|
|
|
|
|
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
"For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive,
he must protect it." — Jacques-Yves Cousteau
he must protect it." — Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Frank Dietz, Comal County resident,
CCCA Board Member, &
Herald Zeitung monthly columnist
Offering a HAND and HELPFUL Lift
September 5, 2021
|
Karen and I spent a string of summers directing junior and mid high camps. The themes and adventures were about developing community and a growing discovery of the world(s) around us. Each week began with fun experiences of group building and creation of bonds in “family groups.” One of the early first afternoon exercises was a tool to solidify the young teens’ relationships for the week. The group of six to eight came close for a circle, surrounding the young adult leader/counsellor. Each group member was invited to reach in with one arm so that together the group would lift their leader from an outstretched position. For the newcomers it was a “wow” to note how easily the lifting took place when each person did their part. It was not surprising to hear references to the iconic experience as the week’s adventures unfurled.
Hold that image of mutuality as we look toward an opportunity that comes our way in this month of September. Even with all that swirls about in our community impacting education, work space, and other endeavors, a big picture effort to be helpful together comes our way. From 12:01 AM until 11:59 PM on 23 September, THE BIG GIVE is coming as an opportunity to share with others. There will be an array of “asking” by well deserving efforts near and far. One asking is to reach beyond the immediate in order to support Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA) and its COMAL LAND CONSERVATION FUND. In so doing your grandchildren and others who reap the benefits of this generosity will thank you! Yes, on 23 September through the BIG GIVE you will have an opportunity to reach your hand in so as to join others in strengthening cooperative efforts at conservation aimed to assist in “keeping Comal wild.” The protection of some green areas for the long journey of our beloved community will be the object of such gifts and efforts. |
We all can observe and experience the rapid rate of our community’s growth and the demand for commercial and home development. Considerable regional and even national attention have brought dramatic focus to our whirlwind pace of change! Thus, for those seeking to protect and set aside some remaining parcels of “wild” or agricultural legacy lands, the time is NOW, not later! The previously noted Comal Land Conservation Fund of CCCA is an attempt to assist with even a few of the expenses heritage land families face when seeking to donate land value and future use to protected acreage. Such expenses include updated titles, appraisals, surveys, legal services and so much more. The efforts of CCCA are aimed to lend a hand and seek generous funding sources to help this happen where needed. One such regional partnership will be highlighted in a zoom CCCA community program 14 September. It should enhance an exploration of “Nature-based Solutions” to our development engine. Check out the informative handy website at www.comalconservation.org. You’ll find there helpful discussions on numerous subjects, including the beneficial results of investment in open space.
The prolific writer about earthly benefits for us all, Wendell Berry once said: “In a country once forested…. the young woodland remembers …a dreamer dreaming. The soil under the grass is dreaming of a young forest, and under the pavement the soil is dreaming of grass!” Perhaps his images and thoughts give us a framework for extending a hand to assist with a helpful lift! Can we look for you in among the givers on 24 September? Thanks to many in advance. |
Texas Land Trust Council: Valuing Economic Benefits of Texas Conservation Lands
January 2019
| tltc_ecosystemservicevaluation_report_wappendix_2019_03_01_final.pdf |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
|
This study quantifies the value of lands and conservation easements that have been conserved by or with assistance from the Texas land trust community. Economic values for benefits provided by these conserved lands were calculated using an ecosystem services approach. Specifically, the study assessed the more than 1.6 million acres of open space lands that have been compiled into a statewide conserved lands database by Texas Land Trust Council members and partners as of January 1, 2018. Lands were assessed in terms of the services and subsequent taxpayer savings they provide for water quality, water quantity, flood prevention, and rural economies (via agricultural production and wildlife leases).
To determine the benefits provided and their larger impact, this study examined past and current research and data related to economic benefits achieved through conservation. The study found that the lands put into conservation with the help of Texas land trusts are estimated to provide more than $1 billion in benefits to Texas taxpayers each year. Of this, 47% is attributed to flood prevention and damage reduction, 16% can be attributed to supporting rural economies, and 37% can be attributed to benefits for water quality and quantity. Over the next 30 years, the protection of these services would result in $30.9 billion in taxpayer savings at today’s current rates. It is important to note while the calculations in this report begin to articulate some of the economic values that these lands provide to the state, it is not a comprehensive estimation of the values they contribute. For instance, aesthetic appeal and enhancement of surrounding property values, endangered species habitat, and fish habitat protection where not considered, among many other variables. The study focused on issues that are critically important to Texans and represent where land conservation can have a positive impact on issues effecting water supply, flood mitigation, and food production. The findings represent a great step forward toward recognizing the substantial value that conservation lands bring to the Texas economy. |
|
CCCA Brochure: "Benefits of Investing in Open Space"
2020
| final_-_benefits_brochure.pdf |
|
|
|
|
Cypress trees along the Frio River at Garner State Park. Trees can act as natural infrastructure to provide shoreline protection.
Getty Images
Nature Can Reduce Costs, Extend Life of Infrastructure Projects:
A new study by a Texas A&M AgriLife research scientist makes the case for natural infrastructure.
By Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Communications
November 2, 2021
November 2, 2021
|
A newly published article could prompt discussion around adoption of construction designs and methods that utilize nature to cut costs, extend project lifecycles and improve ecological synergy, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.
