Portland, OregonIn Oregon, the Portland Water Bureau worked with the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group on a study completed in 2002 to assess the potential impacts of climate change on the Portland water supply and demands out to the year 2040. The result of this study indicated that anticipated higher temperatures due to climate change would increase water demands during the summer peak season. Also significant are potential impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the Bull Run watershed, which may result in decreased spring runoff and longer peak seasons that would require the surface water source to be further augmented by Portland’s secondary groundwater source. Overall, climate change complicates the city’s planning for meeting future drinking water needs and providing habitat for listed Endangered Species Act (ESA) species in the Bull Run watershed.The Portland Water Bureau has implemented both mitigation and adaptation strategies to address future climate change. The Water Bureau has converted most of its fleet to biodiesel with a target for 100% conversion, implemented programs to reduce overall energy use and begun developing renewable energy projects (solar and micro hydro) on some of its properties and facilities. The Water Bureau Is developing decision support tools to enable it to assess climate change impacts over time, to address updated global climate models as they are developed and downscaled, and to evaluate and refine its water conservation programs to meet retail and wholesale customer needs. Since 1990 the Bureau has seen considerable reductions in overall per capita and total water use despite population growth suggesting that – with continued improvements in water efficiency and careful management – the current water system will continue to meet local needs into the future. 
|
