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AdaptingtoClimateChangeinMinnesota

2017ReportoftheInteragencyClimateAdaptationTeam

May2017

AdaptingtoClimateChangeinMinnesota May2017

ReportcoordinatorPaulMoss,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency(InteragencyClimateAdaptationTeamCoordinator)

ReportcontributorsDavidBell,MinnesotaDepartmentofHealthKennethBlumenfeld,StateClimatologyOffice,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesAnnaHenderson,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard(formerposition)LindaHenning,MetropolitanCouncilKariHowe,MinnesotaDepartmentofEmploymentandEconomicDevelopmentKarenJensen,MetropolitanCouncilWayneLamoreaux,MinnesotaDepartmentofPublicSafety-DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagementValerieMcClannahan,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesKevinMcDonald,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgencyLauraMillberg,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgencyJenniferNelson,MinnesotaDepartmentofPublicSafety-DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagementRobertPatton,MinnesotaDepartmentofAgricultureJoshuaPennington,MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairsSharonPfeifer,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesKatiePratt,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoardKristinRaab,MinnesotaDepartmentofHealthAliceRemillard,MinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsDougRenier,MinnesotaDepartmentofCommerceKatieRetka,MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairsTimothySexton,MinnesotaDepartmentofTransportationWillSeuffert,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoardDanShaw,MinnesotaBoardofWaterandSoilResourcesBrianTimerson,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgencyDeniseWilson,MinnesotaDepartmentofAdministrationEmilyZiring,MinnesotaStateCollegesandUniversities

EditingTheresaGaffey,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

Thisreportisavailableonlineatwww.pca.state.mn.usandinalternativeformatsuponrequest.Contact:651-296-6300|800-657-3864|Oruseyourpreferredrelayservice.|[email protected]:p-gen4-07c


Summary................................................................................................................................1

Minnesota’sclimatebackground............................................................................................2

ClimateobservationsandtrendsinMinnesota:Whathaschangedandwhathasnot?.........................2ProjectedclimatechangesinMinnesota................................................................................9

Continuedrapidlossofcoldweatherextremesandenhancementofextremeprecipitation................9Morehotdayslikelyandmoredroughtpossible...................................................................................10Otherhazards.........................................................................................................................................11

ImpactsofclimatechangeinMinnesota................................................................................12

Increasingtemperatureandextremeheat............................................................................................12Airquality...............................................................................................................................................13Drought..................................................................................................................................................14Extremeweatherevents........................................................................................................................14Changingseasonalityandlongertermecologicalchanges....................................................................16

Connectionbetweenclimateadaptationandmitigation.......................................................17

Minnesotastateagencyresponsestoclimateimpacts..........................................................18

MinnesotaDepartmentofAgriculture...................................................................................................18MinnesotaDepartmentofCommerce...................................................................................................21MinnesotaDepartmentofHealth..........................................................................................................23MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairs.............................................................................................27MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources.......................................................................................29MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard...............................................................................................34MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency.....................................................................................................36MinnesotaDepartmentofPublicSafety,DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement................................................................................................................................................................44MinnesotaDepartmentofTransportation.............................................................................................45MinnesotaBoardofWaterandSoilResources......................................................................................50MetropolitanCouncil.............................................................................................................................52

Statewideclimateadaptationindicators...............................................................................57

Climateadaptationplanningbystateagencies,localunitsofgovernmentandtribalgovernments....58Disruptionstothepowergrid................................................................................................................58Emergencydepartmentdataforheat-relatedhealthimpacts..............................................................59Inflationadjusteddamagesfromextremeweather..............................................................................60Canopycoverofurbanandcommunityforests.....................................................................................61

Recommendationsforaction................................................................................................62

Resources..............................................................................................................................64


SummaryClimatechangeisalreadyoccurringinMinnesotaanditsimpactsareaffectingourstate’senvironment,economy,andcommunities.Minnesotastategovernmentisconcernedabouttheimpactsofachangingclimateonournaturalresources,economy,health,andqualityoflife,andistakingactiontoaddresstheseemergingchallenges.Workonclimatechangecanbecategorizedintotwoareas:adaptationandmitigation.Climateadaptation,thefocusofthisreport,isdefinedasdevelopingandimplementingstrategies,initiatives,andmeasurestohelphumanandnaturalsystemsprepareforandaddressclimatechangeimpacts.Stateagenciesareworkingtoadapttoachangingclimateandmanageitsrisksbybuildingamoreresilientstate.Climatechangemitigationemphasizesreducinggreenhousegasemissionswiththegoaloflimitingthemagnitudeorprogressionofclimatechange.Minnesotastategovernmenthasanumberofpoliciesandlawsinplacethathavehelpedusmakesignificantprogresstowardourgreenhousegasreductiongoals,includingthe2007NextGenerationEnergyAct.Thesectionofthisreport,ClimateAdaptationandMitigation,outlineshowthesetwoapproachesarecomplementarytoeachother.

This2017InteragencyClimateAdaptationTeam(ICAT)reportupdatespreviousreportsfromthisteam,andrepresentsacontinuingandevolvingstepinaplanningprocessbyMinnesotastategovernment.ThisrevisedreporthighlightsstepstakenbystateagenciessincethepreviousICATreportin2013toadapttoachangingclimate,reducerisksandimpacts,andincreasetheresilienceofourcommunities.

SinceJuly2009,MinnesotastateagencieshavebeencollaboratingonclimateadaptationeffortsthroughICAT.ICATcurrentlyincludesrepresentativesfromthefollowingMinnesotastatedepartmentsandagencies:Administration,Agriculture,Commerce(DivisionofEnergyResources),Corrections,EmploymentandEconomicDevelopment,EnvironmentalQualityBoard,Health,MilitaryAffairs,NaturalResources(includingtheStateClimatologyOffice),PollutionControl,PublicSafety(DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement),Transportation,WaterandSoilResources,aswellastheMetropolitanCouncilandMinnesotaStateCollegesandUniversities.

ICATpreparedapreliminaryreportinAugust2010,AdaptingtoClimateChangeinMinnesota,whichwasfollowedupwitha2013reportofthesametitle.This2017reportupdatesandexpandsonthe2013document.Thepurposeofthisupdatedreportisto:

• FurtherdescribeobservedandprojectedclimateimpactsinMinnesota.• OutlineMinnesotastateagencyactivitiesthatarehelpingtoadapttoclimatechange.• Providerecommendationsforfuturestateactionandinteragencycollaboration.

Complementarytothisinteragencyeffortwithinstategovernment,UniversityofMinnesotaExtensionandtheUniversityofMinnesota’sWaterResourcesCentercoordinatetheMinnesotaClimateAdaptationPartnership(MCAP),whichbringstogetherfederalandstateagencies,organizations,andindividualsstatewidewithaninterestinclimateadaptation.MCAPservesasavaluablenetworkingandeducationalresourcetoconnectandeducateprofessionalsworkingintheclimateadaptationfieldandsponsorsastatewideclimateadaptationconference.Thisyear,insteadofastandaloneconference,theMinnesotaconferencehasbeenintegratedintotheNationalAdaptationForuminSaintPaulonMay9-11,2017.

Minnesotaisoneofagrowingnumberofstategovernmentsworkingtoaddressclimateadaptation.AwiderangeofadaptationplanningactivitiesinotherstatesaredescribedontheGeorgetownClimateCenter’swebsiteathttp://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/plans.htmlandtheCenterforClimateandEnergySolutions’websiteathttps://www.c2es.org/us-states-regions/policy-maps/adaptation.


Minnesota’sclimatebackgroundMinnesota’spositionnearthecenterofNorthAmerica,halfwaybetweentheEquatorandtheNorthPole,subjectsustoanexceptionalvarietyofweather.Duringthecourseofasingleyear,mostMinnesotanswillexperienceblindingsnow,bitterwindchills,howlingwinds,poundingthunderstorms,torrentialrains,andheatwaves,aswellasdozensofbrightandsunnydays.GiventhehighvariabilitythatweexpectfromMinnesota’sclimate,itcanbedifficulttodiscernwhere,when,andhowclimaticconditionshavechangedinourstate.

Theconditions,however,havechangedrapidly,andanoverwhelmingbaseofscientificevidenceprojectsthatMinnesota’sclimatewillseeadditionalsignificantchangesthroughtheendofthe21st

century.Overthelastseveraldecades,thestatehasexperiencedsubstantialwarmingduringwinterandatnight,withincreasedprecipitationthroughouttheyear,oftenfromlargerandmorefrequentheavyrainfallevents.Thesechangesalonehavedamagedbuildingsandinfrastructure,limitedrecreationalopportunities,alteredourgrowingseasons,impactednaturalresources,andaffectedtheconditionsoflakes,rivers,wetlands,andourgroundwateraquifersthatprovidewaterfordrinkingandirrigation.TheyearsanddecadesaheadinMinnesotawillbringevenwarmerwintersandnights,andevenlargerrainfalls,inadditiontootherclimaticchangesnotyetexperiencedinthestate.

ClimateobservationsandtrendsinMinnesota:Whathaschangedandwhathasnot?In2014,theU.S.GlobalChangeResearchProgramcompleteditsthirdNationalClimateAssessment.ThiscomprehensivescientificreviewofthestateofclimatechangesciencedemonstratedthattheU.S.isalreadyseeingincreasingtemperatures,largerrainfallswithincreasedflash-flooding,heaviersnowstorms,moresevereheatwaves,andworseningdroughtconditionsinsomeareas.WithinparticularregionsoftheU.S.,someoftheseobservedchangesaremoreintense,somearelessintense,andsomearenegligibleornotyetoccurring.

BoththesciencesummarizedintheNationalClimateAssessmentandhigh-qualityclimaticdatashowthatinMinnesotaandtheMidwest,risingtemperatureshavebeendrivenbyadramaticwarmingofwinterandalsonights,withboththefrequencyandtheseverityofextremecoldconditionsdecliningrapidly.Annualprecipitationincreaseshavebeenpunctuatedbymorefrequentandmoreintenseheavyrainfallevents.Theheaviestsnowstormshavealsobecomelarger,evenaswinterhaswarmed(seeFigure1).