The lead author is Rusty Feagin, AgriLife Research professor and ecologist in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Department of Ocean Engineering in the College of Engineering, both at Texas A&M University. In addition to Feagin, 23 U.S. and European professionals in various fields including engineering, public policy, construction and biology contributed to the publication. Feagin said the paper aims to initiate conversations about sustainable infrastructure and the need for incorporating natural elements into projects. Publication of the commentary piece in One Earth is timely, as U.S. Congressional members continue to haggle over pieces of a proposed infrastructure bill, Feagin said. Natural elements go by many names, including “nature-based solutions,” “nature-based features” or “natural infrastructure.” But regardless of the names used, everyone involved in national infrastructure construction needs to shift their mindset toward these ideas, he said. Incorporating nature-based features, Feagin said, can reduce project costs and make infrastructure more resilient in dynamic natural settings, helping the structures last longer than traditional constructions. “People tend to think of roads and bridges when we say ‘infrastructure,’ but infrastructure is really anything that represents the foundation we build society on, including our waterways, coastlines and ports,” he said. “Transitioning from concrete and steel to natural elements is not ideal for every project, but we need to begin looking at ways to implement these methods, especially where natural change is dynamic and projects need to be more flexible within the changing environment.” OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD Natural infrastructure is especially applicable in areas where climate change is impacting weather variability, such as coastlines where storm surges can occur and riverbanks where heavy rains can cause flooding. For example, rather than managing floodwaters with walls of concrete and steel, which can degrade over time, incorporating natural infrastructure might mean utilizing natural levees and landscape features to steer water via ecosystems like wetlands and retaining ponds. Natural infrastructure implemented correctly also improves with time, Feagin said. Feagin said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas Department of Transportation are already incorporating natural elements within projects. European countries such as the Netherlands are also adopting in increasing number of natural methodologies in construction. For a specific example, Feagin said, the proposed $26 billion “Ike Dike” in the Houston-Galveston area designed to reduce the impact of flood events due to hurricanes and torrential rains is an example of a project that could benefit from natural infrastructure elements. “The goal for any project would be to take advantage of natural processes, such as water movement to deposit sediment, or the spread of trees and native vegetation to help capture that sediment and build natural levees, sand dunes, and water detention basins,” he said. “By working with nature, you can minimize effort and cost and realize maximum efficiency in the overall system.” |
Texas A&M AgriLife volunteers plant vegetation in a five-acre stormwater wetland at the Houston Botanic Gardens designed to curb flooding and filter pollution. Texas A&M AgriLife
CHALLENGES TO ADOPTION
A shortage of existing expertise and time needed to train the next generation of engineers are constraints to natural infrastructure application in building projects, Feagin said. Traditional engineering follows established technical planning criteria, whereas natural infrastructure requires technical expertise from professionals outside the field, such as ecologists. This disconnect in expertise is being bridged by project managers and planners who view natural infrastructure as a way to save money and extend a project’s life. But Feagin said building those collaborations takes time and effort. “Natural infrastructure is being used, but it’s happening because project managers and collaborators see the cost savings or they see an opportunity to add value to the project,” he said. “It could be something as simple as making a space that delivers the infrastructure benefit for the project, but also makes it good for activities like bird watching or hunting.” Another constraint is bureaucracy that regulates and approves project plans, Feagin said. Construction codes and requirements are attuned to traditional construction methods and adding natural infrastructure can lengthen approval processes. But Feagin said the constraints create an exciting opportunity to train the next generation of engineers and construction professionals. “The transition will require cross-training and educating people about these new methods and concepts,” he said. “That takes generational change. It would help if policy makers were emphasizing the benefits of natural infrastructure and providing incentives that spur on change.” INCENTIVIZING ADOPTION OF NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE Feagin said there is an opportunity to ride the wave of increased public interest in reducing the carbon footprint of projects during and after construction. The broad acceptance of the burgeoning construction concepts can be accelerated by incentivizing their use through an executive order in a way that would expedite implementation in publicly funded projects, Feagin said. Offering a discounted or incentivized rate would mean project planning would take a longer-term view of infrastructure projects, Feagin said, and taxpayers would get more value from their investment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers already operates at the lower rate, which is why they are one of the leading users of natural infrastructure in projects. “That would be an easy lever to pull, and decision-makers would start selecting projects that provide longer-term lifecycles,” he said. “It’s a small incentive to change, but it could pay huge dividends when it comes to adopting these concepts and speeding up the transition toward increased use of natural infrastructure within future construction.” |
Funding Nature-Based Infrastructure in Texas
Nature-based infrastructure could protect our communities from water pollution, drought, and flooding. But funding opportunities are limited. The "sponsored project program" could provide the funding we need.
December 3, 2020
|
Over and over again in Texas we hear news of basements flooded, river-banks erroded away, and toxic algea blooms. The news is hard - and the reality is too: our waterways in Texas are in danger. Everyday, as our stormwater is captured and funneled into concrete channels, ditches, and dam systems, we loose out on the benefits that nature-based stormwater infrastructure can bring. When water has a chance to slow down and soak into the soil, floodwaters slow, rivers stay withen their banks, and toxic pollutants are filtered by our plants instead of collecting in our rivers and creeks.
Unfortunatly for our communitites, engineers interested in using nature-based infrastructure face a significant hurdle: lack of funding. Texas's Clean Water State Revolving Fund is supposed to fund green nature-based projects through its “green project reserve,” but the overwhelming majority of those green projects are water and electricity efficiency projects rather than nature-based ones. Iowa has taken steps to fix that. Iowa's “sponsored project program” allows communities to apply for a second nature-based project along with traditional clean water loan |
Environment Texas hosted a webinar on this program, which has already financed over 100 projects in communities across Iowa, and are excited about the opportunity to bring it here to Texas.
Learn more about what makes nature-based infrastructure so cool by watching a recording of our webinar. There is a discussion followed by a Q&A with our panelists:
|
TEXAS
Texas Water Program
Securing Texas' Water Future
November 5, 2020
November 5, 2020
|
Water is the lifeblood of our state—and the key to healthy people, lands and wildlife. The Nature Conservancy in Texas has worked to protect and preserve the state’s freshwater ecosystems and water resources since our establishment in 1964. As Texas grows and prospers, securing our water future remains a critical priority for sustaining the health and resilience of our state.
In the coming years, a rapidly rising population and expanding urbanization will place undue stress on our water resources. Flow in nearly 75 percent of Texas rivers and water levels in all our major aquifers is declining. |
According to our State Water Plan, if no action is taken, we’ll be facing a statewide water shortage equivalent to an estimated $151 billion in annual economic losses by 2070.
