Todd's Inheritance

Sea levels are rising

Since the industrial revolution, we have burned fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to power our societies. This process emits greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane which trap heat in our atmosphere and cause global climate change. Of the many challenges posed by climate change, rising sea levels are the most immediate threat to coastal areas. Sea levels are rising due to:

• ice melt: melting glaciers and permafrost increases the amount of water in the ocean; and

• thermal expansion: heat causes water to expand, increasing the space that water occupies.

 

A graph for sea level rise from the closest water gauge to Todd's Inheritance, Fort McHenry

NPS

The future of sea level rise

The more greenhouse gases are emitted the more sea levels are projected to rise. The future of sea level rise is dependent on emissions scenarios, higher emissions will cause sea levels to rise further. The most severe impacts of climate change can still be avoided by significantly reducing emissions.

NOAA projects that the different tides of the tidal Patapsco River could drastically shift as well. By 2050, the intermediate low, and intermediate tides will rise on average by one to one and a half feet from where it is now. The intermediate high tide is project to raise by just over two feet as well.

The projections span out to the year 2100 as well, showing even higher changes The intermediate low in this year is projected to be two feet higher than normal, a 100% increase from the projections for 50 years prior. That trend does not conclude there, where the intermediate and intermediate high projections raise to four feet and 6 and a half feet respectively.

 

Todd House situated on a hill overlooking the Chesapeake

Todd's Inheritance

Rising seas at Todd's Inheritance

Settled only a few dozen yards from the shores of Shallow Creek, Todd’s Inheritance features a strategic view of North Point peninsula and the surrounding Chesapeake Bay. This view allowed American militia to preemptively spot the force of 5,000 British troops landing on the peninsula. The troops were prepared to march to Baltimore accompanying the naval fleet as the second prong in a two-front attack. Although the American defense at North Point ultimately ended in retreat it was a critical strategic victory that bought the citizens of Baltimore enough time to fortify Hampstead Hill which successfully repelled the British land invasion.

Rising seas at Todd’s Inheritance threaten to drown the wetlands that line its waterfront & inundate much of the lawn that is used to host special events. In combination with more frequent storms and worsening storm surges, rising sea levels could reach the Todd House and family graveyard, threatening to forever change the place where history happened.

 

Todd’s Inheritance lawn and the marsh that borders Shallow Creek. Rising sea levels threaten the historic landscape and the marsh that acts as the site’s primary ecosystem engineer.

Friends of Todd's Inheritance

What is Todd's Inheritance doing to help?

Todd’s Inheritance features a buffer of tidal wetlands. Not only are wetlands one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world, providing necessary habitat for many iconic Chesapeake species, they also serve as essential buffers filtering chemical, sediment and nutrient pollutants before they reach waterways. Wetlands also serve as incredible natural solutions to the threats posed by climate change.

Wetlands are extremely effective carbon sinks, capable of storing up to 216 metric tons of carbon dioxide per acre each year. Additionally, wetlands help control tidal flooding by soaking up large amounts of water, up to 1 million gallons/acre before either releasing it slowly and safely into nearby streams or allowing it to infiltrate into groundwater reservoirs.

 

Additional Resources

1.https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/: A NOAA SLR viewer tool to access local sea level rise projections at tide gauges and visualize sea level rise scenarios (2017).

2. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov: access water levels, tide predictions, and other conditions along coasts.

3. NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper: a tool to visualize coastal hazards as well as societal, infrastructure, and ecosystems exposure to those hazards

4. Wetland Functions - MD Department of the Environment: about the many benefits of the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal wetlands.

Note: The sea level rise projections, storm surge projections, and other information presented here are for general educational and awareness purposes only. They should not be used for site-specific analysis, navigation, permitting, or legally binding