SeveralotherchangesnotedelsewhereintheU.S.andworldhavenotyetbeenobservedinMinnesota.Forinstance,summerhightemperatureshavenotincreasedinseveraldecades,andheatwaveshavenotworsenedwhencomparedtohistoricalpatterns.DroughtsinMinnesotaalsohaveshownnolong-termincreaseinmagnitude,duration,orgeographiccoverage.Tornadoes,largehail,anddamagingthunderstormwindsaredifficulttocomparehistoricallybutshowacomplextendencytowardmore“outbreaks”consistingofmultipleeventsatatime,thoughnoincreasesinoverallnumbersorseverity.


Figure1

SnapshotofobservedtrendsamongcommonweatherhazardsinMinnesota,andconfidencethatthosehazardsarechanginginresponsetoclimatechange.Graphicbasedoninformationfrom2014NationalClimateAssessmentanddataanalyzedbytheMinnesotaDNRStateClimatologyOffice.

ObservedwarminginMinnesotaMinnesota’swarmingiswellunderway,withannualtemperaturesincreasingatanaveragerateofnearlyaquarterdegreeFahrenheit(F)perdecadesince1895.Muchofthetotalwarming,however,hasbeenconcentratedinthemostrecentseveraldecades,withwarmingratesaveragingnearlyahalfadegreeperdecadesince1970.Thethreemostrecent10-yearperiods(through2015)havebeenbyfarthewarmestonrecord.Boththelong-termandrecentratesofwarminginMinnesotaarefasterthannationalandglobaltrends.


Figure2

Minnesotaannualtemperaturecomparisonsbetweenconsecutive10-yearperiodsandthe1895-1960average(blackline).CourtesyofMinnesotaStateClimatologyOffice.DatafromNationalCentersforEnvironmentalInformation(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series).

ColdweatherwarmingManypeoplearesurprisedtolearnthatmuchoftheobservedtemperatureincreaseinMinnesotahasnotresultedfrommorewarmweather,butinsteadfrommajorreductionsincoolandcoldweather.ThemajorityofMinnesota’swarminghastakenplacewhereandwhenit’susuallythecoldest—namelyduringwinter,atnight,andespeciallyinthenorthernpartsofthestate.

Ourstateisrenownedforitsseverewinters,buttheseinparticularhavebeenlesscommoninrecentdecades,ascoldweatherextremeshavebecomerare.Simplyput,wedon’tgetascoldasweusedto,anditisnowincreasinglycommonforMinnesotacommunitiestofailtoreachformerlycommon“coldweatherbenchmarks.”

Forexample,ofthe50wintersfrom1944-45through1993-94,onlysixfailedtoproduceareadingof-40°FatanofficialweatherobservingsiteinMinnesota.Bycontrast,nineofthelast22wintershavefailedtodoso,meaningthatitisnowoverthreetimesmorelikelythatMinnesotawillnotseea-40°readingthanitwashistorically.AlthoughsomeMinnesotansviewanywarmingduringwinterasamajorimprovement,therealityisthatwehavealreadybeguntoseedetrimentalimpactsonournaturalresourcesandavailabilityofpopularwinterrecreationalactivitiessuchasicefishingandskiing.

Althoughit’smostnoticeableinwinter,this“coldweatherwarming”isaffectingthelowesttemperaturesofeachofourseasons,andaccountsforthemajorityofourobservedannualwarming.Summerhasindeedgottenwarmer,especiallyinthepastfewdecades,butthiswarminghasbeenobservedalmostentirelyduringthenight,whendailyminimumtemperaturesarerecorded.Summer


hightemperaturesareactuallyfallingslightlyinthesouthernpartsofMinnesota.Winterlowtemperatures,ontheotherhand,havebeenwarmingdramaticallyacrosstheentirestate,andespeciallyinthenorth(seeFigure3).Thegeographicandseasonalpatternsofobservedwarmingareconsistentwithchangesexpectedfromincreasedatmosphericgreenhousegases,becausethosegasestrapheatescapingfromtheearth,andthemajorityofheatescapeswhenthereislittleornoincomingsunlight—duringwinterandatnight.

Figure3

Comparisonsoftotalchangebetween1895and2015using30-yearaveragingperiods,forannualaveragetemperature,winterlowtemperature,andsummerhightemperaturesoverthenorthern,central,andsouthernportionsofthestate.Valueswereobtainedbysubtractingtheaverageofthefirst30yearsofrecord(1895-1924)fromtheaverageofthelast30yearsofrecord(1986-2015).Eachregionisablendofthreeclimaticdivisions,asdefinedbytheNationalCentersforEnvironmentalInformation(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-references/maps/us-climate-divisions.php),whichisalsothesourceforthedivisionalclimatedataused(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series).MapspreparedbyMinnesotaStateClimatologyOffice.

IncreasedprecipitationHighertemperaturesgloballyhaveevaporatedmoresurfaceandoceanwaterintotheatmosphere,whichinturnhasprovidedmorepotentialmoistureforprecipitatingweathersystems.InMinnesota,theresulthasbeenincreasedprecipitation,withannualtotalsincreasingatanaveragerateofjustoveraquarterinchperdecadestatewidesince1895(seeFigure4).

Thisprecipitationincreaseisfoundinallseasons,butspringandsummerarebecomingwetteratfasterratesthanfallandwinter.Whereastemperatureincreaseshavebeengreatestinthenorthernpartsofthestate,precipitationincreaseshavebeenwelldistributedgeographically,andhavesomewhatfavoredsouthernMinnesota,whichhasbetteraccesstomoisturefromtheGulfofMexico,andismorefrequentlynearthe“low-leveljet”airflow(arelativelyfast-movingzoneofwindsintheloweratmosphere)thatinfluencesprecipitationproduction.


Figure4

Statewideaverageannualprecipitation,1895-2015.The1895-2015trend(soliddarkgreenline)isbasedonlinearstatisticaltechniquesanddoesnotimplyanexactdecade-by-decadeprecipitationincrease.Source:NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)ClimateataGlance(http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/)

HeavyrainfallandunprecedentedextremesHeavyrainfalleventsinMinnesotaarealreadybecominglargerandmorecommon,andhavebeencontributingtoanincreasingshareofannualprecipitationinMinnesota.Forinstance,thestatehas40dailyweatherobservingsiteswhoserecordsstretchback100years.One-inchrainfallsatthesesiteshavebeenupto26%morefrequentduringthepast40yearsthanthe1916-1960average.Thesingleheaviestrainfallamountrecordedamongthose40siteseachyearhasincreasedbynearlyaninchsince1916,andthesingleheaviestrainfallamountrecordedper10-yearintervalhasroughlydoubled(fromjustoverfiveinchestojustover10inches)duringthatsameperiod(seeFigure5).

ResearchspecifictotheUpperMidwestindicatesthatthephysicalmechanismssupportingheavyrainfalleventsinMinnesotaarelikelytohavebegunintensifyinginresponsetoclimatechange.Thisresearchalsoshowsthatthesemajoreventsmaybetakingplaceearlierduringthegrowingseasonthanthehistoricalaverage.Thus,inadditiontoincreasesinthefrequencyandintensityofheavyrainfall,itsseasonaltimingmaybeexpandingacrossthecalendar.


Figure5

Changesinthefrequencyofone-inchrainfallsrelativetothe1916-1960average(verticalbars),from40long-termstationsinMinnesota.Alsoshownarethe10-yearaverage(lowerdottedline,rightaxis)and10-yearmaximumvalues(uppersolidline,rightaxis)oftheheaviestsinglerainfallamountrecordedeachyearatanyofthe40stations.Notethatthe10-yearmaximumvaluehasdoubledfromjustoverfiveinchesatthebeginningoftherecord,tojustover10inchesattheendoftherecord.CourtesyofMinnesotaStateClimatologyOffice.

Inadditiontoincreasesinthefrequencyandmagnitudeofheavyrain,Minnesotahasalsoseenadramaticincreaseinlarge-coverageflashfloodseventsinrecentyears.Sincetheyear2000,thestatehashadsevencatastrophic“mega-rainevents”—whenatleastsixinchesofrainfallsonanareagreaterthan1,000squaremiles.The30yearsfrom1970through1999sawonlyfoursuchstorms,and2016becamethefirstyearonrecordwithmorethanone.Incidentally,themega-rainssince2000haveincludedthelargest,earliest,andlatestonrecord,suggestingthatweareseeingnotjustanintensification,butalsoalengtheningofourheavyandextremerainfallseason.

NoknownchangeintornadoesandsevereconvectivestormsTornadoes,straight-linewinds,andlargehailarearegularpartofMinnesota’swarm-seasonclimate,anddonotappeartobeworseninginresponsetoclimatechange.Unfortunately,seriousstudyoftrendsamongthesehazardsislimitedbyinconsistenttrackingandmeasurementovertime.


Sincethe1990s,personalelectronics,socialmedia,improvedforecasting,andspottertrainingprogramshaveallledtoincreasedreportingofsmallandgenerallyweaktornadoes.Minnesotahasnot,however,seenanincreaseindamagingtornadoesratedF1orgreater(EF-1orgreaterbeginningin2007;seeFigure6).Thenumberofdayswithdamagingtornadoeshasnotincreasedeither,andtheseobservationsareconsistentwiththosereportedaroundtheU.S.inthe2014NationalClimateAssessment.Thus,atpresent,thereisnoindicationthatclimatechangeisaffectingthecharacterofMinnesota’ssevereweather.

Figure6

Annualcountsaveragedbydecade,fordamagingtornadoesinMinnesotaratedatleastF1andF2onthedamagescale.Thegraphshowsthatevenwithimproveddetectiontechnologiesandspottertraining,thenumberofthesetornadoeshasbeenrelativelystableovertime,indicatingthatthesesevereweatherhazardsarenotcurrentlyrespondingtoclimatechange.Source,NOAAStormPredictionCenter,andNationalCentersforEnvironmentalInformation.


ProjectedclimatechangesinMinnesota

ContinuedrapidlossofcoldweatherextremesandenhancementofextremeprecipitationIntheyearsanddecadesahead,winterwarmingandincreasedextremerainfallwillcontinuetobeMinnesota’stwoleadingsymptomsofclimatechange(seeFigure7).

Figure7

SnapshotofprojectedandexpectedtrendsamongcommonweatherhazardsinMinnesota,andconfidencethatthosehazardswillchange(further)throughtheyear2099inresponsetoclimatechange.Graphicbasedoninformationfrom2014NationalClimateAssessment,anddataanalyzedbytheMinnesotaDNRStateClimatologyOffice.

