Natural Events

SEA LEVEL RISE

Habitats Affected:

Wetlands

Common Sources:

Natural event accelerated by global warming

Impacts:

• As sea level rises, wetlands erode and “drown”, especially along steeply sloping shorelines or where inland migration of wetlands is restricted.
• Rising sea level increases salinity upstream and alters distribution and composition of fish populations

STORM EVENTS

Habitats Affected:

Wetlands, water column, shell bottom

Common Sources:

Natural events, but negative effects are worse where pollutant sources occur on adjacent lands.

Impacts:

• The combination of storm events and sea level rise causes erosion of wetlands at a rate of about 800 acres/yr in North Carolina.
• Non-point runoff from storms can result in excessive loading of sediment and nutrients into the water column.
• Sediment runoff can silt over oyster beds. 
• High nutrient loading from storm runoff can lower oxygen levels in the water, killing oysters and benthic organisms.

Go back to Threats to Coastal Fish Habitat (Overview Chart)…