Final Report: Current and future potential ecosystem services of the Nisqually River Delta: an assessment approach for Puget Sound estuaries and USFWS coastal refuges
Dates
Publication Date
2024-01-26
Citation
Kristin B Byrd, Isa Woo, and Emily J Pindilli, 2024, Final Report: Current and future potential ecosystem services of the Nisqually River Delta: an assessment approach for Puget Sound estuaries and USFWS coastal refuges: U.S. Geological Survey.
Summary
The goals of the project were to quantify a set of ecosystem services — benefits that wildlife or ecosystems provide to people — that are priorities for the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the surrounding communities. The Nisqually River Delta, located in South Puget Sound, contains a rich mosaic of different coastal habitat types. We modeled how change in these habitats from sea level rise (SLR) or management activities like restoration could affect ecosystem services in the future. We focused on changes to soil carbon accumulation, birdwatching visitation, and juvenile Chinook salmon growth rates, which served a proxy for fishery production. A habitat and carbon model projected that [...]
Summary
The goals of the project were to quantify a set of ecosystem services — benefits that wildlife or ecosystems provide to people — that are priorities for the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the surrounding communities. The Nisqually River Delta, located in South Puget Sound, contains a rich mosaic of different coastal habitat types. We modeled how change in these habitats from sea level rise (SLR) or management activities like restoration could affect ecosystem services in the future. We focused on changes to soil carbon accumulation, birdwatching visitation, and juvenile Chinook salmon growth rates, which served a proxy for fishery production. A habitat and carbon model projected that after 100 years, most high salt marsh would remain with < 1m SLR, but substantial area would convert to low salt marsh and mudflat with ≥ 1m SLR. Total carbon accumulation would plateau or decline with ≥ 1m SLR, yet economic value of carbon accumulation would continue to rise over time, suggesting that the value of this ecosystem service is resilient to SLR. Birdwatching visitation was greatest in winter months and was positively related to area of forested wetland, emergent wetland, aquatic vegetation bed (e.g., eelgrass) and mudflat and open access. Increases in forested wetland may lead to greater increases in visitation compared to other habitat types. All three ecosystem services increased with increases in forested wetland and emergent wetland, and tradeoffs among services occurred with increases in aquatic vegetation bed and mudflat. In conversation with USFWS managers, we identified practical ways in which ecosystem services may be incorporated into adaptive management frameworks that support climate adaptation decision making. Our study illustrated how accounting for ecosystem services can help managers make decisions that have greater benefit for wildlife and people, communicate the societal value of decisions, and increase local engagement and participation.