Greenhousegasconcentrationswillcontinuerisingthroughthecentury,andtheair’sabilitytotrapheatfromtheearth’ssurfacewillincreaseaccordingly.Asaresult,winters,andcoldconditionsinparticular,willcontinuewarmingwellbeyondhistoricalbounds.Continuedwarmingoftheatmospherewillevaporateevenmorewaterintotheair,furtherlimitingtheamountofcoolingMinnesotawillbeabletoachieveatnightandduringthewinter.Thisincreasedwatervaporwillalsoenhanceprecipitatingweathersystems,continuingthetrendtowardmore—andlarger—heavyrainfallevents(seeFigure8).Minnesotacanexpectunprecedentedrainfalleventsduringtheremainderofthe21stcentury.


Figure8

Projectedchangesbymid-centuryinnumberofdaysannuallywithheavyrainfall,definedastheupper2%ofdailyprecipitationforthe1971-2000climateperiod.Leftimageisthe“ensemble”ormodelaverageforaloweremissionsscenario.Therightimageisthesame,butforahigheremissionsscenario.Imagesderivedfromoutputusedforthe2014NationalClimateAssessment,courtesyofGLISA(GreatLakesIntegratedScience+Assessments).

MorehotdayslikelyandmoredroughtpossibleClimatemodelsusedinthe2014NationalClimateAssessmentprojectthatMinnesotawillhaveagreatertendencytowardextremeheat,especiallybythemiddleofthe21stcentury.Eventhelower-emissionsscenariosleadtosignificantlymorehotdaysthanMinnesotaexperiencespresently(seeFigure9).

Thisprojectedincreaseisalikelyoutgrowthofthewarmerwinters,whichwillprovidewarmerbaselineconditionsduringtransitionintosummer,makingitmucheasiertoattainextremesofheat.

ThefuturedroughtsituationinMinnesotaislessclearandappearstodependonhowmuchgreenhousegasconcentrationsincreasebymid-century(seeFigure10).

Themajorityofmodelsusedforthe2014NationalClimateAssessmentindicatethatalthoughdroughtwillremainapartofMinnesota’sclimate,thestatewillcontinuegrowingwetterthroughthecentury.Inlower-emissionsscenarios,thesemodelsprojectnosignificantchangestatewideinthenumberofconsecutivelydrydaysbetweenprecipitationevents—indicatingthatclimatechangewillnotsignificantlyincreasedroughtlikelihoodinagivenyear.

Figure9

Projectedchangesbymid-centuryinnumberofdaysannuallywithhightemperaturesabove90°F,relativetothe1971-2000climateperiod.Projectionusesthe“ensemble”ormodelaverageforaloweremissionsscenario.Imagederivedfromoutputusedforthe2014NationalClimateAssessment,courtesyofGLISA(GreatLakesIntegratedScience+Assessments).


Whenthesesamemodelsarerunwithhigheremissionsscenarios,however,theydepictMinnesotabecomingmorepronetodryperiods.Combinedwithdramaticincreasesinhotdays,thesedryperiodswouldincreaseMinnesota’sshort-term,andpossiblyevenlong-termdroughtrisk,suggestingthatdroughtindeedcouldbecomeworseasaresultofclimatechange.

Figure10

Projectedchangesbymid-centuryinannualaveragenumberofdrydaysbetweenprecipitationevents.Moreconsecutivedrydayswouldsuggestgreaterpotentialforatleastshort-termdrought.Notethatloweremissionsscenario(left)yieldsnonetchangestatewide,whilehigheremissionsresultinanearlystatewideincrease.Bothimagesshowthe“ensemble”ormodelaveragesgivenemissionsscenarios.Imagesderivedfromoutputusedforthe2014NationalClimateAssessment,courtesyofGLISA(GreatLakesIntegratedScience+Assessments).

OtherhazardsThescienceisunclearaboutwhatwillhappentothefrequencyandseverityoftornadoes,damagingthunderstorms,andicestormsinMinnesota.ItisclearthatMinnesotawillcontinuetoexperienceallofthesethroughoutthecentury,thoughresearchsuggeststheirfrequenciesmaydecrease.Tornadoesanddamagingthunderstormhazardsmaybecomemoreconcentratedonfewerdays,indicatingthepotentialformore“outbreaks,”evenmajorones,intheyearsanddecadesahead.However,thebodyofresearchintothesehazardsremainsquitelimited,andprojectionsoffuturetrendswillchangeasmoreresearchiscompleted.


ImpactsofclimatechangeinMinnesotaTheobservedmeasurementsandfutureprojectionsdescribedbytheNationalClimateAssessmentandtheMinnesotaStateClimatologyOfficeprovideinsightintoclimatetrendsthatareimpactingMinnesotanowaswellasthoseanticipatedinthefuture.Complicatingthevariedimpactsofclimatechangeisthatthesechangesalsointeractwithandreinforceeachother.Forexample,droughtandheatmaybothcontributetowildfires,whichmayinturnleadtochangesinplantandanimalpopulationsaswellasotherecologicalshifts.Extremeprecipitationmayincreaseflooding,alongwiththepotentialforrunofforcombined-seweroverflowandcontaminationofrecreationalanddrinkingwatersources,whichmayalreadybeinshortsupplyduetodrought.Inaddition,climatechangewillamplifytheeffectsofexistingpublichealthandenvironmentalchallenges,suchasimpairedairquality,lossofwildlifehabitat,invasivespecies,andlimitationstocleanwatersupplies.

Asinformedbyclimatedataandtrends,Minnesotastateagenciesareidentifyingsignificantcurrentandfutureclimatechangeimpacts.Theseimpacts,includingvariableandconsiderablechangesintemperatureandprecipitation,areexpectedtohavesubstantialeffectsonpublichealth,communityinfrastructure,ecosystemhealth,environmentalquality,andnaturalresource-basedeconomies.

ThefollowingdescriptionssummarizesomecurrentlyobservedandanticipatedimpactsofclimatechangebyICATmemberagencies.

IncreasingtemperatureandextremeheatClimatedatafortheMidwestshowobservedincreasesinaveragetemperatures.Projectedtemperaturesareexpectedtorisesignificantlybymid-century,includinganincreaseinparticularlyhotdays.Extremeheataffectshumanandanimalhealth,agriculture,andnaturalandconstructedinfrastructure.

Extremeheateventsarelinkedtoarangeofillnesses,evendeath,andcanexacerbatepre-existingchronicconditionssuchascardiovascular,respiratory,liver,andneurologicaldiseases,endocrinedisorders,andrenaldiseaseorfailure.Populationswhoaremostvulnerabletoextremeheatincludepersonsover65orunderfiveyearsold;livingalone;livinginabuildingorinstitutionwithoutair-conditioning,orresidingonthetopmostfloorofabuilding;andwithanincomeatorbelowthepovertyline.Peoplewhoareexposedtoheatbecauseofrecreationalactivitiesorjob-relatedactivitiesalsoaremorevulnerable,includingathletes,constructionworkers,andlandscape/agriculturalworkers.

IncreasingtemperaturesalsoimpactMinnesota’sagriculturalindustry.Agricultureishighlydependentonspecificclimateconditions.Asaresultofincreasingtemperature,cropproductionareasmayshifttonewregionsofthestatewherethetemperaturerangeforgrowthandyieldofthosecropsisoptimalunlessnewclimate-adaptedvarietiesaredevelopedandutilized.

AccordingtotheNationalClimateAssessment,theMidwestgrowingseasonhaslengthenedbyalmosttwoweekssince1950dueinlargeparttoearliertimingofthelastspringfreeze.Thistrendisexpectedtocontinue.Whilealongergrowingseasonmayincreasetotalcropproduction,otherclimatechanges,suchasincreasedcroplossesandsoilerosionfrommorefrequentandintensestorms,andincreasesinpestsandinvasivespecies,couldoutweighthisbenefit.

Theremayalsobehigherlivestocklossesduringperiodsofextremeheatandhumidity.Lossesoflivestockfromextremeheatleadtoachallengeindisposalofanimalcarcasses.ThereislimitedrenderingcapacityinMinnesotaavailableforlivestockdisposal.Ifarenderingfacilityisnotavailable,lostlivestockmustbecompostedonanimpervioussurface.Iflossesarehigh,findinganimpervioussurfacelargeenoughisachallenge.Inanattempttoadapttoincreasedtemperatures,livestockareasinMinnesotamayshiftfarthernorth.Asaresultofnewlivestockareasandtheresultingmanure


production,farmersmaytransitiontomanure-basedfertilizerapplicationsinareaswheretraditionallyonlycommercialfertilizershavebeenused,withaccompanyingenvironmentaladvantagesanddisadvantages.

Increasingairtemperaturesarecausingwatertemperaturestorise,whichimpactsaquaticspeciesaswellashumanhealth.Increasedwatertemperatureresultsindecreaseddissolvedoxygenandgreatervulnerabilityofaquaticorganismstowaterpollution.Shiftsofpopulationoffishspeciesfromcoldwatertowarmwaterspeciesareexpectedtooccurandarealreadybeingobserved.

Increasedwatertemperaturesalsomaycontributetotheoccurrenceofharmfulalgalblooms,includingpotentiallytoxicalgae,inlakesandwaterwayswherepeopleswim,fish,orengageinotherrecreationalactivities.Harmfulalgalbloomscancausepainfulskinirritationandupperrespiratoryhealthproblemsaswellasdeathofpetsandotheranimals.

Permittedwastewatertreatmentpondsexperiencingearlierice-offfacegreaterproblemsmeetingeffluentlimitsaswarmertemperaturesincreasealgalgrowth,whichaffectstotalsuspendedsolids,pH,andcarbonaceousbiochemicaloxygendemand.Inaddition,warmertemperaturesinsummerimpactthebiologicalprocessesinwastewatertreatmentplants,ashighertemperaturesincreasebacterialreactionratesandthedensityofsettledsludge.

Additionally,extremeheatcancauseroadstobuckleanddamageothertransportationinfrastructuresuchasraillines.Thismayincreaseexpendituresforrepairs,dangerousconditionsfordrivers,andpotentialfortraveldisruption.

AirqualityExtremeheatisoftenassociatedwithdegradationofairquality.Climatechangemayaffectairqualitydirectlythroughchangesinseasonalclimateandweather,andindirectlythroughdriversofenergyuseandresultingemissions.Climatechangeisexpectedtohaveasubstantialeffectonambientparticulatematterandozone.

Increasedtemperaturescan:

• Increasepollutionfromfossilfuelcombustion.• Increasetheemissionofvolatileorganiccompoundsfromplantsandvegetationthatcontribute

totheformationofozone.• Increaseformationofground-levelozone.