Moreover, with 60 percent of our state water consumption currently supporting Texas’ leading farming, ranching and agricultural industries, only 40 percent remains to produce energy, service our growing cities and sustain the environment’s natural balance. At the same time, more frequent and severe drought periods and catastrophic flooding add even more uncertainty to the future of Texas’ water resources. |
SUSTAINABLE RIVERS PROGRAM: CADDO LAKE TNC has been involved in efforts to conserve Caddo Lake since the 1990s. Now, we're rethinking dam operations in the Big Cypress Bayou region to help restore river flows.
|
CONSERVING HEALTHY LAND AND WATERS
As a landowner in Texas, we understand how to be good stewards of our natural landscapes. Since 1964, TNC Texas has protected nearly 200 river miles through land conservation efforts. Our efforts benefit nearly a dozen different waterways around the state, including the Devils, Blanco, Trinity, Brazos, Frio, Nueces, Sabinal, Llano, San Saba and Pedernales rivers; Barton, Independence and Love creeks and Caddo Lake. Over the past 30 years, the Conservancy has established projects on nearly every major river in Texas and five major springs. In addition, our network of 37 Texas nature preserves, representing 100,000 acres, serves as a field lab for developing best practices for water management and land protection alongside partners, landowners, conservation organizations, businesses and government agencies across the state. Safeguarding and stewarding the natural landscapes that support and safeguard our aquifers and rivers can help ensure that water continues to flow for the benefit of all—now and well into the future. TEXAS WATER FAST FACTS
MANAGING WATER FOR THE FUTURE As we face a changing water landscape, TNC is working to promote informed and sustainable water management by: |
|
Freshwater mussel surveys conducted by our staff and interns give us an indicator of water quality in local creeks and streams. © Kenny Braun
|
Our scientists perform hydrological research at water sources around the state to better understand their behavior and function. © Kenny Braun
|
|
UTILIZING MARKET APPROACHES TO CONSERVE WATER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Maintaining Texas’ unique water resources and meeting the state’s future water demand isn’t possible if we continue to draw down finite water resources at the rate we are now—nor without addressing the impacts of climate change on the natural resources of our state. Innovative, market-based tools like environmental water transactions, water funds and incentive programs for sustainable agricultural practices create lasting conservation benefits in light of our growing water challenges:
|
|
Big Texas Cities Have Less Land to Absorb Floods
Land use, climate change making flood mitigation in Texas cities more difficult.
Kerry Halladay
February 19, 2021
February 19, 2021
Texas cities are expanding fast. Between 2010 and 2019, six of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. were in Texas. Bigger Texas cities mean less land to soak up rainwater, leading to increased flood risk. Add climate change to the equation and you have an even bigger flooding problem to solve.
Heavy rains from Hurricane Harvey caused many flooded areas in the greater Houston area.
|
Buildings, roads, sidewalks and other city elements are impervious: they can’t soak up water like soil can. Instead, water runs off the impervious surfaces, flowing into neighboring streams and low-lying areas. Having faster and higher amounts of runoff results in more flooding, said Wonmin Sohn, Ph.D. an assistant professor in Michigan State University’s School of Planning, Design and Construction.
Sohn recently published two studies about land-use changes and flooding in Texas cities. The Texas Water Resources Institute’s Mills Scholars Program funded one of the studies. “Wetlands and forests absorb water through their soils and vegetation and store those flood waters.” Sohn said. “The conversion to impervious surfaces limits the capacity of soils to hold water, reducing resilience to flooding.” LAND-USE CHANGES IN TEXAS CITIES Changes to land use affect flooding because they change the landscape’s hydrology, said Fouad Jaber, Ph.D., Texas A&M University associate professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. Jaber was a coauthor of one of Sohn’s recent studies. “There’s the normal, natural hydrology, and it varies based on location,” Jaber said. “If you’re in a desert with very sandy soils, the normal thing is never to see any runoff. Everything infiltrates. But for us to live, we change it, right? And whenever you change anything, you’re going to change hydrology, and changing hydrology can result in total ecological changes. Whatever changes the hydrology will result in worsening runoff and flooding.” That flooding can follow not only large, devastating rain events like Hurricane Harvey and the 2016 Tax Day Flood, but also smaller, more frequent storms. Sohn said capturing and storing floodwater from both frequent and infrequent storms are thus of utmost importance for offsetting the land-use conversion effects in a city. A CHANGING FLOOD EQUATION The problem, Jaber said, is that past flood preparations in Texas cities haven’t aged well. Flood mitigation is an equation, and the variables have changed over time. Stormwater systems are built based on how much flooding is expected to happen. The amount of flooding depends on how much water the soil can absorb, as well as the number and size of rain events. Jaber gave the example of a city with enough green space to absorb 2 inches of water. “Every time we get a 2-inch storm, which is like the storm that happens once a year, the majority of the water is absorbed,” he said. “Then when you get the 10-year storm, when you get 5 inches of water, 2 inches gets absorbed, and then 3 inches becomes runoff and overflows. So that’s what you design stormwater systems for — you’re designing for those 3 inches that are not going to be absorbed.” But as Texas cities expand and more impervious surfaces replace green spaces, less floodwater can be absorbed, changing the equation. “Any impervious design that happens after a stormwater network is already installed is changing what they designed that network for. And therefore, the network can be overwhelmed by smaller storms,” he said. NEW FLOODING CONSIDERATIONS TO CALCULATE Jaber and Sohn said the equations also didn’t account for flood-causing storms becoming more common as a result of climate change. “Climate change is ongoing. The frequency and intensity of the heavy flood events will increase. And increasing ocean temperature will fuel larger, higher categories of hurricanes from the Gulf of Mexico,” Sohn said. |
In one of her recent studies, Sohn stated that “the capacity of the environment to recover from urbanization has become even more limited as a result of climate change.” Jaber agrees.
