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Ecological Adaptation
Need for Adaption
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Fundamental changes in climate create serious implications for soil, water, plants, and animals, including loss of native species, change in the timing of life events such as migration or initiation of breeding, reduced local biodiversity, stranding of trees in unsuitable habitat, increased evapo-transpiration, plant diebacks due to drought stress, catastrophic forest fires, increased pest risks, reduction of mountain snow packs, and peak spring runoff from snowmelt shifting to earlier in the season.

What's Being Done

  • Encouragement of on-site storm water management
  • Implementation of an initial pilot program installing permeable pavement to reduce urban runoff and increase groundwater recharge
  • Requirements for the protection of significant vegetation (trees)
  • Landscape ordinance requirements
  • Utilization of yard wastes for mulch
  • Planning for the restoration of the Santa Fe River


Actions Included in the Plan
  • Set an overall city-wide goal of adaptation to climate impacts
  • Create systems that maximize use of rain and storm waters for plant support and groundwater recharge
  • Reduce “urban heat island effect”
  • Protect soils as the foundation of adaptation to the impacts of climate change
  • Improve support for biodiversity with adaptation techniques

 




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