Highertemperaturescontributetoincreasedpollutionfromfossilfuelcombustionasaresultofelectricitygeneratedtorunairconditioning.Extremeheatmayresultindeploymentofstationarygeneratorstoreducepeakpowerloads,whichfurtherincreasesairpollution.Also,extremeheatanddroughtcanleadtomorewildfires,whichcreatemoreparticulatematter.

Increasedground-levelozonepollutionandparticulatematterassociatedwithwarmertemperaturesraisestheriskofpotentialnonattainmentofairqualitystandardsandincreasedairqualityalertsinMinnesota.Theurbanheatislandeffectcanalsocontributetodecreasesinairqualitythroughincreasedozoneformationandgreateruseofairconditioning.(Thiseffectoccursbecauseurbanareashavelesscoolingvegetation,moreheat-absorbingbuildingsandconcretesurfaces,andgreatercombustionoffuelsthansurroundingruralareas,therebytypicallyleadingtohighertemperaturesincities.)

Exposuretoparticulatemattercanaggravateillnesses,suchaschronicobstructivepulmonarydisease(COPD),cardiovasculardisease,asthma,anddevelopmentofchroniclungdisease.Itisalsoassociatedwithcardiopulmonarymortality.OzoneexposurecanexacerbateasthmaandCOPD.


Airpollutiondisproportionatelyimpactscertainvulnerablepopulations.Forexample,higherozonelevelsmaycauseasthmainchildren.Peoplewithrespiratoryandcardiovasculardiseasesandtheelderlyareparticularlysusceptibletoincreasesinparticulatematterandozonepollution.

DroughtAlthoughitisnotyetclearhowclimatechangewillimpacttheoccurrenceofdroughtinMinnesota,droughtanddryperiodswillcontinuetooccurregularlyinthestate.Droughtimpactsavailabilityofwaterforcommunityandindustrialpurposes,aswellasfornaturalecosystems.Lackofwaterhassignificanteconomicandecologicaleffects.

Droughtimpactsthequalityofsoil,includingtheneedtomanageclaysoilsthatshrinkwhendryandcancreatecracksthatareapossibleconduitforgroundwatercontamination.Droughtalsohasimpactsonthequalityofcropyields,andleadstoincreaseddemandforirrigation,puttingadditionalpressureonalreadystrainedaquifersandcontributingtogroundwaterdepletion.Droughtadverselyaffectscropmoistureandgrowth,andthereforemaythreatenMinnesota’slocalfoodproductionandaccess(includingavailabilityandpotentialpriceincreases),aswellasfeedandpasturesuppliesforlivestock.

Droughthassignificantimpactsonwaterquality.Forexample,streamflowloweredbydroughtreducesdilutionofwaterpollutants,negativelyaffectingfishandotheraquaticorganisms.

Dischargeperiodsforstabilizationpondtypewastewatertreatmentsystemsmayneedtobemodifiedtominimizeimpactsonreceivingwatersatlowerflows.Lowstreamflowdataforwatersreceivingcontinuousdischargesfrommechanicalfacilitiesmayneedtobemodifiedtoensurethatthereceivingsurfacewaterqualityismaintainedforthelocaldesignateduses.Droughtperiodsincreasethevalueofexploringopportunitiesfortreatedwastewaterreuse.

Droughthasimplicationsforairqualityandhumanhealth.Driersoil/fieldconditionsmaycausemoreairborneparticulatematterorincreasedfrequencyoflowairqualityinruralareas.Prolongeddroughtincreasesriskofwildfiresthatincreaseparticulatematterandreduceairquality,impactingchildren,theelderly,andthosewitharangeofchronichealthconditions.Wildfiresalsocandirectlycauseinjuriesordeathsfromsmokeinhalationandburns.Ruralpopulationsdependentonlocalfoodsources(suchasfish,wildlife,andwildplants)alsoexperiencehealthimpactsfromdroughtwhenthesesourcesarethreatened.

Droughtimpactscertaincontaminatedsiteremediationpractices,suchasphytoremediation(usingplantstoremediateorstabilizehazardouswastes).Irrigationmaybenecessaryifdrought-tolerantplantsarenotused.

ExtremeweathereventsBothobservedclimatedataaswellasfutureprojectionsindicateincreasesinveryheavyprecipitationinMinnesota.Heavyprecipitationevents,storms,andfloodinghavesignificantimpactsonMinnesota’scommunitiesandecosystems.Theseincludeeffectsonwaterandsoilresources,agriculture,drainageinfrastructure,humanhealth,stormwatermanagement,wastewatertreatment,solidwastemanagement,andemergencyresponse.

Morefrequent,heavier,orlonger-durationrainfalleventswillincreasesoilerosionandrunoff,therebyincreasingdepositionofsedimentandcontaminantsinwaterbodies.ClimatechangehasthepotentialtoimpactthequalityofwaterandsoilresourcesthroughoutMinnesota.


MorefrequentextremeweathereventswillimpactMinnesotaagriculture,resultinginincreasedrunoffoffertilizers,pesticides,andsedimentparticularlyfromagriculturalfieldsthatdonothavebestmanagementpracticesinplacesuchasbuffers,grassedwaterways,andcropresidueleftonthefields.Fieldfloodingcanresult.Therearealsocoststothestatefordisasterassistance(e.g.,theMinnesotaDepartmentofAgriculture’sfloodassistanceprograms)whichwilllikelyincreaseasaresultofclimatechange.

Damagetofeedcropsfromextremeweatheralsoaffectslivestock.Greaterprecipitationincreaseschallengesforapplyingmanureinanenvironmentallysafemannertofields.Floodingcanalsocauseoverflowofmanurestoragebasinswhichhaveinadequatestoragecapacity,leadingtocontaminationofnearbywaterbodiesanddeathofaquaticorganisms.

Increasedextremeweathereventsputadditionalpressureonthestate’sdrainageinfrastructure.Thereisapotentialformoreerosionwithinolderdrainagesystemsthatdonothaveadequateoutletsorerosioncontrolsinplace.

Flashfloodingfromextremeprecipitationcandamagethebuiltenvironment,affectingcommercialandresidentialbuildings,roads,parks,andstormwaterinfrastructure.Water-saturatedsoilscandestabilizebluffs,trees,andutilitypoles.

Floodingfromincreasedaveragerainfall,rapidsnowmelt,orlocalized,heavyrainfallcanleadtohumanhealthimpactssuchas:

• Persistentmoldproblemsinhomesandbusinesses.• Injury(particularlyduetounsafestructuresandclean-upefforts).• Damagedhealthcareandmedicalfacilities.• Stressandmentalillnessduetotrauma,relocation,andloss.• Deathfromdrowning.

Floodingcontaminatesfreshwatersourceswithuntreatedorpartiallytreatedsewageandcancontaminatefoodcropswithwastefromnearbylivestockorwildanimals,threateningfoodsafety.Increasedwaterflowfromafloodmaydisruptmunicipalwatersuppliesandsewagetreatmentfacilities,aswellasprivatewellsandon-sitesepticsystems.Floodingofprivatewellsisaparticularlyseriouspublichealthconcern,giventhat,ingeneral,wellownersdonottestortreattheirwateraccordingtohealth-protectiveguidelines.

Changesinamount,frequency,andintensityofprecipitationimpactstormwatermanagement,potentiallyexceedingthedesigncapacityofstormwatertreatmentstructuresorimpactingfuturestructuredesign.Extremeweatheralsoaddstochallengesinmonitoringwaterquality.

Higherpeakintensityrainfalleventsmayresultinbypassofwastewatertreatmentfacilitiesorsanitaryseweroverflows,leadingtothereleaseofminimallytreatedoruntreatedwastewater.Wastewaterfacilitystaffneedtotrackchangesinfloodplainelevationsaspeakrainfallintensitiesincreasesothattreatmentfacilityinfrastructurecanbeprotectedduringpossiblefloodevents.

Thereisincreasedneedtoproperlycleanupandmanagesolidwaste,hazardousmaterials,anddebrisafterfloods,storms,andothernaturaldisasters.Morefrequentoccurrencesofnaturaldisastersincreasethedemandfordisasterremediationandcoordinationefforts,aswellasfortrainedstafftomeetthesespecificneeds.Designstandardsforpermittedwastemanagementfacilitiesarelinkedbyruletocertainmagnitudesofstormevents(i.e.,25-or100-yearstorms),andasstormseverityincreases,thisimpactsfacilityneeds.Thereisaccelerateduseofexistingwastemanagementcapacityduetomorewasteanddebrisresultingfromextremeweather.

Increasingnumbersoffloodsandstormsraisetheneedforstatesupportandresponse.Agreaterdemandforresponsefromlimitedstaffreducestimeavailableforinternalandexternalpreparedness,


includingpartneringandpreparingwithlocalunitsofgovernment,stateagencies,andindustry.Infrastructuredamageduetofloodingandstorms,suchasfloodedroadsandpowerandcommunicationtechnologyoutages,candisruptemergencyresponseinaffectedareas,whichalsohashealthimpacts.

Populationsparticularlyvulnerabletofloodingandextremeweathereventsincludetheelderlyandthosewithouttheabilitytoevacuatewhennecessary.Thoselivinginfloodplainsorotherareassubjecttofloodingareatparticularrisk.

ChangingseasonalityandlongertermecologicalchangesClimatedataindicatesignificantincreasesinthegrowingseason,atrendthatisanticipatedtocontinueincomingdecades.Thisimpactsourstate’shealth,economy,andecosystems.

Climatechangehasanimpactonvector-borne/zoonoticdiseases.Temperatureandprecipitationarekeyfactorsthatinfluencetheabundanceofvectormosquitoesandticks.Forexample,thesurvivalofblackleggedticks(vectorofLymediseaseandseveralotherdiseases)isenhancedduringwinterswithheavysnowfall,whichprovidesinsulationfromcoldtemperatures.Warmerandwetterspringandsummerseasonsprovidetickswithsufficientheatandmoisturetoallowforincreasedsurvivabilityandfeedingactivity.Additionally,warmerclimatesfacilitateintroductionofinvasivespeciesofinsectsandanimalsthatcarrydiseasesnotnormallyobservedinMinnesota.

Warmertemperaturescanlengthentheallergyseason,increasepotencyofallergens,andintroduceplantswithmoreallergenicpollen.PollenandmoldcausemildtosevereallergicreactionsinmanyMinnesotans,especiallythosealreadyburdenedwithasthmaorotherrespiratoryailments.Allergenscaninteractwithairpollutiontoamplifytheirindividualeffects.