“Even if no change happened in the land use, but we’re getting more rain, the basic calculation is wrong,” Jaber said. “What we have is a combination, really. We have old stormwater infrastructure that’s very expensive to replace, and we have change in land use, which is resulting in higher flows from the current storms, and we are expecting maybe a 50% increase in some storms by 2045.” ADDING UP THE FLOODING SOLUTIONS One way to adjust the equation is through structural change, Jaber said. Green infrastructure, which mimics natural processes, can soak up more water. Larger-scale changes such as restoring wetlands, creating large retention basins and revamping stormwater systems can also store and redirect water. “I strongly recommend that cities not only increase pipe sizes and create fancy stormwater networks, but also add as much green space and green infrastructure, meaning rain gardens, bioretention and rainwater harvesting, as possible, because the combination is good,” Jaber said. “Then you can design for the climate changes 100 years from now, and that’s what increases your resiliency.” Sohn and Jaber both noted structural solutions alone won’t be enough. “To achieve long-term resilience, nonstructural approaches should supplement these structural approaches,” Sohn said. “Nonstructural measures depend on policy intervention.” Nonstructural measures like zoning regulations can help ensure fewer houses are built in flood plains, while tax breaks can help incentivize rainwater harvesting. Expanding flood education and outreach can also help mitigate risks. MULTIPLE-CHOICE ANSWERS FOR TEXAS CITIES Sohn and Jaber said any solutions should work on multiple scales — in terms of size, time and cost. Jaber laid out one way for Texas cities to ramp up flood solutions, starting with more affordable green infrastructure solutions. “If you don’t have a lot of money, put in one rain garden, and next year in the budget, put another one in, and another,” Jaber said. “There’s going to be a limit, eventually. Every corner where we could put a rain garden, we did. Every house put in a 1,000-gallon rainwater harvesting tank. And we captured 3 inches of water. “Then climate change says it’s 5 inches, so you have these 2 inches that are going to be still flooding. That’s when you can do a capital project and change your stormwater network. But you only have to account for those additional 2 inches. And you hope that, in the parallel the whole world is working on, fixing climate change.” PROBLEM-SOLVING EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN TEXAS Multi-scale solutions are in progress in cities across Texas. In Austin, residents can get a rebate for doing rainwater harvesting, which helps minimize runoff. Thanks to green infrastructure, Houston’s Bagby Street has weathered several major floods — including Hurricane Harvey — without flooding. The success of green infrastructure in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood is inspiring new citywide flood mitigation projects. Jaber and Sohn hope that land development projects continue incorporating more multiscale flood solutions as urbanization and climate change aren’t going away anytime soon. “Going forward, people need to think about land-use conversion. If you have land that you’re building a house on, there are ways to make it such that it’s a low-impact development,” Jaber said. “There’s no excuse for that not being the norm going forward. Because why create more problems when the solutions are there?” |
The original story written by Chantal Cough-Schulze appeared in the February 2021 Conservation Matters newsletter, a joint project by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and the Texas Water Resources Institute.
TEXAS
Benefits of Healthy Floodplains
September 8, 2018
|
Healthy floodplains provide a myriad of benefits for people and nature, from flood protection to safeguarding water quality and great wildlife habitat.
To help ensure the lasting resiliency of floodplains, The Nature Conservancy's Floodplains by Design is a science-based guide for TNC and other conservation partners. The more we keep floodplains healthy, the more we protect their myriad of benefits. FLOODPLAINS BY DESIGN: BENEFITS Flood Protection: Floodplains provide a river more room as it rises, thereby reducing pressure on manmade flood protection structures, like levees and dams. Improved Water Quality: When inundated with water, floodplains act as natural filters, removing excess sediment and nutrients, which can degrade water quality and increase treatment costs. Degradation of water quality due to the loss of floodplain habitat can be noted along smaller rivers and at-scale at large river basins. At the largest of scales are hypoxic or “Dead” zones, which are areas in bays or gulfs where little life exists due to excess nutrients carried by rivers. Recharged Aquifers: Outside of a river’s main channel, water flow is slowed and has more time to seep into the ground where it can replenish underground water sources (or aquifers), which serve as a primary source of water for many communities and which are critical for irrigation that grows much of the world’s crops. Improved Wildlife Habitat: Floodplains are home to some of the most biologically rich habitats on Earth. They provide spawning grounds for fish and critical areas of rest and foraging for migrating waterfowl and birds. Recreational Industries: Many outdoor recreational activities – like fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, wildlife watching and boating – are made possible by or greatly enhanced by the natural processes of rivers and healthy |
floodplains. Combined, these recreational activities account for billions of dollars in economic activity in the United States and are important sources of income for most nations around the globe.
Sustainable Agriculture: Floodplains by Design helps to keep agriculture operations out of the most flood-prone areas, provides natural buffers to streams from farm and ranch operations, and targets restoration activities at the most ecologically valuable places. It also focuses on keeping agriculture in large areas of the floodplain and helps ensure that such areas are not lost to development. This approach encourages some agriculture areas to be targeted for more flood tolerant crops, such as switchgrass for use in biofuels. These areas could occasionally serve as important flood storage and conveyance areas during the largest storm events to minimize loss of life and property in more developed areas. Offering appropriate economic incentives and compensation to the landowners for these uses will be critical to the success of such approaches. Reduced Flood Insurance and Disaster Recovery Costs: Implementing Floodplains by Design reduces the public and private costs to subsidize flood insurance and reduce post-disaster damages. The United States annually spends an average of $3.1 billion on flood insurance premiums each year and $4 billion in crop insurance subsidies. Identifying and protecting or restoring regularly inundated areas posing the highest flood risk can reduce the consequences of flooding – loss of life, structures and crops – and reduce repetitive economic losses to society. Protecting areas of natural flood storage and conveyance also reduces costs associated with maintaining levees, floodwalls and other infrastructure. Forestry Management and Carbon Sequestration: Floodplains by Design aims to protect and restore some of the highest value floodplain forests, including the bottomland hardwood forests of low-lying areas. These areas have high value for biodiversity and are important areas for carbon sequestration – whether in restoring previously harvested areas or protecting existing forest stocks. |
How Nature Can Help Reduce Flood Risks
Conservation is an economical way to avoid costly flood damages. In some areas the benefits are 5x the cost.
January 28, 2020
|
2019 was officially the wettest year on record in the United States. Fueled by a changing climate and warmer weather, many U.S. citizens suffered from costly and historic flooding disasters. In the spring, flooding on the Missouri River and in North Central states caused $10.8 billion in damages. Then, as floodwaters flowed downstream and heavy rains continued into the summer, flooding in the Midwest and along the Mississippi River caused an additional $6.2 billion in damages. And, combined, Hurricane Dorian and Tropical Storm Imelda resulted in some $6.6 billion in damages in 2019, most of which was caused by flooding.
|
But 2017 wasn’t any better, when 16 separate billion-dollar weather events in the U.S. caused cumulative damages of $306.2 billion, breaking the previous record of $214.8 billion in 2005. Unfortunately, flood damages along rivers are worsening, as many of the nation’s most costly floods have occurred over the past 10 years, according to Floodlist.com. Not surprisingly, the taxpayer-supported National Flood Insurance Program is now more than $20 billion in debt.
|
“It’s time to rethink the way we plan and prepare for flooding,” says Anna Brown director of The Nature Conservancy’s Climate Adaptation Strategy. “Too often the role that nature can play in reducing flood risks is overlooked or undervalued. Nature-based solutions—such as reconnecting floodplains to give rivers more room during floods or restoring reefs, marshes or dunes that can protect coastal communities during storms—can also help improve water quality, provide prime wildlife habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, and produce related economic and social benefits.”
