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Who we are, what we do

The Western Water Assessment (WWA) is an applied research program that addresses societal vulnerabilities related to climate, particularly in the area of water resources. We work across the Intermountain West—Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming—and beyond.

Learn more about WWA

Video: Brad Udall - Climate change and the water cycle in the West

Upcoming WWA Events & WWA Speakers


May 20
WWA Webinar

Wildfire Effects on Water Supplies in Colorado

Intermountain West Climate Dashboard

29 climate and water information graphics for our region—12 are updated daily

Most recent Briefing:
May 6

WWA Webinar Series

In 2012, WWA began a series of webinars describing recent and ongoing research by WWA team members. The Webinar Series page offers links to presentations and audio/video from past webinars.

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Recent WWA Publications

Life Cycle Water Use For Electricity Generation

March 2013

Power plant

This report provides the foundation for conducting water use impact assessments of the power sector while also identifying gaps in data that could guide future research. Read the full article at Environmental Research Letters.

Meldrum, J., S. Nettles-Anderson, G. Heath, and J. Macknick, 2013. Environmental Research Letters 8.

Water Use for Electricity in the United States

February 2013

water utilities

Significant differences between reported and calculated water data are evident, yet no consistent reason for the discrepancies emerges. Read the full article at Environmental Research Letters.

Averyt, K., J. Macknick, J. Rogers, N. Madden, J. Fisher, J. Meldrum, and R. Newmark, 2013. Environmental Research Letters 8.

The Water Implications of Generating Electricity

December 2012

water use

This study explores potential changes in water use by the US electric sector over the next four decades under various low carbon energy scenarios, nationally and regionally. Read the full article at Environmental Research Letters.

Macknick, J.S. Sattler, K. Averyt, S. Clemmer, and J. Rogers, 2012. Environmental Research Letters 7.

Mountain Pine Beetle Infestations and Nitrate Concentrations

December 2012

pine beetle infestation

MPB infestations have not resulted in significant increases in nitrate concentrations in Colorado streams. Read the full article at Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Rhoades, C.C., J. H. McCutchan, L.A. Cooper, D. Clow, T.M. Detmer, J.S. Briggs, J.D. Stednick, T.T. Veblen, R.M. Ertz, G.E. Likens, W.M. Lewis, Jr., 2013. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 110(5), 1756-1760.

WWA Spotlight

WWA's Lisa Dilling publishes chapter on climate adaptation success

Successful Adaptation to Climate Change

Building on work from multiple WWA research projects, WWA's Lisa Dilling, along with Rebecca Romsdahl of the University of North Dakota, recently published a chapter entitled "Promoting Adaptation Success in Natural Resource Management Through Decision Support: Lessons from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Regions." Dilling and Romsdahl's chapter is in Successful Adaptation to Climate Change: Linking Science and Policy in a Rapidly Changing World, edited by Susanne Moser and Maxwell Boykoff. (May 16, 2013)

WWA contributes to analysis of Southwest’s climate future

Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States

In an era of increasing climate instability, the southwestern United States faces strained water resources, greater prevalence of tree-killing pests, and potentially significant alterations of agricultural infrastructure. These threats and challenges as well as others are detailed in the new book, “Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States.” Read more ... (May 2, 2013)

WWA 2012 Annual Report available

WWA Annual Report 2012

Each spring, WWA reports to NOAA on the program's accomplishments over the previous calendar year. Download the WWA 2012 Annual Report. (April 29, 2013)

Layers of dust on Colorado mountains to impact snowmelt and runoff

WWA's Jeffrey Deems was quoted in a Denver Post article on southwestern dust found in snow across Colorado mountains. Excerpt from the article:

Dust blown in from the Southwest settled on snow over many of Colorado's mountains during this week's storm and will eventually affect how fast the snowpack melts and possibly how much water the state can hold onto. Researchers say the dust kicked up from Arizona, New Mexico and Utah by southwesterly winds fell in Steamboat Springs, Summit County, Vail, Aspen and the San Juan mountains. Dust was also scattered in the snow that fell along the Front Range, but it's likely that dust could have been carried by southeasterly winds from other areas too, including parched southeastern Colorado, the San Luis Valley and the Arkansas River Basin. Read more. (April 22, 2013)

How much water will our future electricity generation portfolio require?

A new paper by WWA's Kristen Averyt, along with collaborators at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Union of Concerned Scientists, explores how freshwater withdrawals by electric power plants could change under a number of future electricity generation scenarios. Their analysis includes aggregation of results by second-order hydrologic units in order to accommodate how basin-level differences in water availability affect generation. Their paper is available freely here and is part of a broader "Focus on Electricity, Water, and Climate Connections" published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. (March 18, 2013)

Understanding and harmonizing estimates of life-cycle water use for electricity generation

In order to better compare water used in the entire life cycles (manufacturing through operation) of electric generation options, WWA's James Meldrum, along with collaborators at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, developed a three-step methodology to assess existing data. Their findings indicate that thermoelectric generation facilities appear to use the most water, while photovoltaic and wind resources use the least. An article on their findings is available here and is part of a broader "Focus on Electricity, Water, and Climate Connections" published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. (March 18, 2013)