Changingclimatealsoimpactsendemicandexoticpests,weeds,anddiseasesthataffectcropsandlivestock.Manyweeds,pests,andfungithriveunderwarmertemperatures,wetterclimates,andincreasedcarbondioxidelevels.Specifically,therearethreatsfrominvasivespeciessuchasemeraldashborerandgypsymoth.SomepestsfromotherareasthattravelbywindaremovingclosertoMinnesota—cutworms,aphids,soybeanrust,wheatrust,cornearworm,andleafhoppers.Certainpestsareabletoproducemoregenerationsperyearduetolongersummers,suchasEuropeancornborerandbrownmarmoratedstinkbug.

Climatechangewillleadtochangesinagriculturalseasonsandplantingdates.ThismaypresentanopportunityinMinnesota,inthatlongergrowingseasonscouldpotentiallyincreaseproductivityinsomeregions; however,heavierprecipitationcandelayplantingdatesorevendrowncrops.Changingseasonsmayalsoleadtothepotentialopportunityorneedfordevelopingorusingdifferentplantvarieties.Climatechangeamplifiestheeffectsofexistingdisturbances,suchasinvasivespecies,insectpestsanddiseases,andland-usechangeinagriculture.

Climatechangehasbroad,sweepingimpactsonecosystemsthatimpactfish,game,andwildplantpopulationswhichareusedforfood.Thismayhaveaparticularlynegativeimpactonrural,AmericanIndian,andotherpopulationgroupsrelyingmoreheavilyonsubsistencehuntingandwildplants.

ClimatechangealsoisalteringMinnesota’snaturallandsandwatersandtheusestheysustain.Examplesinclude:

• Lakes,rivers,andstreams:Likelyclimate-inducedimpactsincludeearlierice-outdates;lessseasonalicecover;increasesinwarmwaterfishspeciesanddecreasesincoldwaterfishspecies,suchasciscoes;increasedgrowthofalgaeanddiatomblooms;warmersurfacewatertemperaturesinlakes;andincreasedvariabilityintheseasonalandannualflowvolumeinMinnesotawatersheds.Climatechangealsoreducestheeffectivenessoffishandmacroinvertebrateindicatorscurrentlyusedasbiomonitorstoevaluatetheecologicalhealthofwaterbodies.


• Wetlands:Climatechangethreatenstoalterphysical,chemical,andbiologicalprocesses.Underprojectedwarmingscenarios,prairiepotholewetlandscouldshrinkandshiftoptimalwaterfowlbreedingconditionsintowesternMinnesota.WithoutmajorrestorationeffortstoreplacedrainedwetlandsinMinnesota,theprairiepothole“duckfactory”couldlargelydisappearbytheendofthecentury.Peatlands,whicharecurrentlyimportantcarbonsinks,maybegintodryout,causingthemtoaddcarbonemissionsintotheatmosphere.

• Forests:Projectedclimatechangeswillshifttreeranges,andsomecommonnortherntreespeciessuchasspruceandfirmaybecomerareinMinnesota.Dependingonwhetherprecipitationratesincreaseordecrease,Minnesota’sforestscouldeithertransitiontocommunitiesdominatedbycentralhardwoodtreessuchasoaksandhickories,orforestscouldshrinkandbereplacedbygrasslands.Inbothscenarios,climatechangewilllikelyexacerbateandintensifytheeffectsofinvasiveplantspecies,insectpests,andtreediseases.

• Prairies:Thelessthan1%ofremainingnativeprairiewilllikelybecomedrier,causingdeclinesinmesicandwetprairieplantandwildlifespecies.ProliferationofinvasivespecieswillmakeitdifficultforMinnesota’sprairiestoexpandandtakeadvantageofpotentialnewhabitatconditionscreatedbyawarmingclimate.Intensivehumanmanagement,suchasprescribedburnsandseeding,willbenecessarytofacilitatenewnativeprairieestablishment.

ConnectionbetweenclimateadaptationandmitigationWhilethisreportfocusesonclimateadaptationandnotclimatemitigation,itisimportanttoacknowledgeandsummarizesomeoftheconnectionsbetweenthesetwocomplementaryapproaches.Withoutseriousclimatemitigation,humansandnaturalsystemswillfinditincreasinglydifficult,ifnotimpossible,toadapt.Moreoftenthanonemightthink,thereisanoverlapbetweenclimateadaptationandmitigation,meaningthatthesameactioncanachievebothgoals.

Figure11helpstoillustratethatclimateadaptationandmitigationcanoverlapinsomecases.

Thechartbelow(seeFigure12)providesseveralexamplesofthoseoverlappingclimateadaptationresponsesthatalsocanreduceemissionsofgreenhousegases.

Figure11


Figure12

Climateadaptationpractice Climateadaptationbenefits Climatemitigationbenefits

Urbanandcommunitytrees • Providescoolingthatincreasesresiliencetoextremeheatandtheurbanheatislandeffect

• Increasesresiliencetoheavyrainfallbyinterceptionofraindropsbyleavesandabsorptionofwaterbyroots

• Shadefromtreescanreduceenergyuseforairconditioninginthesummer

• Actsasawindbreakthatcanblockcoldwinterwinds,reducingenergyneededforheating

Waterconservation • Increasesresiliencetodroughtbyreducingneedforanduseofgroundwaterandsurfacewater

• Reducesneedforenergyusedtopurifyandtransportwater

Whiteroofsandgreenroofs • Increasesresiliencetoextremeheat

• Reducesneedforairconditioninginthesummer

Homeinsulation • Increasesresiliencetoextremeheatandcold

• Reducesenergyneededforcoolingandheating

Inadditiontothoseclimateadaptationactionsthatcontributetoclimatemitigation,manyotheradaptationactionsresultinarangeofotherbenefits,whichcanincludeincreasedwaterandairquality,habitatforwildlife,publicsafety,andeconomicbenefits.Someexamplesofclimateadaptationactivitiesthatcanleadtomultiplebenefitsincludewetlandrestoration,soilconservation/erosionprevention,preservingorrestoringnaturalopenspaceonfloodplains,wastewaterrecyclingandreuse,sustainableagriculture,andstormwatermanagementbestpractices.

MinnesotastateagencyresponsestoclimateimpactsBasedonstateagencyunderstandingofclimatetrends,agenciesparticipatinginICATareimplementingprogramstoaddressclimateimpactsasdescribedbelow.

MinnesotaDepartmentofAgricultureAgricultureishighlydependentonspecificclimateconditionsand,consequently,issensitivetotheeffectsofclimatechange.Astheclimatecontinuestochange,agriculturalproducerswillneedtocontinuallyadapt.Theywillneedtorespondtoandrebuildfromdisasterswhentheyoccur.Moregenerally,theywillneedtoadapttheirpest,nutrient,andwatermanagement,conservationpractices,croprotationsandareasofcropproduction,andcrop/livestockmanagement.

TheMinnesotaDepartmentofAgriculture(MDA)hasmanyresourcestohelpproducersrespondandadapttoclimatechangeimpacts,whichareoutlinedbelow.Theyincludedisasterassistanceforcatastrophicevents,pestanddiseasemanagement,conservationandwatermanagement,andresearchanddemonstrationfordevelopingproductionsystemsthataremoreresilienttoclimatechange.


ProvidingassistancerelatedtoextremeweathereventsMDAoffersassistancetoproducerswhoareexperiencingdamageandlossestocrops,livestock,andstructures;potentialwater,soil,food,orothercontamination,andothercatastrophiceventsthatcanresultfromclimatechange.TheMDAwebpage,FoodandAgEmergencyResponse(www.mda.state.mn.us/about/aer)providescomprehensiveinformationonMDA’sandotheragencies’resources.Therearethreetypesofassistance:financial,emergencyresponse/cleanup,andadvisory.

Financialassistanceforlossesofcrops,livestock,orbuildingsincludes:

• DisasterRecoveryLoanProgram:Thesefundsareavailableat0%interesttofarmersforexpensesnotcoveredbyinsurance,includingcleanup,repair,orreplacementoffarmstructuresandsepticandwatersystems,aswellasreplacementofseed,othercropinputs,feed,andlivestock,whendamagedbyhighwinds,hail,tornado,floods,orexcessiverainfall.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/disaster/disasterloan

• AgriculturalImprovementLoanProgram:Thisloanprogramcanprovide3.25%financingforbuildingsthathavebeenlosttofloodingandarebeingreplacedwithnewbuildings.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/loans/improvement

• RestructureIILoanProgram:Farmerscanusethisloanprogramtorefinancetheirdebtat3.50%,providingthemwithfundstohelprepairflooddamageofanagriculturalnature.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/loans/restructure2

• LivestockInvestmentGrantProgram:Producerswhosufferalossduetoadverseconditionsmayapplyforthesefundstohelpcoverupto10%ofthecostforthepurchase,construction,orimprovementofbuildingsorfacilitiesfortheproductionoflivestock,andthepurchaseoffencingaswellasfeedingandwastemanagementequipment.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/livestockinvestment

Emergencyresponseandcleanupassistanceincludes:

• 24hourAgriculturalChemicalEmergencyResponse:AllnewreportsofincidentsaredirectedtotheMDAemergencyresponse(spills)team,whichisresponsiblefordirectingandassistingwiththeresponseandcleanupofemergencyincidents.www.mda.state.mn.us/chemicals/spills/emergresponse.aspx

• AgriculturalChemicalResponseandReimbursementAccount(ACRRA):ACRRAreimbursescostsincurredincleaningupagriculturalchemical(pesticideandfertilizer)incidents.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/disaster/acrra

• EmergencyResponsetoAmmoniaSpillswebsite:Thissiteisdesignedasaneducationalaidforthosewhorespondto,preparefor,orwhowillbeinchargewhenaspillofanhydrousammoniaoccurs.www.mda.state.mn.us/chemicals/spills/ammoniaspills

• FoodSafetyRapidResponseTeam:Consistingoftechnicalexpertsinfoodmanufacturing,foodinspection,microbiologyandepidemiology,thisteamcanverifythesafetyofstoredfoodproductsafteradisaster.www.mda.state.mn.us/about/aer/foodsafety

Advisoryassistanceincludes:

