Coastal and Marine Resources

With approximately 38,200 miles (~ 61,500 km) of coastline in the NPLCC, land and sea are intimately connected.  Many coastal resources are  likely to be affected by sea level changes and coastal storms including coastal wetlands (which because of the high topographic relief throughout most of the LCC, may not have space to move inland); nearshore habitats such as seagrass beds (important to juvenile salmon and many other species); shellfish beds (an important First Food and economic resource); mudflats (important to migratory birds), and beaches (specific substrates and elevations are needed as by some forage fish species as spawning habitats).  The effects of sea level rise and coastal storms need to be considered in adaptation planning to address the needs of marine fish and wildlife.  Sea level rise and storms also needs to be specifically addressed in designing restoration and mitigation sites, as well as the selection of habitats for protection.