Climate change and sea level rise are going to bring changes to the coastline and San Diegans are going to have to deal with in the near future.
To show what coastal sea level rise will do to San Diego’s coastline over time, San Diego Audubon Society recently showcased the role wetlands play as a natural buffer for coastal communities threatened by rising sea level.
That was done during a recent Mission Bay tour to view “king tides” (also known as perigean spring tides), higher-than-normal, high-tide events during a spring tide full moon.
As high tides swept San Diego’s shores, media were invited to join San Diego Audubon’s walking tour of Mission Bay to understand the crucial role wetlands play in protecting coastal communities from sea level rise. King tides show what the new normal of San Diego’s shorelines will look 20 to 50 years from now due to sea level rise, said Rebecca Schwartz Lesberg, San Diego Audubon director of conservation.
“Climate change is already happening, we’re seeing its affects, including in Mission Bay,” Schwarz Lesberg said noting coastal wetlands protect against sea level rise by “acting like a sponge at high tide serving as a buffer to take in sediment and protect surrounding areas from flooding and erosion.”
The Audubon spokes person added, “It’s our responsibility to protect and restore wetlands, so that they can protect our communities from the impacts that we know are coming.”
San Diego Audubon leads ReWild Mission Bay. In partnership with the CA State Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program, ReWild aims to enhance and restore up to 170 acres of wetlands in the northeast corner of Mission Bay.
Noting the ReWild project restoration site is on a 50-year lease, Schwartz Lesberg said, “This is our first chance in half a century to make a better decision on how to use land use in Mission Bay – and also our last chance to do so before we start experiencing the most devastating impacts of climate change.”
Currently, California has lost 90 percent of its wetlands to development. Now that the City of San Diego is in the planning phase of restoring the northeast corner of Mission Bay, San Diego Audubon urges a commitment to the restoration of wetlands to protect against sea level rise, erosion and habitat loss, while meeting the requirements of the City’s Mission Bay Park Master Plan.
San Diego County has roughly 70 miles of coastal shoreline, according to Coastkeeper, a nonprofit whose mission is to protect and restore fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters. Sea level rise resulting from global climate change has the potential to alter the form and function of these coastline habitats.
Gauges along the California coast have recorded an increase during most of the 20th century. By 2050, models predict sea level increases of 12 to 18 inches in San Diego. The combination of higher sea level, waves, tides and weather conditions may put coastal habitat in San Diego County at risk for habitat loss.
As sea levels continue to rise, new challenges for planning, managing and protecting our natural resources and communities will face decision makers. Learn more from this time lapse video by Coastkeeper on 2015 King Tides at http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/act/media-center/press-releases/january-20-san-diego-coastkeeper-releases-time-lapse-video-showing-how-wetlands-naturally-buffer-king-tides