• FloodPreventionandRecoveryInformationforFarmersandRanchers:Beforeandafteraflood,MDAprovidesrecommendationsandguidanceformovinglivestock,storedgrain,fooditems,agriculturalinputs,seed,andothermaterialsoutofharm’sway.Ourfieldpersonnelalsoworkwithagriculturalchemicalfacilitiestostrengthensafeguardsaroundequipmentandstoragetankstopreventaccidentalreleaseofproduct.www.mda.state.mn.us/about/aer/flooding


• MinnesotaFarmerAssistanceNetwork(MFAN):MFANprovidesbusinessandfinancialguidanceatnocosttoMinnesotafarmersandfarmfamiliesfacingeconomichardship.www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mfan

• MinnesotaFarmAdvocates:FarmAdvocatesprovideone-on-oneassistanceforMinnesotafarmerswhofacecrisiscausedbyeitheranaturaldisasterorfinancialproblems.www.mda.state.mn.us/about/commissionersoffice/farmadvocates

PreventingandmanagingpestsanddiseaseAsweeds,insects,diseases,andotherpestsincrease,MDAhasresourcesfocusedonmanagingpests,andpreventing,detecting,andrespondingtoinvasiveinsects,diseases,andweeds.Programsinclude:

• IntegratedPestManagement(IPM)Program:TheIPMProgramdevelopsandimplementsstatewidestrategiesfortheincreaseduseofIPMtomanageestablishedpestsonprivateandstatemanagedlands.www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/ipm

• PestDetectionandResponseUnit:ThePestDetectionandResponseUnitfocusesoninvasiveinsectsandplantdiseasesthatthreatenMinnesota’sforestsandcrops.Thisincludes:

o Prevention—pestriskassessmentstoevaluatethechancesthatapestwillbecomeestablishedinMinnesota,andeducatingthepubliconhowtoidentifyandreportinvasivepests.

o Earlydetection—fieldsurveysandinspection,andinnovativedetectioneffortssuchasthe“ArrestthePest”hotline.

o Rapidresponse—IfaninvasivepestisdetectedinMinnesota,MDAhasresponseplanstoquicklydeterminetheextentoftheinfestationandcontainingittolimitthespread.www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/invasivesunit

• NoxiousandInvasiveWeedsProgram:TheNoxiousandInvasiveWeedTeamworkswithlocalgovernmentsandlandownerstoprotecttheenvironment,publichealth,publicroads,crops,livestock,orotherpropertyinMinnesotafromtheinjuriousimpactsofnoxiousandinvasiveweeds.www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol

HelpingdevelopmoreresilientproductionsystemsandpracticesTheMDAprovidestechnicalassistance,conductsandsupportsresearchanddemonstrationprojects,andencouragesbestmanagementpracticestohelpfarmersandothersprotectandpreserveMinnesota’swaterresources.Improvedunderstandingandinnovationinwater-relatedissuescanalsohelpagriculturedealwithnewandfluctuatingconditionsofclimatechange.MDAprogramsinclude:

• CleanWaterResearchProgramidentifiesunderlyingprocessesthataffectwaterquality,evaluatestheeffectivenessofagriculturalbestmanagementpractices(BMPs),anddevelopstechnologiestotargetBMPstocriticalareasofthelandscape.www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/cleanwaterfund/research

• On-FarmProjectsmonitortrendsovertime,anddemonstrateandevaluatemanagementpracticesunderconditionsthataretypicalinanarea.TheseincludeDiscoveryFarmsMinnesota.www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/cleanwaterfund/onfarmprojects

• MinnesotaAgriculturalWaterQualityCertificationProgram(MAWQCP)isavoluntaryopportunityforfarmersandagriculturallandownerstotaketheleadinimplementingconservationpracticesthatprotectourwater.Thosewhoimplementandmaintainapprovedfarmmanagementpracticeswillbecertifiedandinturnobtainregulatorycertaintyforaperiodof10years.www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/waterprotection/awqcprogram

• DrainageWaterManagement:TheMDAcollaborateswithotheragencies,localgovernments,academicinstitutions,andindustryorganizationstofosterinnovationindesigningandmanagingagriculturaldrainage(removalofexcesswaterfromfieldsthroughtheuseofditchesand


subsurfacepipe),includingtemporarystorage,tomaximizebenefitsandprotecttheenvironment.

• SustainableAgricultureDemonstrationGrants:Grantsareawardedtoindividualsorgroupsforon-farmsustainableagricultureresearchordemonstrationofpracticesthatpromoteenvironmentalstewardshipandconservationofresourcesaswellasimproveprofitabilityandqualityoflifeonfarmsandinruralareas.www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/demogrant

Features(seephotosbelow)tostorewaterandallowinfiltrationareamongagriculturalwatermanagementpracticesthathelpreduceimpactsofextremeweathereventstofarmers,downstreamlandowners,andtheenvironment.

Constructedwetlandinforegroundprovidesadditionalwaterstoragecapacitytoreducefieldflooding,visibleinbackground.Photo:DustinBenes,MartinCountySWCD.

AdrainageimprovementprojectonBlueEarthCountyDitchNo.57(CD57)helpscontrolflowsandimprovewaterqualityofdrainagewaterfromagricultureandstormwaterfromtheCityofMapleton.Photo:ISGArchitecture,Engineering,Environmental,andPlanning.

MinnesotaDepartmentofCommerceTheMinnesotaDepartmentofCommerceplaysasignificantroleinmakingMinnesotamoreresilienttothethreatsposedbyourchangingclimate.Intheareaofclimateadaptation,Commercemaintainsthestate’senergyemergencyplan,coordinateswithMinnesota’sutilitiesonrestorationofserviceduringorafteremergencies,includingweather-inducedoutages,anddeploysaConsumerResponseTeamtoassistwithdisasterrecoverysituationsthroughitsInsuranceDivision.CommercehasbeenactivelycollaboratingwiththeNationalAssociationofInsuranceCommissionerstosurveyMinnesotainsurancecompaniesontheirpreparationforclimatechange.


Commerceservesastheleadentitytocoordinateresourcesandinformationamongstateagenciesthathaveresponsibilitiesformattersrelatedtoenergy.Climateadaptation-relatedactivitiesofthedepartmentinclude:

Energyreliability• Modellong-termenergyneedsunderchangingeconomicandenvironmentalconditions,

includingchangesinclimate.• Monitorutilities’generation,transmissionanddistributionplanstoassurethatenergyreliability

ismaintained.• Coordinateactivitieswithregionalandfederalagenciesresponsibleforassuringreliabilityinthe

electricitysector,suchastheMidwestIndependentSystemOperator(MISO),theMidwestReliabilityOrganization,andtheNorthAmericanElectricReliabilityOrganization.

• Monitorsuppliesofliquidfuels(petroleum,biofuels)toassurethatadequatesuppliesaremaintained.

Energyemergencyplanning• Createin-houseexpertiseatthestatelevelonenergyassuranceplanningandresiliency,

focusingoncriticalinfrastructureinterdependencies,cybersecurity,energysupplysystems,energydataanalysis,andcommunications.CommercehasstaffworkinginenergyassuranceplanningandCertifiedEmergencyManagement.

• CoordinateMinnesota’sutilitiesonrestorationofutilityserviceduringorafteraweather-relatedemergency.

• RefinetheexistingEnergyAssurancePlantoincorporateresponseactionstonewenergyportfolios.

• SmartGridtechnologies,cybersecurity,andemergingenergyissues,gatherdataondeliveredfuelsandupdatecontactlists.

• Reviseappropriatestatepolicies,procedures,andpracticestoreflecttheEnergyAssurancePlan.

• Developandinitiateprocessesormechanismsfortrackingtheduration,response,restoration,andrecoverytimeofenergysupplydisruptionevents.

• TrainappropriatepersonnelonenergyinfrastructureandsupplysystemsandthecontentandexecutionoftheEnergyAssurancePlan.

• Conductand/orparticipateinenergyemergencyexercises(intra-andinterstate)toevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheEnergyAssurancePlan.

Consumerresponseteam• Distributeinformation,answerquestions,workwithinsurancecompaniesonclaims.• Helpindividualsmakeinformeddecisionsafterastormdamagesahome,vehicle,orproperty.

Planninganddataanalysis• CoordinatewiththeMinnesotaPollutionControlAgencytoproduceareportongreenhousegas

emissiontrendseverytwoyears.• Evaluateimpactsofclimatechangeoninsuranceinvestmentsthroughparticipationonthe

NationalAssociationofInsuranceCommissioners’ClimateChangeandGlobalWarmingWorkingGroup.


• Signatoryto“Under2MOU”—SubnationalGlobalClimateLeadershipMemorandumofUnderstanding:Thepartiesagreetoshareinformationandexperienceonredesignofthepowersupplyandgrid,technicalsolutionsandadvancesinpromotinglarge-scaleswitchtorenewableenergyandtheintegrationofrenewableenergysources,actionsneededtoensuresecurityofsupply,andstrategiestopromoteenergyefficiency.

Energyefficiencyandrenewableenergy• AdministerthefederalWeatherizationAssistanceProgramtohelplow-incomefamiliesmake

theirhomesenergyefficient,whichcanincreaseadaptationtoextremetemperatures.• Assurethatelectricandnaturalgasutilitiesoffercost-effectiveenergyefficiencyprogramsfor

theircustomerswithagoalofreducingelectricusageby1.5%annually,whichcanhelptoaddresspeakelectricloadsinperiodsofextremeheat.

• NewstateinitiativessuchastheCommerce-administeredMadeinMinnesotaSolarEnergyIncentiveProgramandXcelEnergy’scommunitysolargardenprogramareexpandingsolarbusinessesinMinnesotaandcreatinglocaljobs.

• ParticipateinDepartmentofLaborandIndustry’sAdvisorycommitteethatadoptednewenergycodesforMinnesotain2015.

Casestudy:WeatherizationAssistanceProgramTheWeatherizationAssistanceProgram(WAP)providesfreehomeenergyupgradestoincome-eligiblehomeownersandrenterstohelpsaveenergyandensuretheirhomesarehealthyandsafe.WAPupgradeshelplow-incomeMinnesotanspermanentlyreducetheirenergybills.Eligibilityisforhouseholdsatorbelow200%ofthefederalpovertyincomeguidelines.FundedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,WAPisadministeredbytheMinnesotaDepartmentofCommerceincooperationwithanetworkof25localserviceproviders.

BenefittoMinnesotans:Minnesotaweatherizedabout2,200homesduringtheprogramyearJuly1,2014-June30,2015.Anannual30%reductioninenergybillscanbeachievedwhenfurnaceupgradesarecombinedwithinsulation,airleaksealing,andnewenergy-efficientappliances.

