Western Water Assessment (WWA) is a university-based applied research program that addresses societal vulnerabilities to climate variability and climate change, particularly those related to water resources. We are based in Boulder, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Laramie, Wyoming. We work across the Intermountain West—Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Our mission is to conduct innovative research in partnership with decision makers in the Rocky Mountain West, helping them make the best use of science to manage for climate impacts.
The WWA team is comprised of researchers in multiple disciplines—climatology, hydrology, ecology, social sciences, and law—at the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Utah, and the University of Wyoming. We work directly with stakeholders such as water managers to articulate research questions, and ensure that the research products will be usable in their planning and decision-making processes. Ultimately, our goal is to improve societal preparedness for climate variability and climate change.
We are part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Global Change & Sustainability Center (GCSC) at the University of Utah, and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming. Our primary source of funding is the NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) program formerly known as the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program. We are one of 12 CAP/RISA teams operating across the U.S.
In addition to conducting research projects, we produce synthesis and assessment products to make existing knowledge more accessible to stakeholders. WWA also makes accessible real-time climate information in our Intermountain West Climate Dashboard and other products. In providing useful products for our stakeholders in our region, we also serve to prototype, for NOAA, the delivery of regional climate services.
Download a one-pager about Western Water Assessment here.