Anna Brown
Director of TNC's North American Climate Adaptation Strategy
Anna Brown
Director of TNC's North American Climate Adaptation Strategy
|
A CONSERVATION AND FLOOD PREVENTION WIN-WIN
In January 2009, Washington was drenched by a storm that also melted the winter snowpack, causing rivers west of the Cascades to flood. In and near the town of Orting, 26,000 residents were ordered to evacuate before the Puyallup River topped its levees. Orting’s levee system, which constricted the river into a straightened channel, had been battered by floods since the 1990s, and the county could not repair the levees as quickly as they were being damaged. |
After the 2009 flood, a partnership between TNC and the State of Washington made drastic changes in the basin. “We got the flood control folks, who historically relied on grey, engineered infrastructure, together with the conservation folks, who relied on protecting and restoring green infrastructure, to work together to build sustainable hybrid solutions,” says Bob Carey, director of the Conservancy’s Floodplains by Design program.
|
An aerial view of the flooded areas along the Atchafalaya River outside of Baton Rouge, LA. © 2011 David Y. Lee
|
The partnership helped residents move out of harm’s way by buying properties that were inside the floodplain. New levees were rebuilt farther back than the old ones, on average tripling the width of the floodplain. The results were impressive. In 2014 the river flowed at almost the same rate as the devastating 2009 flood, but the town stayed dry. In addition to improving flood protection, the project restored natural habitat that promotes salmon recovery and helps generate tourism revenue.
Other examples where TNC has worked with partners to demonstrate the benefits of giving rivers more room include the Mollicy Farms Unit of the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana and TNC’s Emiquon Preserve in Illinois. THE VALUE OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTION ALONG OUR RIVERS Scientific research has shown that a one-acre wetland can hold about three acre-feet of water (or 1 million gallons) during flood events, which is then released after the rains subside. A new study by TNC and partners answers an important question: “What would cost American taxpayers more? |
Paying now to protect undeveloped areas that are likely to flood in the coming decades? Or, allowing development to proceed based on current projections and paying for subsequent flood damages when they inevitably occur?”
The answer? The study, published in Nature Sustainability, identified an area roughly the size of Colorado in “100-year” floodplains where conservation would be an economically sound way to avoid future flood damages. And for just over 21,000 square miles of this area, the benefits are at least five times the cost, meaning that a dollar invested in floodplain protection today returns least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages in the future. RESTORING OUR COASTS
|
HOW ONE COMMUNITY SURVIVED SUPERSTORM SANDY (3:20)
|
When Superstorm Sandy struck in 2012, many areas in New York and New Jersey experienced extensive damage. However, beach replenishment and dune and wetland restoration at TNC's South Cape May Meadows Preserve in N.J. helped protect homes from storm surges and flooding.
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS STAND STRONG AGAINST SUPERSTORM SANDY When Hurricane Sandy hit the Atlantic Coast in 2012, it inflicted nearly $70 billion in damage, making it was the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history until surpassed by Hurricanes Harvey and Maria in 2017. Sandy hit New Jersey particularly hard. “The area around Cape May in particular fared very well,” says Adrianna Zito-Livingston, TNC’s coastal projects coordinator in New Jersey. “We contribute that to TNC’s restoration work here.” After decades of deterioration, TNC restored in 2007 the South Cape May Meadows Preserve, which sits between the ocean and dozens of homes. “There had been a lot of dune restoration and beach re-nourishment,” Zito-Livingston says. “So the beach was wide enough, the dunes tall enough, and |
the freshwater wetlands held enough water that we didn’t see a lot of coastal flooding, and we didn’t see any dunes wash over.”
Today the restored preserve serves as a model for the protective role of nature, while providing year-round wildlife, economic and social benefits. THE VALUE OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS ALONG OUR COASTS Recent research has shown that:
|
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge © US Fish & Wildlife Service
|
THE PATH TO A BETTER FUTURE
Recommendations for Nature-Based Solutions. To harness the power of nature and help communities overcome the growing threats of floods, we should: — Invest in nature-based solutions. When planning for flood protection, nature-based solutions should be considered when new or rebuilt manmade infrastructure is also considered. Disaster relief funds provide prime investment opportunities for nature-based solutions. — Improve and update manmade infrastructure along our rivers and coasts. In its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation’s dams and levees a “D” rating. With the right investments, we can use modern science to improve infrastructure in ways that work with nature, not against it. — Increase awareness. We must do a better job of increasing flood risk awareness through:
|
— Modernize policies. We should seek policies that provide incentives for communities to reduce flood risk and guide development away from risky areas.
|
Water Resources & BMPS: Forest & Water Relationship
|
In addition to supplying the cleanest water of any land use, Texas forests also absorb rainfall, refill groundwater aquifers, slow and filter stormwater runoff, mitigate erosion, reduce flooding, and maintain watershed stability and resilience. Collectively, this process is known as the forest-water relationship, or watershed ecosystem services, and is valued at $13.2 billion annually.
What is a watershed, and how does it work? Forests and Water - Helping to Meet the South's Water Needs Today and Tomorrow. Tour through our interactive Story Map to learn more about the role of forests in conserving water resources and sustaining them in the future. |
Texas forests, and the products and services they provide, are constantly at risk. The state’s population is expected to nearly double over the next 50 years, resulting in an overall increase in water demand. This tremendous growth will generally occur at the expense of forests and woodlands, resources that are already under stress from the effects of weather, wildfire, and insect and disease, further impacting water quality and supply.
Effective partnerships are vital to maintain healthy and sustainable forests, clean water, and the numerous benefits these lands provide. The Texas Forests and Drinking Water Partnership is a collaborative effort of the forest and water sector to increase understanding and communication of the importance of forests to drinking water and watershed protection. |
URBAN FORESTS
Trees and forests within urban and community areas of the state serve numerous functions, including mitigating flooding potential, managing stormwater runoff, and protecting water quality. TFS is working with municipalities to demonstrate how trees can be incorporated into green infrastructure and low impact development plans.
