Bold Action or Plain Common Sense? Ecosystem Services Bolster the Function of JBLE-Langley BMPs

Background/Objectives. Sea level rise (SLR) at Joint Base Langley Eustis (JBLE)-Langley is projected to be 1.7 foot (ft) by 2050. To date the installation has installed 83 grey and nature based Best Management Practices (BMPs) to increase their adaptive capacity and protect vulnerable assets. Additionally, stormwater conveyances drain to a 124,000 gallon/minute pumping station or to the 112 outfalls located around the facility. However, the functionality of these protections is being eroded as tides rise, storms surge, and features become damaged and/or submerged. As additional BMPs are installed and aging systems are repaired, JBLE-Langley is being proactive in the innovative development of a comprehensive Basewide Strategic Planting Initiative to utilize ecosystem services to bolster resiliency across the installation. From living shorelines, tidal wetlands mitigation credits, down to grounds maintenance, the BOLDEST ACTION taken by JBLE-Langley may prove to be the most natural.

Approach/Activities. The inventory, ground truthing, and visualization of all significant natural infrastructure, BMPs, stormwater conveyances, and outfalls at JBLE-Langley has allowed the installation to fully understand their potential in terms of increasing the adaptive capacity of the nation’s oldest Air Force Base. Understanding the natural inventory and its potential diversification and expansion is the first step in determining how to maximize the output of ecosystem services increasing BMP or conveyance resiliency across the installation.

Actions such as reducing or eliminating lawn maintenance in appropriate areas, expansion of meadowlands, expansion of wetlands, rehabilitation of ghost forests, redesigning wet channels, and utilizing open areas for water detention and discharge are all fundamental components of the Basewide Strategic Planting Initiative. Additionally, the feasibility of converting underutilized horse stables or recreational areas into a 10-acre tidal wetlands mitigation credit to support future MILCON or installation of additional coastal BMPs will be evaluated. As a value-added effort, all unnecessary concrete was inventoried. The timing of actions and/or removal of unnecessary concrete will be coordinated with pending MILCON to provide the various stormwater and nutrient reduction credits needed as the installation grows into an ever-expanding mission while facing the challenges of climate change.

Results/Lessons Learned. Over 200 treatment areas were identified during the Basewide Strategic Planting Initiative. The most effective proposed actions and their resulting ecosystem services were monetized based on replacement or market value. It was determined that the ecosystem services generated for these treatment areas alone will return $10 for every $1 invested over the next 50 years.