Climate Adaptation Planning: from Vulnerability Assessment to Strategy Identification
-A New York Workshop Case Study-
Chris Hilke
Climate Change Adaptation Program
National Wildlife Federation hilkec@nwf.org

Identifying Adaptation Strategies:
Utilizing the “New Hampshire
Method”
1. Identify adaptation targets (species-habitats)
2. Summarize the vulnerability of the targets
3. Develop full range of adaptation options
4. Prioritize adaptation options
5. Identify potential implementation partners
6. Group, Filter, and Highlight

NY Adaptation Workshop
Stage 1: Summarize Vulnerability Data
Stage 2: Identify Vulnerable Targets
Stage 3: Delineate Breakout Groups
Stage 4: Identify “Operationally Feasible”
Adaptation Strategies
Stage 6: Prioritize strategies

Adaptation Strategy Gradients
Identifying “ Operationally Feasible ” Strategies
General
Low cost
Low engineering
Near-term
Implementation
Specific
High cost
Multi-phase
Long-term
Implementation

Stage 1: Summarize Vulnerability
Data
• New York Habitat Vulnerability Assessment
Galbraith, H. et al. 2012
• Vulnerability of At-risk Species to Climate
Change in New York
Schlesinger, M. et al. 2011

Stage 2: Identify Vulnerable Targets
Upland Systems
Species:
• Spruce Grouse
• Indiana Bat
• Karner Blue butterfly
• Moose
Habitats:
• Montane Spruce-fir
• N. Hardwood forests
• Tundra
• Boreal bog
Freshwater Systems
Species:
• Dwarf Wedge Mussel
• Bog Turtle
• Lake Sturgeon
• Hellbender
Habitats:
• Cold water habitats
• Emergent marsh
• Shrub swamp
• Stratified lakes

Stage 3: Delineate Breakout Groups
1. Upland Systems
2. Freshwater Systems
• Target Vulnerability
Summary
• Climate Exposure
Summary
• Example Adaptation
Strategies

Stage 4: Identify “Operationally
Feasible” Adaptation Strategies
FHWA
• 30 minutes per target to identify as many strategies as possible that increase the resiliency and/or adaptive capacity of the targets

Stage 5: Prioritize Strategies

Group, Filter and Highlight
1. Group strategies by common theme, category
2. Filter groups based upon feasibility, cost, implementation potential
3. Highlight a suite of top 5 strategies for each target

Upland Systems: Habitats
Montane spruce-fir
• Patch clear cut management for fir regeneration
• Expand Catskills to ADK to Canada connectivity
N. Hardwood forests
• Manage for southern spp./promote climate-resilient assemblages
• Conduct deer management based on vegetation cover metrics
Tundra
• Limit visitation impacts with trail carrying capacity limits
• Monitor tundra pollinators
Boreal bog
• Reduce bog draining and peat harvest on private lands
• Implement existing wetland protection strategies

Upland Systems: Species
Spruce Grouse
• Facilitate range shift through connectivity
• Monitor likely disappearance
• Facilitate translocation for isolated populations
Indiana Bat
• Landowner incentives to maintain snags
• Increased investment in fungal disease research
• Increased hibernacula protection measures
Moose
• Improve connectivity across altitudinal gradients - over-underpass
• Reduce deer population for disease management
Karner Blue butterfly
• Continue/expand prescribed fire for habitat restoration
• Protect/manage islands around core habitat to facilitate metapopulation dynamics

Freshwater Systems: Habitats
Cold water habitats
• Acquire intact “in fee” lands along shores and stream banks
• Stream management programs for local communities
Emergent marsh
• Amend state wetland maps to include > wetlands – utilize previous wetland map expansions
• Increase staff to implement current program objectives
Shrub swamp
• Remove obsolete impoundments to restore natural hydrology
• Increase capacity-funding for existing water protection program implementation
Stratified lakes
• Improve sewage facilities for lakeshore residents – stormwater
• Expand watershed management focus for nonpoint discharges

Freshwater Systems: Species
Dwarf Wedge Mussel
• Decrease in-stream disturbance
• Increase aquatic connectivity - dam removal
• Improve water quality
Bog Turtle
• Control sediment runoff
• Acquisition of habitat for key populations
• Develop captive breeding program
Lake Sturgeon
• Reduce length of harvest season
• Minimize water withdrawal impacts - entrainment
Hellbender
• Unblock migration routes – aquatic connectivity
• Population re-establishment in climate-appropriate habitats

Thank You
Lake Champlain, VT
Chris Hilke
National Wildlife Federation hilkec@nwf.org