Trees and forests within urban and community areas of the state serve numerous functions, including mitigating flooding potential, managing stormwater runoff, and protecting water quality. TFS is working with municipalities to demonstrate how trees can be incorporated into green infrastructure and low impact development plans.
|
| ||||
RURAL FORESTS
Private land stewardship, through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), is one of the principle means of protecting water resources. BMPs are conservation practices designed to protect soil and water resources. Treating and protecting water at its origin, and not just at its destination, is an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable way to provide water for Texas.
Texas A&M Forest Service actively works with natural resource professionals, landowners, and contractors across the state to implement BMPs and practice land stewardship.
Private land stewardship, through the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), is one of the principle means of protecting water resources. BMPs are conservation practices designed to protect soil and water resources. Treating and protecting water at its origin, and not just at its destination, is an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable way to provide water for Texas.
Texas A&M Forest Service actively works with natural resource professionals, landowners, and contractors across the state to implement BMPs and practice land stewardship.
EnviroAtlas Benefit Category: Clean and Plentiful Water
ECOSYSTEMS PROVIDE WATER RESOURCES
|
|
This eco-wheel image shows the natural resources providing clean and plentiful water, the benefits, and drivers of change.
STRESSORS TO WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY
|
|
HEALTH IMPACTS AND BENEFITS
|
|
For more information on the health benefits of clean and plentiful water, explore the Clean Water portion of the Eco-Health Relationship Browser.
REFERENCES
- US Army Corps of Engineers. 2008. Water Supply: Value to the Nation. Accessed February 2013.
- Environmental Protection Agency. 2005. Agricultural Nonpoint Source Fact Sheet. Accessed February 2013.
- International Rivers. Environmental Impacts of Dams. Accessed February 2013.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. New York City Water Supply. Accessed July 2020.
Urban Water Blueprint
| urban_water_blueprint_full_report.pdf |
2014
|
This report outlines the case for source water conservation as follows.
Chapter 1 presents findings from mapping the water sources of 534 large and medium cities and examines trends in water quality and quantity across the 100 largest cities in theCities may achieve better water security at a lower cost by investing in their watersheds. Most utility managers are well aware of the relationship between their ability to provide water services and the health of the watershed they depend on. Yet widespread use of watershed conservation is rare in the water sector. All too often, water utilities and downstream water users are forced to accept the water resource in whatever state it is in. The quantity and quality of drinking water depends on land. While a healthy ecosystem purifies and regulates flood waters for release later, a degraded landscape introduces impurities and intensifies floods and droughts. Water managers understand this relationship between land use and water quantity and quality. For the most part, however, neither cities nor the water utilities that serve them exert much control over the land where their water comes from. Instead, most cities rely primarily on engineered solutions to secure drinking water supply. Whether through building filtration plants, pumping deeper wells, desalinating seawater, constructing dams or transferring huge volumes of water vast distances, cities overcome water scarcity through brute force, spending US $90 billion a year in capital expenditures. Water managers trust these engineered solutions, but they perform within narrow margins. This makes engineered solutions especially vulnerable to variability in the quantity and quality of source water due to land degradation, upstream competition for water, and climate change. The high cost of engineered solutions also puts such solutions out of reach for many cities. Protecting water at its source can be cheaper and more efficient than treating it after it has already been polluted. Research has shown, for example, that increased forest cover can lead to lower operating and management costs for water treatment plants. New York City famously found that watershed protection can also help avoid capital costs. New York’s more than US $1.5 billion investment in its watershed is sizable, but the value to the city extends far beyond avoided treatment costs and regulatory compliance. of meeting adequate compliance. Also, jurisdiction may limit utility spending to within the metropolitan area. But while these challenges vary widely across cities and countries, one obstacle is encountered globally: the value of source water protection remains vague and hence utility managers do not trust it. URBAN WATER BLUEPRINT This report helps fill the knowledge gap by establishing how much watershed conservation can help utilities and where the opportunities for watershed conservation are greatest. This report does not attempt to assess related values (co-benefits) of watershed conservation, such as recreation, economic development, and biodiversity. It is worth noting that such additional benefits are likely to be of equal or greater value to cities in some cases. |
Chapter 1 presents findings from mapping the water sources of 534 large and medium cities and examines trends in water quality and quantity across the 100 largest cities in the world. Among other things, the analysis reveals how much land and what kind of land cover is influencing urban water sources.
Chapter 2 offers a re-evaluation of where water quantity and quality risk is concentrated across the world’s largest cities. Specifically, for water quantity the analysis accounts for the steps cities have already taken to overcome stress, including interbasin transfers. For water quality, the analysis looks specifically at two important parameters—sediment and nutrient concentration—that affect the cost and complexity of treatment works. Conserving the natural landscapes around water sources creates value to cities beyond drinking water. Natural landscapes provide recreational benefits to residents and visiting tourists alike. Investing in watersheds also creates jobs and can provide important economic benefits to surrounding rural communities. In addition, conserving natural landscapes is the surest path to protecting and restoring healthy ecosystems. Why then are investments in watershed protection so rare? Some institutional obstacles are apparent. Water regulators often do not recognize source water protection as one way of meeting adequate compliance. Also, jurisdictions may limit utility spending to within the metropolitan area. But while these challenges vary widely across cities and countries, one obstacle is encountered globally: The value of source water protection remains vague and hence utility managers do not trust it. Chapter 3 highlights real-world examples of city and water managers who have succeeded in making conservation investments to secure water. It evaluates the global potential of five conservation activities:
Chapter 4 presents a global comparison of these five conservation strategies, including their costs and benefits. When taken separately, each strategy represents a different market potential. Likewise, some strategies offer more favorable return on investment to cities. Finally, Chapter 5 outlines recommendations for cities, water utilities, and partners interested in realizing the market potential described in this report. It also lays out some elements of a scale-up recipe that includes suggestions for how to develop a reliable track record of delivery, monetize the value of watershed conservation, and stimulate demand. |
REFERENCES
- White, S., et al., Water markets of the United States and the world: A strategic analysis for the Milwaukee Water Council. 2010, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Ernst, C., R. Gullick, and K. Nixon, Protecting the source: conserving forests to protect water. American Water Works Association Journal, 2004. 30(5): p. 3-7.
- Alcott, E., M. Ashton, and B. Gentry, Natural and Engineered Solutions for Drinking Water Supplies: Lessons from the Northeastern United States and Directions for Global Watershed Management. 2013, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
- Rodricks, S., Working for water programme in South Africa, in TEEBCase. 2010, The Economics of Ecosytems & Biodiversity (TEEB): TEEBweb.org.
