Project Area
Management Goals
Key management goals in the Middle Blue River Watershed include:
- Conserve the health and sustainability of forests, savannas, glades, and other natural areas in the watershed.
- Establish and maintain the ecosystem services of natural and urban ecosystems in the area, including minimizing stormwater runoff, improving water quality, improving air quality, and reducing urban heat island effects.
- Maintain and establish quality wildlife habitat.
- Improve the health and sustainability of residential and street trees in the watershed.
Climate Change Impacts
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges
Opportunities
Adaptation Actions
Several adaptation approaches were identified across the watershed that differed by landscape position and land use (see table). Adaptation for bottomland natural areas is centered on restoring hydrology to increase resilience to more extreme runoff and rainfall. Upland area adaptation actions focused on restoring native ecosystems and favoring native species that are more likely to withstand projected changes in climate. In developed urban areas, adaptation actions focused on replacing declining urban trees with a new, more diverse mix of species that is better suited to future climate conditions.
Adaptation actions identified were in line with conservation goals already identified by the partnership. However, climate change places an additional urgency to restore the system’s hydrology and native species diversity while also identifying new species that may be better suited to future climates.
2.2. Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive plants and remove existing invasive species
4.1. Prioritize, maintain, and restore unique sites
9.1. Favor or restore native species that are expected to be adapted to future conditions
9.5. Disfavor species that are distinctly maladapted