Adapting to Rising NAPA COUNTY

Sea Level Rise and Baylands Habitat

Sediment Scenarios Climate scenarios are needed to understand how and when may be affected by sea level rise, and what actions should be taken. To understand these factors it is helpful to evaluate a range of possible futures. These two maps show extent and diversity by 2050 under a scenario when sediment is constricted (left) and sea levels rise drowns out low marsh areas. When more sediment is available, marsh 2050 marsh extent 2050 marsh extent accretion is able to keep pace under a low under a high with sea level rise (right). sediment scenario sediment scenario

How can we build habitat resilience? Increase sediment supply Optimize management of ponds Nourishing marshes by placing for a diverse suite of waterbirds dredged sediment on adjacent and consider relocating, mudflats allows waves and tides to reconfiguring, or enhancing move the sediment naturally ponds to accommodate future upland. sea level rise. Restore large areas of managed Remove barriers to tidal and pond to tidal marsh such as the hydraulic connectivity by Napa-Sonoma Restoration Project elevating Highway 37 to a and Cullinan Ranch. causeway. Reconnect drainages such as those Enhance and restore eelgrass and parallel to the bay shore from oyster beds at the mouth of Napa Cullinan and the top of the and nearby areas. centennial strip marsh, and by Enhance and restore transition providing connectivity between zone habitat adjacent to tidal strip-marsh units (Sonoma Creek and marsh, including natural creek west units). . Provide space and coarse sediment to facilitate the function, Improve salinity gradients by maintenance and evolution of the increasing the use of recycled Highway 37- supratidal water. marsh terrace.

Photos of oyster bed restoration in San Rafael courtesy of State Coastal Conservancy. Scenario maps courtesy of Point Blue Conservation Science’s Tidal Marsh Viewer, 2016.