- City of Austin. Watershed protection department: Barton Springs environment. 2014 [cited 2014 1 October]; Available from: https://austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs.
Biodiversity & Human Well-being
Biodiversity contributes to many aspects of human well-being, for instance by providing raw materials and contributing to health.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment shows that human actions often lead to irreversible losses in terms of diversity of life on Earth and these losses have been more rapid in the past 50 years than ever before in human history.
What factors are responsible for this rapid loss?
What would need to be done to significantly slow this trend?
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment shows that human actions often lead to irreversible losses in terms of diversity of life on Earth and these losses have been more rapid in the past 50 years than ever before in human history.
What factors are responsible for this rapid loss?
What would need to be done to significantly slow this trend?
|
BIODIVERSITY: WHAT IS IT, WHERE IS IT, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Biodiversity reflects the number, variety and variability of living organisms. It includes diversity within species, between species, and among ecosystems. The concept also covers how this diversity changes from one location to another and over time. Indicators such as the number of species in a given area can help in monitoring certain aspects of biodiversity. More... Biodiversity is everywhere, both on land and in water. It includes all organisms, from microscopic bacteria to more complex plants and animals. Current inventories of species, though useful, remain incomplete and insufficient for providing an accurate picture of the extent and distribution of all components of biodiversity. Based on present knowledge of how biodiversity changes over time, rough estimates can be made of the rates at which species become extinct. More... Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. Biodiversity plays an important role in the way ecosystems function and in the many services they provide. Services include nutrients and water cycling, soil formation and retention, resistance against invasive species, pollination of plants, regulation of climate, as well as pest and pollution control by ecosystems. For ecosystem services it matters which species are abundant as well as how many species are present. More... WHY IS BIODIVERSITY LOSS A CONCERN? Biodiversity provides many key benefits to humans that go beyond the mere provision of raw materials. More... Biodiversity loss has negative effects on several aspects of human well-being, such as food security, vulnerability to natural disasters, energy |
security, and access to clean water and raw materials. It also affects human health, social relations, and freedom of choice. More...
Society tends to have various competing goals, many of which depend on biodiversity. When humans modify an ecosystem to improve a service it provides, this generally also results in changes to other ecosystem services. For example, actions to increase food production can lead to reduced water availability for other uses. As a result of such trade-offs, many services have been degraded, for instance fisheries, water supply, and protection against natural hazards. In the long term, the value of services lost may greatly exceed the short-term economic benefits that are gained from transforming ecosystems. More... Unlike goods bought and sold in markets, many ecosystem services are not traded in markets for readily observable prices. This means that the importance of biodiversity and natural processes in providing benefits to humans is ignored by financial markets. New methods are being used to assign monetary values to benefits such as recreation or clean drinking water. Degradation of ecosystem services could be significantly slowed down or reversed if the full economic value of these services were taken into account in decision-making. More... Over the last century, some people have benefited from the conversion of natural ecosystems and an increase in international trade, but other people have suffered from the consequences of biodiversity losses and from restricted access to resources they depend upon. Changes in ecosystems are harming many of the world's poorest people, who are the least able to adjust to these changes. More... |
The Living Planet Index, compiled by the WWF, provides an indication of the declines in the overall abundance of wild species (see figure).
|
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TRENDS IN BIODIVERSITY?
Virtually all of Earth’s ecosystems have been dramatically transformed through human actions and ecosystems continue to be converted for agricultural and other uses. The current loss of biodiversity and the related changes in the environment are now faster than ever before in human history and there is no sign of this process slowing down. Many animal and plant populations have declined in numbers, geographical spread, or both. Species extinction is a natural part of Earth’s history. Human activity has increased the extinction rate by at least 100 times compared to the natural rate. |
Comparing different types of measurements of biodiversity loss is not simple. The rate of change in one aspect of biodiversity, such as loss of species richness, does not necessarily reflect the change in another, such as habitat loss. Moreover, some aspects of biodiversity loss are not easily measured, for instance the fact that the same species are increasingly found at different locations on the planet and that overall biodiversity is decreasing.
|
Extent of Cultivated Systems_2000. Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
|
WHAT FACTORS LEAD TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS?
Biodiversity is declining rapidly due to factors such as land use change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. Such natural or human-induced factors – referred to as drivers – tend to interact and amplify each other. More... While changes in biodiversity are more clearly linked to direct drivers such as habitat loss, they are also linked to indirect drivers that are at the root of many changes in ecosystems. The main indirect drivers are changes in human population, economic activity, and technology, as well as socio-political and cultural factors. More... Different direct drivers have been critically important in different ecosystems over the past 50 years. For example, in terrestrial ecosystems, the main driver has been land cover change such as the conversion of forest to agriculture. In marine systems, however, fishing, and particularly overfishing, have been the main drivers of biodiversity loss. More... Overall, the main factors directly driving biodiversity loss are: habitat change, such as fragmentation of forests; invasive alien species that establish and spread outside their normal distribution; overexploitation of |
natural resources; and pollution, particularly by excessive fertilizer use leading to excessive levels of nutrients in soil and water. More...
Recent changes in climate have already had significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems in certain regions. As climate change will become more severe, the harmful impacts on ecosystem services are expected to outweigh possible benefits, such as a longer growing season, in most regions of the world. Climate change is expected to exacerbate risks of extinctions, floods, droughts, population declines, and disease outbreaks. More... Many drivers affecting biodiversity are stronger today than they were in the past and are also occurring together. Because exposure to one threat often makes a species more susceptible to another, multiple threats may have unexpectedly dramatic impacts on biodiversity. Drivers of extinction range from local to global in scope and from immediate to long-term in their effects. For example, the extinction of species due to habitat loss can be rapid for some species, while it may take hundreds of years for others. More... |
Land-cover Map_ 2000. Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
|
HOW MIGHT BIODIVERSITY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE UNDER VARIOUS PLAUSIBLE SCENARIOS?
