Emerging Initiatives and Adaptation Strategies to Inform Climate Services
In the climate change vernacular, adaptation refers to the human response to inevitable changes in climate, and mitigation encompasses the suite of efforts to reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. The IPCC and other major organizations tend to treat these two matters independently, although planning separately for each aspect of the climate picture can present conflicts. One example is the national investment and interest in biofuels. However, dedicated biofuel crops may not reduce carbon when the larger context is considered (e.g. fertilizer), and the amount of water needed to grow these crops may expand existing water use. Biofuels may thus trade off one benefit for another, increasing vulnerability. Another example involves water conservation. Conservation that supplies new growth may be mal-adaptive if declining supplies and increased variability occur with climate change. This theme is designed to draw attention to the needs of decision makers to find productive adaptive strategies, especially to climate change but also to natural variability. This theme is being driven by intense stakeholder interest in exactly how to adapt to climate change given the uncertainties, and how not to adapt.
COMPLETED RESEARCH & ASSESSMENTS
Forecasts, Data, Tools and Product Evaluation
Water Rights and Climate Change: The Impact of a Shifting Hydrograph on the Timing and Administration of Water Rights in the West: In many basins throughout the West, snowmelt is coming earlier than in historic times, prompting holders of prior appropriation water rights to demand water at an earlier calendar date than in the past. This is obviously problematic for those rights defined in terms of specific calendar dates (associated with historic patterns of use), and may be even more troublesome for rights defined more generally (e.g., such as an “irrigation season” right), as this can have the net effect of increasing the diversion season and, thus, the size of the right. This project (Summer 2007 to Summer 2008) examines the extent to which this problem exists in Colorado and in a yet-to-be-determined Pacific Northwest state, where earlier runoff is much more pronounced than in the Rocky Mountain region. Researchers Kenney, NRLC, Klein, CSTPR, Goemans, CSU, Alvord, CIRES.
Workshops and Presentations
National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Climate, Drought and Early Warning on Western Native Lands Workshop: June 9-11, 2009, Grand Teton, WY
Early warnings of climate events and threshold points that affect cultural, economic, and environmental resources are becoming increasingly important for preparedness and adaptation as climate changes. In this context the issues of severe sustained drought and increasing rates of environmental change are critical to the future of the Western U.S. in the near and longer terms. The multi-agency NIDIS is therefore convening a workshop on assessing and responding to drought and climate impacts on western Native Lands. We propose to use a watershed approach with key participants from Native communities and organizations, from major river basins west of the Mississippi River, involved in developing and protecting water and energy resources, wildlife and the environment. Invited participants will also include people from internationally shared water systems such as the Columbia, the Great Lakes and the Rio Grande and from national level organizations such as the NCAI and CERT. Lodging and travel support will be provided to invitees. Workshop Sponsors: NIDIS, Haskell Indian University, National Drought Mitigation Center, Climate Assessment of the Southwest, (CLIMAS).
Workshop Report
Dealing with Drought-Adapting to a Changing Climate Workshops: October 2009 (Castle Rock, Glenwood Springs, Durango, CO)
The WWA, in conjunction with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), presented the “Dealing with Drought-Adapting to a Changing Climate” workshop series during October in three locations around Colorado. These workshops built on themes and information from the October 2008 Governor’s Conference on Managing Drought and Climate Risk. The 80 participants represented diverse sectors and interests affected by drought and climate, including water resource management, agriculture, land-use planning, forest and range management, watershed protection, environmental organizations, and tourism & recreation. Workshop sponsors: Colorado Water Conservation Board, WWA.
Drought Preparedness for Tribes in the Four Corners Region Workshop: April 8-9, 2010, Flagstaff, Arizona
The workshop will focus on drought and climate related concerns among Native Nations in the Four Corners region and Lower Colorado River basin of the Southwest. Workshop participants include representatives from the Southern Ute, Navajo, Hopi, Hualapai, Havasupai, and Tohono O'odham Nations in conjunction with representatives from USDA, NOAA, USGS, USBR, CLIMAS, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and the University of Colorado. Workshop Sponsors: National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), Climate Assessment of the Southwest, (CLIMAS), WWA.
The Streamflow Forecast Workshop: Using & Improving the Tools Available at the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center: Grand Junction, CO April 23, 2010
The goal of this workshop is to create a dialog between users and the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center (CBRFC) around a new online tool that delivers streamflow forecast information for rivers throughout the United States. The tool provides a user-friendly interface for people to access information collated and produced by the RFC. Participants at this workshop will have the opportunity to hear about the latest science relevant to the Colorado River, and will receive training in a computer lab setting on using the new RFC online resource. Participants will also be able to provide opinions and insight directly to the developers so the RFC can improve the tool prior to public release. There will be several exercises designed to glean further information from participants to help in the development of the new online resource. Workshop Sponsors: NWS CBRFC, WWA, Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS).
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