Great Marsh SymposiumNovember 12, 2015

Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency

and Adaptation Planning

Presentation Outline

• The science behind climate-driven threats

• Defining vulnerability

• Overview of the resiliency planning initiative

• Work completed to date

• What lies ahead

• Vulnerability findings for Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport

• Vulnerability findings for Essex, Ipswich, and Rowley

Why Here? Why Now?

Essex Technical High School Report – April 2015

Bigger & More Frequent Storms

Bigger Storms Mean More Precipitation

Overview of the Manomet Climate Change Adaptation Project

“Over most regions, precipitation is likely to be less frequent but more intense, and precipitation extremes are very likely to increase”

Sea Level Rise Historical & Longer-term Projections

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ErosionClimate Change is the Great Accelerator

Vulnerability = sensitivity + exposure + adaptive capacity

A resource is vulnerable if it is exposed and sensitiveto the effects of climate change and at the same time has only limited capacity to adapt.

Dept. of Interior Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Grants Program

“Community Risk Reduction through Comprehensive Community Resiliency Enhancement for the Great Marsh Ecosystem”

Project Area:• Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, & Rowley.

Resiliency Planning Objectives: • Assess overall community vulnerability as well provide focused assessments of

highly vulnerable high-priority community assets through a comprehensive and integrated approach.

• Identify operationally feasible, site-specific adaptation strategies that serve to reduce risk.

• Engage communities as we work together to lay a framework for future implementation of on-the-ground adaptation strategies.

1. Develop community climate vulnerability assessments2. Conduct comprehensive public outreach & engagement3. Publish an Adaptation Plan & Implementation Roadmap

Community Resiliency Planning

Tasks To Be Completed

Project components

• Community Engagement & Planning

• Hazard Vulnerability and Socio-economic Impact Assessment

• Marsh Adaptation Strategy Tool (MAST)

• Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool (COAST)

Year 1

• Community task force implementation

• Identify community assets & concerns

• Publish community climate-vulnerability assessments

• Community Vulnerability Workshops

Year 2

• Identify adaptation strategies

• Hold community adaptation workshop

• Write community coastal adaptation plans

• Hold regional implementation workshops

Where are we?6 months into the process

Phase 1: Assess Community Vulnerability

Identified resources of concern by…

• Collecting existing data

• Conducting new analyses

Community Vulnerability DocumentsWork to Date

• Review of community exposure, sensitivity, and vulnerability.

• In depth look at high-priority assets in the community

• First drafts written for Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, & Rowley

Work Ahead

• Finalize Vulnerability Assessments

• Continue community outreach

• Develop Adaptation Strategies

• Host public workshops

• Publish Great Marsh Climate Adaptation Plan & Implementation Roadmap

Community Resiliency Task Force Northern Region

(Salisbury-Newburyport-Newbury)

Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency

and Adaptation Planning

Community Resiliency Planning

• Members were appointed to Community Task Forces in April 2015

• Task Forces convened in May & have met three times in regional groups

• Work has continued over past six months in person and off-line

• Committee work

• Sub-projects (MAST & COAST)

• Monthly conference calls

Identifying Current Vulnerabilities:Hazard Mitigation & other plans

• MVPC regional plan includes Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport & Salisbury

• Summarizes specific hazards and “targets” that are vulnerable

• FEMA Flood Risk report Essex County, MA – 2013

• Master plans

• Open space plans

• Natural Heritage Biomapreports

Task forces reviewed and prioritized community assets of highest concern

Prioritization of community resources

Salisbury• Northernmost coastal community in MA

• 15.4 sq. miles land area, 27% of which is Great Marsh

• 8,283 year-round residents, grows to as many as 24,000 in summer

• majority of the town’s infrastructure is located in two sections: Salisbury Beach and Salisbury Square

• Salisbury Beach is a 3.8-mile

barrier beach

• Salisbury Square is 2 miles

inland and is town center with

municipal buildings, stores &

residences

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Salisbury Resiliency Task Force

High-Priority Assets Identified By The Salisbury Resiliency Task Force

Priority Asset Location Hazard Type

Salisbury Barrier Beach 3.8 mile long beach from NH

Border to Merrimack River

Jetty

Erosion, flooding

Salisbury Beach at Broadway East of Broadway, stretching

200ft north and south

Erosion, flooding

Coastal Dune South of

Broadway

Ocean Street to Vermont

Street

Erosion, flooding

Coastal Dune #2 @ Salisbury

Beach

Northeast of Ocean Street Erosion, flooding

Low-lying residential areas

bordering the Blackwater

River salt marsh

9th Street south to Lewis Ave Flooding

North End Boulevardfrom Old Town Way to 18th

street

Flooding

Sewage Pumping Station 228 Beach Rd Flooding

Coastal Dune #1 @ Salisbury

Beach

East of Driftway Rd Erosion, flooding

Seawall @ First Street 32 1st Street Erosion, flooding

Salisbury Beach at Broadway St.

