CHAPTER 3 ISSUES AFFECTING SGCN AND WILDLIFE HABITAT IN DELAWARE Delaware Wildlife Action Plan Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Issues in the Northeast Region ....................................................................................................................... 6 Identifying Issues Affecting Species of Greatest Conservation Need and Key Habitats in Delaware ............... 8 Issue Categories (IUCN) ................................................................................................................................10 Residential and Commercial Development ...................................................................................................10 Land Development in the Northeast Region ..............................................................................................10 Residential Development ........................................................................................................................... 11 Non-residential Development ....................................................................................................................12 Development and Fragmentation of Forest Habitat .................................................................................. 13 Buildings and Structures ............................................................................................................................14 Agriculture ....................................................................................................................................................14 Energy Production ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Mining .......................................................................................................................................................18 Transportation-related Issues .......................................................................................................................18 Road Salt .................................................................................................................................................. 19 Shipping Activities .................................................................................................................................... 20 Biological Resource Use ............................................................................................................................... 20 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals .................................................................................................... 20 Overharvesting or bycatch of aquatic resources........................................................................................ 20 Human Disturbance ......................................................................................................................................21 Natural system modifications ...................................................................................................................... 22 Fire Suppression ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Dams and Water Use ................................................................................................................................ 22 Surface and Groundwater Withdrawals .................................................................................................... 25 Beach Nourishment .................................................................................................................................. 25 Saltmarsh Management ........................................................................................................................... 26 Wetland Alteration/Drainage and Stream Channelization ........................................................................ 26 Invasive and Problematic Species and Diseases ............................................................................................ 27 Invasive Species – Plants ............................................................................................................................ 27 Invasive Species - Aquatic Animals ........................................................................................................... 28 3- 2 CHAPTER 3: Issues Affecting SGCN And Habitats In Delaware Invasive Species – Free-ranging Cats ........................................................................................................ 29 Invasive Species – Insects.......................................................................................................................... 29 Emerging Invasive Insect Threats Not Yet Found in Delaware .................................................................. 30 Invasive Species – Plant Pathogens........................................................................................................... 30 Problematic Native Species ....................................................................................................................... 31 Wildlife Diseases ........................................................................................................................................ 33 Pollution ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 Excess Energy ........................................................................................................................................... 38 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Introduction and Regional Perspective ..................................................................................................... 39 Climate Projections for Delaware ............................................................................................................. 40 Precipitation increases ......................................................................................................................... 42 Climate Change Effects: Habitat Shifting and Alteration .......................................................................... 44 Climate Change Effects: Sea Level Rise .................................................................................................... 44 Climate Change Effects: Storms and Flooding .......................................................................................... 46 Storms and Coastal Flooding ............................................................................................................... 46 Flooding ................................................................................................................................................ 47 Climate Change Effects: Temperature and Precipitation Changes ............................................................. 47 Predicting Responses of SGCN to Climate Change ................................................................................... 48 Need for Information and Planning .............................................................................................................. 50 Need for Education and Outreach ................................................................................................................ 50 Need for Funding .......................................................................................................................................... 51 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................................. 53 3 - 3 Delaware Wildlife Action Plan Figures Figure 3. 1 Statewide Issues and Actions ........................................................................................................ 9 Figure 3. 2 Habitat-specific Issues and Actions ............................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. 3 Taxa-specific Issues and Actions .................................................................................................. 10 Figure 3. 4 Residential Development. Photo: DNREC, The Environment and Land Use: Sprawl and Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3. 5 Residential Development Applications and Investment Level 2008-2013 (left) and Residential Building Permits and Investment Level 2008-2013 (right). Source: Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination. ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 3. 6 Non-residential Development Applications and Investment Level 2008-2013 (left) and Non- residential Building Permits and Investment Level 2008-2013 (right). Source: Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination. ................................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 3. 7 Water reuse, by spray irrigation on farm fields. Photo: DNREC, Division of Water, Ground Water