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Climate Change - Middle James River - Mesohaline (JMSMH)
CURRENT COASTAL HABITAT COMPOSITION
57.4 km² - Tidal Marsh
0.0 km² - Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
94.2 km² - Shallow Water
47.4 km - Beaches
The Middle James River is located in Isle of Wight, Suffolk Counties and City of Newport News. This segment extends from the James River Bridge to just south of Hog Island near the Surry Nuclear Power Plant and includes the Warwick, Pagan, and Nanesmond rivers. Much of the surveyed shoreline (427 km) is undeveloped (27% developed riparian lands & 11% hardened shoreline). However, the northern shore along Newport News has a high average annual rate of permitted shoreline hardening of 1.1 km/yr (0.4% of the shoreline), and the southern shore (Suffolk and Isle of Wight) have moderate rates of 0.2-0.3 km/yr (0.1% 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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