Coastal dunes

Newburyport• Bordered by Merrimack River to north, Newbury to

south• Includes northern tip of Plum Island• 17,800 year-round residents• historic downtown • waterfront district is the civic and commercial center of the city• Industrial Park along border with Newbury is home to approx. 60 industrial businesses

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Newburyport Resiliency Task Force

High-Priority Assets Identified By The Newburyport Resiliency Task Force

Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type

Plum Island Turnpike Joppa Flats Nature Center East

to Sunset Dr.

Tidal and storm flooding

Waste Water Treatment Facility 157 Water Street Flooding from storm surge and

SLR

Lower Artichoke Reservoir West end of Newburyport

south of Merrimack River

Salt-water intrusion

Bartlett Spring Pond 742 Spring Ln Salt-water intrusion

Merrimack River Jetty System Mouth of the Merrimack River Deteriorates over time;

potentially increases erosion

Scotland Rd at Little River/Parker Street Flooding

Water StreetPlum Island Turnpike to

Merrimack Street

Flooding

Central WaterfrontCashman Park to US Coast

Guard Station

Flooding

Revetment at Cashman Park Cashman Park Degrading over time

Revetment at Harbor Master

Building

Cashman Park Degrading over time

Waste Water

Treatment Facility

Central Waterfront &

Downtown businesses

COAST: Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool

One-time Damages from 100-year Flood in Newburyport, MA Study Area

Year Sea Level RiseDamage to Buildings

2030 Low (0.31 ft) $14.1 Million

2030 Med (0.50 ft) $14.9 Million

2030 High (0.72 ft) $15.8 Million

2070 Low (1.09 ft) $18.3 Million

2070 Med (2.19 ft) $24.2 Million

2070 High (3.45 ft) $32.4 Million

Newbury

• 24.2 square miles, 30% of land area is Great Marsh

• 6,666 year-round residents, swells in summer due to Plum Island’s seasonal homes, many located along coast of island

• Town’s infrastructure is located in three distinct sections: Old Town, Byfield, and Plum Island

• Parker River & Little River & low-lying topography contribute to tidal & inland flooding

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Newbury Resiliency Task ForceHigh-Priority Assets Identified By The Newbury Resiliency Task Force

Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type

Plum Island Turnpike/Plumbush

Downs

MA Audubon’s Joppa Flats

Education Center East to Sunset Dr.

Tidal and storm flooding

Sewage Pumping Station on Plum

Island

Webbers Ct. & Olga Way Near area subject to overtopping

Newbury Elementary School 63 Hanover St. Emergency shelter – access points

flood.

Newburyport Turnpike/Rt. 1 Rt.1 at Parker River bridge Tidal and storm flooding

Newburyport Industrial Park Parker St, Scotland Rd Flooding caused by small culverts

Triton Middle & High School - Elm

St/Central St -

112 Elm St, Byfield, MA 01922 Possible future flooding of ball

fields

Newburyport train station Route 1 rotary near Little River &

back end of Parker St

Flooding

Pine Island Roadoff of 1A Flooding, ice cakes, high winds,

zero visibility

Cottage Road off of 1A near Parker River Flooding from Parker River

Central St. dam 70 Central St Flooding, possible dam failure

River St./Forest St. dam Byfield Flooding, possible dam failure

Groin/Jetty @ Plum Island

Boulevard

Plum Island Deteriorates over time, possible

erosion

Plum

Island

Turnpike/

Plumbush

Downs

Industrial

Park &

Little River

area

• The Salisbury and Plum Island Barrier Beaches are the #1 line of defense for our communities

• Unfortunately, developedbarrier beaches are much less resilient to impacts of climate change.

