The National Wildlife Federation looked at a number of sea-level rise scenarios for the region and found that even a relatively moderate scenario of sea level rise of just over 2-feet by 2100 will have a significant impact on coastal habitats.
Recent studies show that it is likely the Pacific Northwest coast will have a significant
sea level rise by 2100 of between 20-56 inches.
Among the most vulnerable habitats is estuarine beach, which provides vital spawning areas for forage fish, including surf smelt and sand lance, which in turn provide food for birds, marine mammals, salmon, and other fish
and wildlife.
More than 2/3 of beaches in the Tacoma area are predicted to be lost by 2100.
The Seattle area is built on high land, and so would have limited impact due to sea level rise. However, 741- 988 acres of dry land will become marsh or tidal flat. More than half of estuarine beaches in the area will be lost.
Using the latest scientific data, these maps show which areas will be affected when global warming causes sea level rise. In some cases, sea water will cover the land where it does not today. In other cases, wildlife will be affected either because of changes in the way water flows or salinity levels.
For a general idea of what areas will be affected, view our three-color maps. For a more detailed picture of which types of habitats will change, view our high-color maps.
These are highly simplified maps. If you want to see the how sea-level rise will impact habitats in more detail, please download the full report (3 Mb PDF).
Coastal Habitats
Take a tour of some coastal habitats of the Pacific Northwest. Coastal habitats are defined by how much salt and fresh water is normally found in the habitat. Animals and plants adapt to these levels. When global warming causes the sea level to rise and increases the amount of salt in a habitat, this greatly affects the wildlife that live there. In many cases, the rapid effects of global warming completely changes one habitat into another. Wildlife must adapt, move or die. The impact on many species is very grave. Here are some of the species in danger:
Global warming, if not stopped, will fundamentally alter the planet’s ecosystems at a rate that will simply outpace many species’ ability to adapt to drastic change. Unless we take immediate action to curtail global warming and help wildlife habitats adjust to rapidly changing climate, the rates of extinction and habitat loss will spike more sharply than ever before in human history. We must address the accelerating impacts of global warming before it’s too late. National Wildlife Federation is confronting global warming as the single most urgent challenge to protecting wildlife for our children's future. Your assistance is critical and urgently needed. Please click here to donate now and support NWF’s historic and ongoing work to protect and restore vital habitats. You can also have a direct impact on the earth's climate by taking action to reduce your contribution to global warming pollution. Follow this link for some of the many ways you can reduce global warming pollution at home.
