The impact of sea-level rise on saltmarsh condition and resiliency: Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Cod National Seashore, Fire Island National Seashore, and Gateway National Recreation Area
Morris JT and Renken KA. 2019. The impact of sea-level rise on saltmarsh condition and resiliency: Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Cod National Seashore, Fire Island National Seashore, and Gateway National Recreation Area. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCBN/NRR—2019/1974. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes the results of simulations using the Spatial Marsh Equilibrium Model (MEM) to predict the evolution of saltmarshes in response to future sea-level rise (SLR) in four areas within the US National Park’s Northeastern Coastal and Barrier Network. These four parks, Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO), Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS), and Gateway National Recreation Area (GATE), protect approximately 53,060 combined hectares (131,114 acres) of coastal habitat. During Hurricane Sandy, the tidal wetlands of these four parks provided substantial protection to the high-density population centers of Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York by reducing the impact of the hurricane’s storm surge. These areas are thus critical features of our eastern seaboard that may be threatened by SLR.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Morris, James; Renken, Katherine
- Date of Issue
- 2019-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ASIS , CACO , FIIS , GATE , NRSS
- Keywords
- 2265896, and Gateway National Recreation Area, ASIS, Assateague Island National Seashore, CACO, Cape Cod National Seashore, coastal habitat, FIIS, Fire Island National Seashore, GATE, Hurricane Sandy, MEM, NCBN, Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, salt marsh, sea-level rise, SLR, Spatial Marsh Equilibrium Model