TRACK: Natural Environment

Responding to the Surge: Coastal Buffers (T2C)

Climate change impacts will affect both land-based and coastal resources along our coastlines. Municipal decision makers must consider sea level rise, and storm surge from tropical storms and hurricanes. Inland storms also deliver fresh water flooding through coastal communities. Since our coastlines also are more developed, usually with a higher density of people per square mile, this session will look to the ramifications of a degradation, or disappearance of, the natural resources upon which a significant percentage of their population’s livelihoods depend. Participants will learn how to plan for and react to these combined risks targeting best practices to protect municipal infrastructure, mitigate coastal erosion, loss of fisheries, and other natural coastal services.

Session Leaders:Sherry Godlewski – Environmental Program Manager, NH Department of Environmental Services Steve Miller – Coastal Training Program Coordinator, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Session Speakers/Panelists:Lisa Auermuller – Watershed Coordinator, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences (Jacques Cousteau Reserve), Rutgers UniversityJennifer West – Coastal Training Program Coordinator, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveEric J. Roberts – Associate, Consensus Building Institute. Emilie Hauser – NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst, NY

Dept. of Environmental Conservation & Estuary Training Program Coordinator, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Local `Solutions

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a partnership of NOAA and coastal states to study and protect vital coastal and estuarine resources.

Today’s Speakers

The Coastal Training Program provides scientific information and skill-building opportunities to individuals who are responsible for making decisions that affect coastal resources.

Goal: Better informed decision-making by local and regional decision-makers to improve coastal stewardship.