Water law and regulatory institutions in the East do not have adequate capability for flexible water management. Wildlife populations depend on forest ecosystems and therefore will be sensitive to climate change and other factors that affect forests. Agricultural and urban land uses are mutually dependent but compete for limited resources. Agricultural runoff pollutes surface and groundwater. Wetlands are especially sensitive to changes in the hydrologic cycle, and their assimilative capacity may be exceeded or diminished under altered climate.
Unmanaged ecosystems are probably the most vulnerable to climate change.
Extensive coastal areas in the East are vulnerable to sea level rise and related impacts, such as storm surges, coastal erosion and inundation. Human Health and Demographics Demographic trends are leading to divergent populations of low-income, minority groups, mostly in urban areas, that are more sensitive to climate effects. Mobile and disproportionately influential upper-class groups less directly affected by climate. Differential accessibility to health infrastructure aggravates climate sensitivity of populations. Urban populations are sensitive to heat stress, but adaptability and mitigation options are not well understood.