February, 2010
EPA to Hold Climate Resiliency Regional Workshops
EPA has announced that it will host two regional workshops, Resilient Water Management Strategies for a Changing Climate: Developing Decision-Support Tools Local Communities, on June 8 - 10, 2010 in New York City and San Francisco. The goals of the workshops are to identify leading-edge research and management responses on how climate change affects water quality and quantity, to determine how ongoing research can better support protection and management of water resources, and to foster collaboration between local-state-national practitioners, regulators and researchers that leads to cooperative research efforts and the development of locally-useful decision-support tools.
For more information, contact: EPA Region 2: Marie O'Shea (212-637-3585); EPA Region 3: Stu Kerzner (215-814-5709); EPA Region 9: Matt Small (415-972-3366).
January, 2010
WUCA Paper Outlines Climate Adaptation Approaches
The Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) recently published "Decision Support Planning Methods: Incorporating Climate Change Uncertainties into Water Planning." The report is intended to help water systems consider and evaluate how traditional and emerging planning methods can inform their own climate adaptation efforts.
To download a copy of the report, Click Here.
December 2009
WUCA Releases Options for Improving Climate Modeling White Paper
The Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) released a white paper, entitled “
Options for Improving Climate Modeling to Assist Water Utility Planning for Climate Change.” The paper was commissioned to: 1) explain how climate models work; 2) describe how models have been used in the water sector to assess potential impacts on our systems; and 3) make recommendations regarding how to improve modeling and downscaling techniques so these tools can be more useful for the water sector. Additional information about WUCA is
online.
NOAA Administrator Testifies on Water Risks, Adaptation Needs
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco recently testified before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and reported that the latest scientific data shows that global climate change is already having an impact on water resources in the United States, and these impacts will accelerate in the future. In response, she said that communities must begin planning comprehensive adaptation strategies now, and the federal government should assist in these efforts.
To read Dr. Lubchenco's testimony, Click Here.
October, 2009
AMWA and NACWA Release Adaptation Cost Estimate
A report released by AMWA and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has estimated that the total cost of water and wastewater utility climate adaptation efforts in the U.S. through 2050 to be between $448 billion and $944 billion. The estimate was devised by CH2M Hill after examining the projected regional impacts of climate change on water resources.
AMWA will use the report to make members of Congress more aware of the climate adaptation challenges facing water systems, and to advocate for water utility adaptation assistance as part of comprehensive climate change legislation.
To download a copy of the report, Click Here.
Fish And Wildlife Service Releases Climate Change Plan
In response to Interior Secretary Salazar’s order on climate change (reported in last week’s Monday Morning Briefing), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released for comments its strategic plan for addressing climate change. The
plan has six goals organized under three key areas: adaptation of fish, wildlife and ecosystems, mitigation of greenhouse gases and engagement with partners. The website also highlights areas where comments are being sought. Comments will be accepted through November 23.
September, 2009
Climate Change Response Council Established
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed a secretarial order establishing a Climate Change Response Council. The Council will work to coordinate a response to the impacts of climate change to the resources and areas under DOI jurisdiction and also improve how scientific data is shared internally and with the public. The Council is also charged with implementing department-specific climate change activities primarily through three mechanisms. These are:
1) Climate Change Response Planning Requirements
2) DOI Regional Climate Change Response Centers, and
3) Landscape Conservation Cooperatives.
To read the secretarial order, Click Here.
September, 2009
AMWA Comments to NOAA on its Next Generation Strategic Plan
AMWA developed these
comments to NOAA with the assistance of its Climate Change Committee.
July, 2009
NOAA Website Provides Resources, Forum For Coastal Climate Change Adaptation
A NOAA
website provides a forum for the exchange of information about coastal climate adaptation as well as resources for state and local officials to use to make plans to adapt to climate change. Resources available include handbooks and guides from international governments and organizations as well as NOAA’s Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool. The forum requires users to register to share information. A current forum post includes an article from the Netherlands about prioritizing adaptation options.
To visit the website, Click Here.
Looking for Something Older?
Access previously-posted information in AMWA's Climate Archives, available here.
AMWA's Climate Change Committee
In 2007 AMWA formed a Climate Change Committee, which is intended to help drinking water utilities monitor and shape federal rules, research, and legislation related to climate change. The committee meets in person at AMWA's spring and fall meetings, as well as periodically by conference call.
All AMWA members are invited to join the committee. To join, contact
Erica Brown in AMWA's national office.
Climate Change Committee documents, such as meeting summaries and handouts, are
available here (login required).
