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Climate Change - Chesapeake Bay Western Shore - Polyhaline (CB6PH)
CURRENT COASTAL HABITAT COMPOSITION
9.8 km² - Tidal Marsh
4.3 km² - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
25.0 km² - Shallow Water
17.2 km - Beaches
Virginia’s Western Shore of Chesapeake Bay is located on the edges of Mathews, Middlesex, Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. Much of the surveyed shoreline (152 km) is undeveloped (23% developed riparian lands and 4% hardened shoreline). Across the counties, however, high average annual rates of permitted shoreline hardening exist (ranging from 1.5-5.0 km/yr (0.3-0.8% of the shoreline)).
COASTAL HABITATS SHIFTS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE
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Shallow-Water and Tidal Wetlands - depiction of existing tidal wetland (vegetated & non-vegetated) and shallow-water habitat, with projected shifts due to sea level rise
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Tidal Marsh Vulnerability - depiction of existing tidal marsh and vulnerability to inundation from projected sea level rise within 50-100 years. Marshes classified at low risk represent potential wetland preservation opportunities
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Estuarine Beach Vulnerability - depiction of existing estuarine beach and vulnerability to inundation from projected sea level rise within 50-100 years. Beaches classified at low risk represent potential habitat preservation opportunities
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Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - depiction of existing submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and projected shifts due to sea level rise and elevated temperatures
Link to map information and data sources |
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