and Islands Project Manager

Building Climate Change into Wetland Restoration: A Case Study of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Regional Climate Change Predictions

• Increased temperature • Increased evapotranspiration• Steady or increased precipitation • Changes in seasonal patterns• Increased probability of extreme

precipitation and storm events.

Photo: continuouswave.com Photo: continuouswave.com

Historic vs. Current Land Cover

>90% Wetland Loss

Lake Erie Dynamics

Daily Water Level Changes

Lake Erie Dynamics

Seasonal Water Level Changes

Lake Erie Dynamics

Long-term Water Level Changes

A lot of Variability!

Habitat LossHabitat LossUnpredictable

WaterSupply

UnpredictableWaterSupply

Climate ChangeClimate Change

Need for Resilient Land

Restoration Strategies

Need for Resilient Land

Restoration Strategies

Climate Resilient Restorations

Resilient Wetlands Provide:Water Filtration: help to filter sediment, nutrients and improve water qualityFlood Control: coastal wetlands moderate water quantityabsorb and store water from storm events and prevent ominimize flooding Diverse, Native, Climate-Adaptable Species: Native plant species are essential to ecological function. These species are often specialized to local conditions and serve specific niches

Western Lake Erie Coastal Restoration

Photo: photographersdirect.com

Restoration in a changing environment

The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited and Ottawa National Wildlife

Refuge – Partnership Case Studies

• Infrastructure Improvements• Reforestation• Reconnection• Wetland Restoration

Infrastructure Improvements

• Water level considerations for new structures• Adding additional water sources (drainage ditches)• Building in passive management options to accept

storm/seiche surges (free water)

Infrastructure Improvements

Improvements Provide:• Increased Water Availability• Increased Passive Management• Improved Water Holding• Reduced Nutrient Load Entering Lake Erie

Reforestation

National Wildlife Federation Assessment• Sensitivity to Temperature and Precipitation• Projected Exposure to Temperature and Precipitation

Changes• Adaptive Capacity of Species

USFS Climate Change Atlas < Climate Wizard < ODNR Tree Index < Literature Reviews

Reforestation Case Study: Helle Tract

Reforestation

Reforestation Provides:• Natural Land Cover for Wildlife• Natural Buffer for surrounding landscape• Nutrient Uptake• Sediment DepositionPhoto: bsc.org

Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

Reconnection

Reconnection Provides:

• Continuous Habitat• Variable Water Levels for various guilds• Fish nursery • Nutrient Exchange• Sediment Capture Photo: usgs.gov

Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

• 171 Acres• Maumee

AOC• River• County

Ditch• Ag Matrix

Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

Restoration

Restoration Provides:• Natural Land Cover for Wildlife and People• Natural Buffer• Nutrient Uptake• Sediment Deposition• Flood Abatement

Restoration of ecosystem function

In a nutshell…

Building Climate Change into Western Lake Erie Coastal Marsh Restoration Means Considering:

• Water Level Fluctuations• Water Availability• Native Species Composition• Control of Invasive Species• System Resiliency

In another nutshell…

Building Climate Change into Western Lake Erie Coastal Marsh Restoration also means:• Better Water Availability• Increased Passive Management • Increased Nutrient Management• Flood Attenuation• More Natural Cover on the Landscape

Tara Baranowski – TNC Ohiotbaranowski@tnc.org

Thank you

Photo: flitzyphoebie.blogspot.com