Regional resources of collective concern to the northern task force

Community Resiliency Task Force Southern Region

(Essex-Ipswich-Rowley)

Great Marsh Coastal Community Resiliency

and Adaptation Planning

Identifying Current Vulnerabilities:Hazard Mitigation Plans

• Ipswich & Essex Hazard Mitigation Plans with MAPC

• MVPC regional plan includes Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport & Salisbury

• Summarizes specific hazards and “targets” that are vulnerable

Community Resiliency Planning

• Members were appointed to Community Task Forces in April 2015

• Task Forces convened in May & have met three times in regional groups

• Work has continued over past six months in person and off-line

• Committee work

• Monthly conference calls

Task forces reviewed and prioritized community assets of highest concern

Prioritization of community resources

Essex

• 16 sq. miles of which 48% is forested and 34% is Great Marsh

• 3504 residents

• Majority of infrastructure located along Rt 133/ Main St Causeway spanning salt marsh and Essex River

• Causeway is a critical transportation corridor

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Essex Resiliency Task Force

High-Priority Assets Identified By The Essex Resiliency Task ForcePriority Asset Location Hazard Type

Main Street Causeway &

Woodman's Beach

74 Main St. to 166 Main St. Flooding

Eastern Avenue at Ebben

Creek

81 Eastern Ave to 97 Eastern

Ave

Flooding

Conomo Point Rd All of Conomo Point Rd Flooding

Crane Beach (tip of point) Erosion

Farnham’s Restaurant culvert 88 Eastern Ave Flooding

Eastern Ave and Grove St Intersection of Eastern Ave

and Grove St

Richdale’s Gas Station 156 Main Street Flooding

Ball fields (high school

baseball) and playground

behind Town Hall Flooding

Landing Road culvert Alewife Brook crossing off of

Western Ave

Flooding

Apple Street culvert near Andrews Street Flooding

Main Street Causeway &

Woodman's Beach

Conomo Point Road

Ipswich

• 33 sq. miles, 21% of land area is Great Marsh

• 13,175 residents

• Dense downtown along the banks of Ipswich River house most of town infrastructure

• Crane Beach is important community resource for recreation and tourism

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Ipswich Resiliency Task ForceHigh-Priority Assets Identified By The Ipswich Resiliency Task Force

Priority Asset Location/Coordinates Hazard Type

Jeffrey’s Neck Road Beachview Lane northeast

to 144 Jeffrey's Neck Rd

Flooding

Downtown Ipswich Main St businesses and

County Rd near Choate

Bridge

Flooding

Crane Beach End of Argilla Road Erosion

Route 1A at Muddy Run 188 High Street Flooding

South Main Street 45 S Main Street Flooding

Town Wharf + pumping

station

68 East St Flooding

Labor in Vain Road Bridge 80 Labor In vain Road Flooding

Fox Creek Bridge 200 Argilla Road Flooding

Choate Bridge Downtown Flooding

Crane Beach

Town Wharf

& Sewage

Pumping

Station

Rowley

• Rural coastal community of 5856 residents, located between Newbury and Ipswich

• 19 sq. miles in size, of which 20% is Great Marsh

• 90% of town is zoned for residential use; business development along Route 1 & Route 1A corridors

High-Priority Assets Identified By The

Rowley Resiliency Task Force

High-Priority Assets Identified By The Rowley Resiliency Task Force

Priority Asset Location Hazard Type

Route 133 at Bachelder Brook North of Route 1 intersection Flooding

Jewell Mill Dam Off Route 1 near Newbury town

line

Dam failure/flooding

Rowley Town Well # 3 Along Mill River off of Boxford

Road

Flooding, inundation of well

pump station

13 acres of beach on Parker

River National Wildlife Refuge

Plum Island Erosion

Hillside St culvert at tributary to Mill River Flooding

Newbury Road South of Route 133 Flooding

Stackyard RoadEast of Route 1A at north end of

town

Flooding

Communications Cell Tower 594 Main Street Flooding

Jewel Mill

Dam at Mill

River

Route 133 at

Batchelder

Brook

culvert

Barrier beaches that are undeveloped but are seeing changes due to climate impacts

Regional resources of collective concern to the southern task force

Plum Island

Crane Beach

Rowley

Ipswich

Essex

Thank You!Great Marsh Resiliency Partnership

Community Vulnerability Assessment Introduction to Table Discussions

• Each table will have:

• List of assets • Maps to review• Facilitator• Note taker• Questions to spark discussion

Community Vulnerability DocumentsQuestions for Table Discussions

General• What climate-driven threats are you most concerned about ?• What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of climate threats? • What’s the best way to disseminate vulnerability information in your community?• How can we get our towns and general public to think more long term?

Specific• Are there additional vulnerable assets that we missed?• Of the high-priority assets we’ve identified, which assets are the most critical?• Looking 20 years into the future, how do you envision your community changing

and how will those changes exacerbate or mitigate climate-driven threats?

Thank You!Great Marsh Resiliency Partnership