Salt marsh vulnerabilities to sea level rise: Linking assessment to adaptation in the Delaware Estuary
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The loss of coastal wetlands and their ecosystem services is a particularly serious problem in the Delaware Estuary. Decreases due to erosion, nutrient enrichment, and hydrological alterations are being exacerbated and accelerated by ongoing sea level rise (SLR). Yet it has been difficult for programs to integrate adaptation to SLR into their planning processes. Here, we demonstrate a path forward using the Relative Wetland Vulnerabilities Framework (RWVF), an approach that: (1) brings greater consistency to the terminology used in vulnerability assessments; (2) helps ensure that all components of vulnerability are considered; presents results in a way that clearly shows the exposure-response relationship; and (3) allows flexibility in the choice of system attributes and tools of focus. We apply the RWVF to three different management examples, centered on preservation of: (1) saltmarsh sparrow nesting habitat (high marsh); (2) blue crab nursery habitat (low marsh); and (3) flood protection (total marsh). The results illustrate the importance of clearly defining management objectives at the outset (what are you managing for/what ecosystem services do you care most about?) and provide examples of flexible and tractable ways that vulnerability information can be integrated into planning processes.