MinnesotaDepartmentofHealthMinnesotaisalreadyseeingimpactstopublichealthfromclimatechange.Whilethereareknown,effectivepublichealthresponsestomanyoftheseimpacts,thescope,timeline,andcomplexityofclimatechangechallengesareunprecedented.Criticalgapsremainintheresources,programs,and

Addingbattinsulationintheatticreducesheatlossandincreasesenergyefficiency.PhotofromtheMinnesotaDepartmentofCommerce


expertiseinMinnesota’spublichealthsystemtoaddresstheconsequencesofclimatechangeonpublichealth.

Figure13

Source:MinnesotaDepartmentofHealth

TheMinnesotaDepartmentofHealth(MDH)isrespondingtothesechallengesbyplanningandprovidinginformationandresourcestothepublic.TheMDHStrategicPlantoAdapttoClimateChangeoutlinesgoalsandobjectivesforMDHtoadaptandrespondtotheimpactsofclimatechange:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/data.html.DescriptionsoftheprogramsbelowhighlightsomeofMDH’sworktoprotectthepublicfromclimatechangeimpacts.

MinnesotaClimate&HealthProgramTheMinnesotaClimate&HealthProgramprovidesinformation,tools,trainings,andeducationtopublichealthprofessionalsandthepubliconthehealthimpactsofclimatechange.Belowisasummaryofinformationandtoolsavailabletothepublic.

• TheMinnesotaClimate&HealthProgram’swebsitecontainsinformationontopicsthatareinfluencedbyclimatechange:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/.Thewebsiteservesasacommunicationvehiclewiththepublicandalsoprovidesaccesstoresourcesand


tools.Theprogramalsomaintainsalistservofabout1,800subscribersandroutinelydistributestimelyandtopicalinformation.Jointhelistservbyvisitingthelinkabove.

• TheMinnesotaClimateandHealthProfileReport2015providesacomprehensiveassessmentofclimatechangeimpactsandpotentialhealthissuesspecifictoMinnesota:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/climate101.html.

• TheMinnesotaExtremeHeatToolkitcontainsmaterialsthatapublichealthplanneroremergencymanagercanusetoplanforextremeheat,includingadraftresponseplan:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/extremeheat.html#toolkit.Italsocontainsatipsheetonhowtostaycoolonahotday:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/docs/appendix_e.pdf.

• Climateandhealthtrainingmodulesprovideinformationontheeffectsofclimatechangeonseveraltopicareas:ClimateChangeandPublicHealth101;ExtremeHeatEvents;WaterQualityandQuantity;AirQuality;MentalHealth;andAgricultureandFoodSecurity:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/communication.html.

• TheHealthandClimatefilm,createdthroughapartnershipbetweentheTwinCitiesPublicTelevisionandMDH,examinesclimatechangeimpactsonthehealthofMinnesotans.Thefilmhighlightstheimpactofclimatechangeonpeople’sday-to-daylives,especiallythroughthelensesofsports,recreation,andfarming:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/climatevideo.html.

• TheMinnesotaClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment2014reviewsthegeographicoccurrenceofseveral“climatehazards:”extremeheat,airpollution,vector-bornedisease,flooding,anddrought.Thevulnerabilityassessmentmappedthelocationofpastclimatehazardsandpopulationsvulnerabletotheclimatehazards:http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/data.html.

• TheMinnesotaHealthyPlanningTrainingandtheMinnesotaHealthyPlanningHow-ToGuidedescribecomprehensiveplanningstrategiesforcreatinghealthyandclimateresilientcommunities:http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/places/plans.html.

• TheIncorporatingHealthandClimateChangeintotheMinnesotaEnvironmentalAssessmentWorksheet(EAW)reportprovidesinformationonhowwecanbetteraddresshealthandclimatechangeissuesduringMinnesota’senvironmentalreviewprocess:http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/places/review.html.

MinnesotaEnvironmentalPublicHealthTrackingProgramTheMinnesotaEnvironmentalPublicHealthTrackingProgramprovidesenvironmentalhealthsurveillancedataonavarietyoftopicsrelatedtoclimatechangesuchasairquality,asthma,chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease,drinkingwaterquality,heartattacks,andheat-relatedillness.Heat-relatedillnessdata,forexample,arebeingusedtoinformeffortstoprotectvulnerablepopulationsfromextremeheatevents.LearnmoreaboutavailabledataatMDH’sdataportal:https://apps.health.state.mn.us/mndata/.

Vector-bornediseaseprogramMDH’sextensivevector-bornediseaseprogramperformsthefollowingactivitiesthatmayrelatetoclimatechange:

• Monitorsthenumberofcasesofeachvector-bornedisease(e.g.,mosquitoandtick-transmitteddisease)overtimeandspacewithinthestate.

• Collectsfieldsurveillancedata(e.g.,tickinfectionprevalencewithvariousdiseaseagents)todeterminehowvectordistributionandinfectionprevalencechangesovertimeandspace.


• Disseminatesdiseasepreventioninformationtothepublic,medicalproviders,high-riskgroups,andotherhealthagencies.

• Conductsvector-bornediseaseresearch.Inparticular,theprogramhaseffortstodescribeneworemergingdiseaseagents,changesinendemicdiseasepatterns,andtheburdenofvector-bornediseasesonsociety.

AsthmaProgramTheMDHAsthmaProgramhasbeeninvolvedinanumberofactivitiesrelatedtoclimatechangeandrespiratory/allergicdisease.

• ProgramstaffparticipatedintheCouncilofStateandTerritorialEpidemiologists(CSTE)ClimateChangeworkgroupthatdevelopedasuiteofindicatorsrelatedtoclimatechangehttp://www.cste.org/?page=EHIndicatorsClimate,includingapollenindicatorthatstatescanusetotrackchangesinthelengthofpollenseasons,pollenlevels,andpollentypesovertime.StaffcurrentlyserveontheCSTEAsthmaandAllergyworkgroupthatisworkingtodevelopanationalaeroallergen(pollenandoutdoormold)monitoringnetwork:http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.cste.org/resource/resmgr/2016PS/16_EH_01.pdf.

• Theprogramprovidestechnicalreviewsofmaterials,includingthoserelatedtoclimatechange,thatreferenceallergiesandasthma.

EmergencyPreparednessandResponsesectionTheMDHEmergencyPreparednessandResponsesectionhelpspreparepublichealthandhealthcareforalltypesofhazards,includingnaturaldisastersandweather-relatedincidents.Thesectionsupportslocalreadinessby:

• Providingtools,resources,andtrainingstolocalpublichealthdepartments,healthcare,andotherkeypartnerstodevelopemergencypreparednessandresponseplans.

• Designing,implementing,andevaluatingemergencypreparednessexerciseswithpartnersusingweather-relatedscenarios.

• Sharinginformation,creatingsituationalawareness,coordinatingresources,andprovidingriskcommunicationsintimesofanemergency.

MDHDrinkingWaterProtectionandWellManagementsectionsMDHDrinkingWaterProtectionandWellManagementstaffareactivelyengagedwiththeirregulatedcommunities,agencypartners,andlocalresourcestaffinhelpingtoaddresspotentialfuturechangesinamannerthatprotectshumanhealthandsafeguardsourdrinkingwatersources.Specifically,staffprovidetechnicalassistancetopublicwatersuppliersinplanningforsourcewaterprotection;evaluatinganddevelopingacontingencystrategyandlocalresponseintheeventofawatersupplydisruption;conductingassessmentandmonitoringofwaterquality;andsupportingimplementationofsourcewaterandwellheadprotectionplans.Theseactivitieswillresultinbetterpreparation,adaptation,andresiliencytotheimpactsofclimatechangeondrinkingwatersupplies.

About80%ofMinnesotansareprovidedwithdrinkingwaterintheirhomesbyapublicwatersupply.MDHpartnerswithpublicwatersupplierstoensuresafeandsufficientdrinkingwaterthroughaseriesofstrategicsafeguards.Watertreatmentchallengesarisingfromclimatechangeincludewaterqualitychanges(algal-relatedtasteandodorissues)thatrequireincreaseduseofgranular/poweractivatedcarbonandincreasedlevelsoftotalorganiccarbonduetoextremeflows,drought,andrunoff.MDHprovidestechnicalassistancetopublicwatersuppliersinordertoincreasetheirtechnical,financial,andadministrativecapacitytomanagechange.MDHstrengthenedtheresilienceofpublicwatersystemsbyhostingaworkshopontheMinnesotaWater/WastewaterAgencyResponseNetworkandbyprovidingtrainingonemergencypreparednessandincidentresponse.MDHalsoencouragesthedevelopmentof


greenwaterinfrastructurebyawardinggrantmoneythroughtheStateDrinkingWaterRevolvingFundLoanprogram.

In2016,MDHdevelopedanagency-wideStrategicPlantoAdapttoClimateChangetoincreasestatewideresilienceandpublichealthpreparednessthatcanbeaccessedathttp://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/data.html.Anumberofimportantdrinkingwaterstrategieswereidentifiedtohelppublicwatersuppliersandprivatewellownersevaluateandprepareforpotentialimpactsofclimatechangebasedonpotentialregionalandlocalconditions.MDHDrinkingWaterProtectionstaffhaveformedanddevelopedaClimateChangeAdaptationTeamandchartertohelpcarryoutandimplementspecificstrategiestoprotectpublicsourcesofdrinkingwaterfrompotentialimpactsofclimatechange.

MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairsTheDepartmentofMilitaryAffairs(DMA)servesundertheumbrellaoftheMinnesotaNationalGuard(MNNG)andcanbeusedbythegovernortoassistthestateduringdisastersandotherstateemergencies.TheimpactsofclimatechangepresentmajortransformationsinthemissionoftheMNNG.Diverseresponseactions,suchasassistinginwildlandfirefightingandprovidinglogisticalsupportinstemmingtheoutbreakofavianinfluenza,compeltheMNNGtofosteramoreresource-informedculturethatsupportsdecisionsandbehaviorsacrossalllevels,locations,anddomains.

Toprovidethesetrainedandreadyforces,theMNNGhasincorporatedthesustainableuseofresourcesandfacilitiesasavitalpartofmissionreadiness.MNNGisrespondingtoclimatechangeimpactsinthefollowingareas.

