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GOAL 5: REDUCE AND COMBAT CLIMATE IMPACTS Storms, floods, sea level rise, ocean acidification, drought, forest health and wildfires are all issues tied to climate change that impact and threaten salmon recovery and watershed resilience. It is critical to connect a vision of watershed resilience to efforts that both seek to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, and also enact changes that make our lands, waters and communities more resilient in the face of climate change.
ACTION 13: Sequester Carbon and Mitigate Growing Climate Risks Carbon sequestration projects offer a significant opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This should include upland forest and underwater vegetation ("blue carbon") projects.
Outcomes Outcome 29: Conduct a baseline analysis of carbon storage on the landscape by 2024. Outcome 30: Implement 10,000 acres of carbon sequestration projects in the Snohomish Watershed by 2026.
Challenge Climate impacts are already occurring and creating new or exacerbating existing challenges for salmon and other wildlife and natural systems as well as for people. Climate change impacts many aspects of salmon health and prospects of recovery. Key issues include stream temperature, precipitation changes including increased high flows that dislodge redds, decreased summer flows that limit habitat access and ocean acidification. Habitat restoration efforts by DNR and partners cannot be effective in salmon recovery if climate change results in lethal stream temperatures and reduced water supply for rivers and streams. Taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and mitigate climate change are an essential component of tackling the root causes of salmon population decline. We must center climate action and climate resilience in all our efforts. DNR will also ensure that climate resilience is a factor in how we plan for the future and design restoration activities. For example, in prioritization of fish passage barrier removal, as it is critical to focus on streams expected to be cool enough to support fish health in changing future climate conditions.