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment developed four plausible scenarios to explore the future of biodiversity and human well-being until 2050 and beyond. The different scenarios are based on either increased globalization or increased regionalization, and an either reactive or proactive way of addressing environmental issues. More... Overall, in all four scenarios, agricultural land will expand and forest cover will shrink, particularly in developing countries. This will lead to a continuing decline in local and global biodiversity, mainly as a result of habitat loss. More proactive approaches to the environment will be more successful in slowing these trends. More... Aquatic biodiversity and specific fish populations are expected to decline due to factors such as excessive levels of nutrients, overharvesting, invasion by alien species, and pollution. More... Human well-being will be affected by biodiversity loss both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include an increased risk of sudden environmental changes such as fisheries collapses, floods, droughts, wildfires, and disease. Changes will also affect human well-being indirectly, for instance in the form of conflicts due to scarcer food and water resources. Though the average income per person (GDP) is projected to rise in all scenarios, this can mask increased inequity for instance in terms of food security. Major decisions will have to address trade-offs between competing goals, for instance between agricultural production and water quality, or between water use and aquatic biodiversity. Policies that conserve more biodiversity are also promoting higher overall human well-being by preserving multiple benefits obtained from ecosystems. More... WHAT ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY? Protected areas are an essential part of conservation programs, but they are not sufficient by themselves to protect the full range of biodiversity and can be difficult to enforce. To be successful, sites for protected areas need to be carefully chosen, ensuring that all regional ecosystems are well represented, and the areas need to be well designed and effectively managed. More... Market tools, such as direct payments for ecosystem services or transfers of ownership rights to private individuals, can provide economic incentives to conserve biodiversity and to use ecosystem services sustainably. More... Prevention and early intervention have proven to be the most successful and cost-effective way of tacklinginvasive species. Once an invasive species has become established, its control and particularly its eradication through the use of chemicals or through the introduction of other species is not necessarily effective and is extremely difficult and costly. More... To be conserved, biodiversity must be integrated into the agriculture, fishery, and forestry sectors. These sectors are directly dependent on biodiversity and affect it directly. The private sector can make significant contributions, for example by adopting certain agricultural practices. Many companies now show greater corporate responsibility and are preparing their own biodiversity action plans. More... Strong institutions at all levels are essential to support biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of ecosystems. International |
agreements need to include enforcement measures and take into account impacts on biodiversity and possible synergies with other agreements. Most direct actions to halt or reduce biodiversity loss need to be taken at local or national level. Suitable laws and policies developed by central governments can enable local levels of government to provide incentives for sustainable resource management. More...
Informing all of society about the benefits of conserving biodiversity, and explicitly considering trade-offs between different options in an integrated way, helps maximize the benefits to society. Ecosystem restoration is generally far more expensive than protecting the original ecosystem, but is becoming increasingly important as more areas become degraded. More... Direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss must be addressed to better protect biodiversity and ecosystem services. Possible actions include eliminating harmful subsidies, promoting sustainableintensification of agriculture, adapting to climate change, limiting the increase in nutrient levels in soil and water, assessing the full economic value of ecosystem services, and increasing the transparency of decision making processes. More... CONCLUSION: MAIN FINDINGS Finding 1. Human actions are often contributing to irreversible losses in terms of diversity of life on Earth. Changes in biodiversity have been more rapid in the past 50 years than at any time in human history and are expected to continue at the same pace or even to accelerate. More... Finding 2. Biodiversity contributes directly or indirectly to many aspects of human well-being, for instance by providing raw materials and contributing to health. Over the past century, many people have benefited from the conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land and from the exploitation of biodiversity. However, these changes have increased poverty among some social groups. More... Finding 3. Although many individuals benefit from activities that lead to biodiversity loss and ecosystem change, the full costs borne by society often exceed the benefits. This is revealed by improved valuation techniques and growing knowledge about ecosystems. Even when the benefits and costs of ecosystem changes are not entirely known, a precautionary approach may be justified when costs could be high or changes irreversible. More... Finding 4. Factors such as habitat change, climate change, and a growing population and consumption will continue to cause losses in biodiversity and changes in ecosystem service at the present pace or even faster. More... Finding 5. Many of the actions that have been taken to conserve biodiversity and promote its sustainable use have been successful in limiting biodiversity loss. Overall the losses are now occurring more slowly than they would have in the absence of these actions taken by communities, NGOs, governments, as well as business and industry. To achieve greater progress towards biodiversity conservation, it will be necessary – but not sufficient – to strengthen a series of actions that focus primarily on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. More... Finding 6. Unprecedented additional efforts would be needed to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss at all levels by 2010. More... |
Biodiversity, Clean Water, and Your Health
|
In many ways, clean water, and the health of you and your family, depends on biodiversity – the variety of species in our local ecosystems. Native species are critical to the function of forests, wetlands, streams and aquifers – without them these systems would not be able to supply us with clean, healthy water, air, and land.
Living things provide valuable ecosystem services to us in the upper Raritan River region and beyond. They are critical in cycling water and nutrients like nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorous as they go about their jobs of capturing, storing and using energy for survival and reproduction. They also filter pollutants from our water. Not only our physical health but also our emotional health and sense of well being are associated with biodiversity. It is estimated that ecosystem services, providing clean air, soil, water, food, etc., total about $33 trillion a year. In particular, humans rely upon ecosystems such as forests and wetlands for their “products” including clean and abundant water supplies. This is in large part provided by the organisms in those ecosystems including microorganisms, fungi, plants and animals. Thus, if ecosystems are not functioning due to loss of native species, our drinking water supply is impacted. The diagram depicts various categories of ecosystem services, many of which are related to water and biodiversity (World Wildlife Fund). We are losing our native biodiversity at an alarming rate! Major threats to biodiversity include habitat loss or degradation, loss of connectivity, |
invasive species, lack of stream buffers, climate change, development, pollution including stormwater runoff, roads, poor logging practices, illegal collection/hunting of plants and animals, gaps in regulatory protection, and lack of monitoring data for many groups of organisms.
Because much of what we do on the land ends up in the water, freshwater ecosystems and the species they contain are some of the most imperiled in the world. Did you know we use the diversity of sensitive organisms in streams as indicators of clean, healthy water? Check our our award-winning stream monitoring program and learn how RHA and our corps of volunteer citizen scientists are keeping track of a stream near you. Raritan Headwaters has several other initiatives to monitor aquatic biodiversity and make sure the plants and animals in our streams and wetlands are protected. Learn more about our aquatic biodiversity projects. Do you want to take part in studying biodiversity in your backyard and throughout the Upper Raritan Region? Learn how to participate in the ongoing Raritan Headwaters BioBlitz. Also, learn ways you can create a backyard habitat to help native species thrive. |
