Resilient HoCo

Climate change poses many threats to agriculture and gardening including, but not limited to:

• Warmer temperatures increase risk of drought stress in plants.
• Effective pollination in crops, flowers, and fruits is reduced by high temperatures.
• Heavy precipitation events can interrupt planting or harvesting.
• Flooding increases erosion and loss of topsoil.
• Insect pest populations can spike. 

Resiliency

Conservation-focused practices that improve soil health reduce emissions to the atmosphere and increase carbon sequestration by minimizing soil disturbance while maximizing soil cover, biodiversity, and the presence of living roots. By focusing on soil health as a climate solution, we also gain co-benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved water infiltration, increased nutrient cycling, decreased money spent on inputs like fertilizer, and more resilient soils over time. Planting and maintaining native tree species also preserves biodiversity and improves climate resiliency! 

Climate change poses many threats to ecosystem services and natural resources, including but not limited to:

• Increased average temperature affects growth rates, survival, overwintering, and reproductive success of native species of animals and plants.
• Changes in temperature can affect species differently, destabilizing species interactions involving pollination, competition, and predation.
• Changes in temperatures may give invasive species a competitive edge over native species.
• Algal blooms can increase to dangerous levels as ponds and streams warm.
• Length and severity of fire season increase with temperature.

Resiliency

Healthy wetlands, forests, and streams mitigate environmental conditions more cost effectively than engineered systems and have greater co-benefits. These ecosystems absorb water and wind, mitigate heat, treat pollution, and perform many other ecosystem services essential to human health. These services are increasing in value as we prepare for a changing climate. 

Climate change poses many threats to the health and well-being of people including, but not limited to: 

• Increased risk of injury or death in flooded areas due to drowning, electrocution, or dangerous debris.
• Power outages from storms that shut down air conditioning and refrigeration amplify heat stress.
• Increased risk of heat-related illness and deaths, especially for babies, student athletes, seniors, the chronically ill, and individuals without air conditioning.
• Increased risk of asthma attacks and cardiovascular events on very hot days due to increased ozone and other air pollutants.
• Increased risk of disease transmission from mosquitoes when areas of still water remain after flooding.

Resiliency

Making sure that the public is prepared and well-equipped to deal with a variety of climate hazards can help reduce the impacts of those climate hazards. Howard County’s Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Community Resource Services, and the Howard County Health Department already have emergency resources and services that can help people prepare for extreme temperature, flooding, and other emergency/disaster events. 

Climate change poses many threats to infrastructure and basic services including, but not limited to:

• High temperatures reduce roadway integrity.
• Schools with inadequate air conditioning may need to close.
• Flood damage to roads, bridge supports, and stormwater management systems can be severe.
• Electric service restoration can be delayed in areas with significant flooding.
• Hospitals and medical centers can be damaged or inaccessible.

Resiliency

Building codes, design standards, and best practices that improve resiliency of these structures can include energy efficiency practices, climate-resilient construction materials, weatherization techniques, flood resistance measures, a highly trained workforce to repair critical equipment in emergencies, and on-site energy generation (including solar and battery storage) to better withstand extreme weather, flooding, and extended power outages. Following these best practices reduce the risks and impacts of climate change to infrastructure and basic services.

Climate change poses many threats to water resources including, but not limited to: 

Risks

• Heavy rains contaminate waterways with increased litter and pollutants.
• Erosion from stormwater increases sedimentation in surface waters, causing negative impacts to plants, invertebrates, and fish.
• Increased runoff of agricultural chemicals and fertilizer during floods damage life in streams, rivers, and the Bay.
• Declined water quality and dissolved oxygen in warmer ponds, streams, and wetlands, while pathogens increase.
• Flooding and runoff can wash more agricultural and lawn chemicals into streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay

Resiliency

The installation and long-term maintenance of small-scale stormwater management practices, nonstructural techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff characteristics, preserve natural features, and minimize the impact of land development on water resources. These best practices may include bioretentions, rain gardens, conservation landscapes, and tree canopy expansion. Following these best practices reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.