VigilantGuardexerciseIn2015,morethan1,400servicemembersfromtheMinnesota,Iowa,andWisconsinNationalGuardjoinedapproximately500participantsfromvariousstate,federal,andemergencyresponseagenciestocarryouttheVigilantGuardexerciseatthreetrainingsitesacrossthestate:Duluth,CampRipley,andSaintPaul.Theexercise,whichsimulatedmultipleweather-relateddisasterevents,testedtheMNNG’sabilitytorespondtolarge-scaleincidentsthatcouldaffectMinnesotans.TheVigilantGuardexercisealsoprovidedanopportunityfortheorganizationtobuildvaluableinteragencyrelationshipsandcoordinateresourceswithcivilianauthorities,responders,andothermilitaryunitsthatmightbeapartofafutureresponseeffort.

ClimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentsIn2015,theDMAcompletedavulnerabilityassessmentofallownedfacilitiesandinstallationstodeterminesusceptibilitytotheimpactsofclimatechange.Theseassessmentsidentifiedinstallationsatriskorpotentiallyatriskinthefutureandbegantheprocessofintegratingclimatechangeconsiderationsintoinstallationandorganizationallevelplans.

NetZeroinitiativeTheMNNGusesaNetZeroinitiativeasaholisticplanningstrategyfoundeduponlong-standingandemergingbestpracticestomanageenergy,water,andwasteatallfacilitiesandinstallations.Thisstrategyrecognizesthatbetterresourcemanagementcontributestomissioneffectivenessandmoreresilientinstallations.

EnergyresiliencyIn2016,TheMNNGpartneredwithitselectricutility,MinnesotaPower,toconstructautility-scale10-megawattsolarphotovoltaicpowerplantatCampRipleyTrainingCenter.Thissolararrayisownedand


operatedbyMinnesotaPowerandisconnectedtotheutilitygrid.TheMNNGwillpurchasetheelectricityproducedfromthearrayandisinvestingininfrastructurethatwillusethedistributedenergysystemsinamicrogridtechnologythatenablestheuseoftheonsiteenergysystemstosustaincriticalservicesduringpotentialutilityoutages.Thissystemwillalsoassistinmeetingbothorganizations’renewableenergyandgreenhousegasreductiongoals.

Abiomass-fueleddistrictheatingsystemisbeingdesignedthatwillprovideCampRipleyTrainingCenterwithasustainableandredundantheatingsystem.CampRipleyconsistsofmorethan53,000acresandpossessestheforestresourcecapacitytouseonsitebiomassfordistrictheatingandtodecreasedependenceonnon-renewablegas.

WaterconservationTheMNNGmaintainsanaggressiveapproachinconservingpotablewaterandreducingsurfacewaterandwastewaterdischarges.Areasthathavebeenaddressedinthepastyearincludestudyingtheimplementationofaleakdetectionsystemforwatermainvalvesthatwillenablequickrepair.Otheractivitiesincluderesearchingandimplementingmeasuresthatreducestormwaterrunoffandincreasetheamountofwaterreclamationprojectsforirrigationandvehiclewashingactivities.

CaseStudy:EnergyresiliencyatCampRipleyTrainingCenterTheMinnesotaNationalGuardispursuingNetZeroenergyatCampRipleyTrainingCenterbyproducingasmuchenergyonsiteasitconsumesoverthecourseofayear.Thiseffortincludesdevelopinginterconnectedloadsanddistributedenergyresourcesthatcanconnectanddisconnectfromtheprimarygrid,enablingcontinuousoperationswhilealsoprovidingresilientanddependableenergyinfrastructure,andsignificantlyreducingtheMNNG’scarbonfootprint.

FirstSolarthinfilmmoduleswereselectedforthe10-megawattsolarphotovoltaicpowerplant.Theseadvancedthinfilmmoduleshaveademonstratedperformanceadvantageoverconventionalcrystallinesiliconofupto10%moreenergyproductioneachyear.Source:MNNationalGuardPublicAffairsOffice

Constructionofthe10-megawattsolarphotovoltaicpowerplantspans62acresonaformergravelminingpitatCampRipleyTrainingCenter.Source:MNNationalGuardPublicAffairsOffice

PlannedimplementationoftheNetZeroenergystrategyincludesthreephases:

• PhaseOneconsistsofapublic-privatepartnershipwithCampRipley’selectricutilityprovider,MinnesotaPower,fortheconstructionofanonsite10-megawattsolarphotovoltaicpowerplant


withthecapacitytogeneratemoreelectricitythanisconsumedatCampRipleyinayears’time.MinnesotaPowerwillownandoperatethesolarphotovoltaicpowerplantandallelectricenergygeneratedwillfeedtheprimarygrid.Intheeventofagridoutage,controlswitcheswillredirecttheflowofelectricitytoCampRipley’selectricaldistributionsystem,providingthecapabilitytofunctioninislandmode,independentfromtheprimarygrid.

• PhaseTwobeganin2016withupgradestoelectricalsubstationsandinfrastructurethatincludesophisticatedcommunicationcontrolstodetectandcommunicatewithdistributedenergyloads,essentiallyservingasamicrogrid.

• PhaseThreeincludestheacquisitionofnaturalgas-orduel-fueledgeneratorstoworkinconjunctionwiththemicrogridandsolarphotovoltaicpowerplant.Opportunitiesforenergystoragearebeingconsideredandcloselymonitoredasnewtechnologybecomesavailable.

MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesTheDepartmentofNaturalResourcestookabigstepontheissueofMinnesota’sclimatechangebyissuingOperationalOrder131(ClimateAdaptationandMitigationinNaturalResourcesManagement)inNovember2014.Thishigh-levelCommissioner’sdirectiverequiresallDNRdivisionstodevelopclimateguidanceandperformancemeasurestoassessinternalprogressontheintegrationofclimatedataandinformationintoprojects,programs,plans,communications,andtraining.TheguidancedocumentsdirectallDNRstafftoadapttheirworkwithclimatechangeinmind.

AsofAugust2016,threeofsixDNRdivisionshavecompletedtheirguidanceandhavebegunimplementationactivities.Progresshasalreadybeenmadeasaresultofthisoperationalorderandisreflectedinsomeofthedepartment-wideadaptationactionsbetween2013-2016highlightedbelow.

OperationsSupportDivision(OSD)Planninganddecisionsupport:

• OSDrepresentedtheagencyontheInteragencyClimateAdaptationTeamuntil2015.• OSDprovidesongoingplanning,logistical,andadministrativesupportandleadershiptothe

DNR’sinterdivisionalClimateandRenewableEnergySteeringTeam(CREST).

Managementactivities:

• OSDcollaboratedwithMinnesotaHomelandSecuritytocompleteamap-basedriskassessmentforDNRfacilities.

• AllDNRfacilitiesundergoingsignificantimprovementswereinformedbyhydraulicandhydrologicmodelsusingupdatedAtlas14datatodesignwatercontrolstructures(dams,culverts,etc.).Nativetreeandshrubspecificationsanddetailsalsoweremodifiedtoincreasetheprobabilityoflong-termsurvivalonDNRfacilities.

DivisionofEcologicalandWaterResources(EWR)Assessments:

• EWRcompletedacoarsevulnerabilityassessmentofits32managementprograms;sixprogramswerefoundtobe“highrisk.”Morein-depthinterviewsrevealedkeyneedstobemetforthesevulnerableprogramstoadaptasclimatechangeimpactsprogramresources.


Planninganddecisionsupport:

• ClimateadaptationguidanceforallEWRstaff,Divisionleadership,andstaffworkingineightfunctionalareaswasdevelopedin2015underDNR’sOperationalOrder#131anddisseminatedtostaffin2016.

• AnEWRClimateAdaptationImplementationteamhasbeenassignedtocarryouthighpriorityclimateadaptationactionsonbehalfoftheDivision.

• Minnesota’sWildlifeActionPlan2015-2025focusesonprioritizingconservationforSpeciesinGreatestConservationNeedwithinamappedWildlifeActionNetworkofterrestrialandaquatichabitatsthroughoutthestate.TheWildlifeActionNetworkfacilitatesadaptationtoclimatechangeandotherstressorsbyidentifyingcoreareaslargeenoughtocontainadiversityofhabitatsandconnectionstoallowforspeciesmovementsandtheflowofenergyandmaterials.

• TheDivisionparticipatesontheDNR’sCRESTtoimplementclimatechangeadaptationstrategiesacrossthedepartment.


• EWR’sLandUseUnithasincorporatedclimatechangeintoitsshorelandprotectioncoursestolocalgovernments.

• ClimatechangehasbeenincorporatedintoEWR’sannualfloodplaintrainingsforlocalgovernments,whichareofferedanaverageof10timesperyear.

• AdaptiveManagementPlansforspecificScientificandNaturalAreas(SNA’s)nowincludediscussionofanticipatedclimatechangeimpactsonthesite’snativeplantcommunitiesandotherresources(about10-15neworrevisedplansarepreparedperyeartoguideallsitemanagementwork).

• Anin-depthClimateChangeReviewwasdevelopedaspartofstaffparticipationintheU.S.FishandWildlifeService’sNationalConservationTrainingCenter’s(NCTC)ClimateAcademytobepartoftheplanforthenewBadouraJackPineWoodlandSNA;thismayserveasamodelforfutureSNAplans.

Monitoring:

• TheWaterMonitoringandSurveysUnithasexpandeditsgroundwaterlevelobservationwellnetworkby200wellsforatotalof1,030wellsthattrackgroundwater-surfacewaterinteractionandwillenablebettermanagementofthehydrologicsystem.

• TheWaterMonitoringandSurveysUnitadded11“realtime”weatherstationstoitsnetworkof40.Theunitalsocontinuestoenhanceitsstreamandlakegages anda 1,500-citizenscienceobservernetworkthatprovidesprecipitationdata.

• Along-termwetlandmonitoringprogramisinprogresstoidentifychangesinthenumberofwetlandsstatewideandclimatechangeimpactstowetlands.

• Along-termwetlandhydrologymonitoringprogramtofurtherhelpidentifyclimatechangeimpactsisintheplanningstage.

• ImplementationofaLegislative-CitizenCommissiononMinnesotaResourcesgrantbeginsJuly1,2016,todesignandtestastatewidesystemofvegetationmonitoringplotstodetectchangesinplantcommunitiesovertime.Twentypermanentmonitoringplotswereestablishedinthepeatlandstotrackchangesinthatsystemduetoclimaticconditionsandotherstressors.

• TheStateClimatologyOfficehasinstalledaweathermonitoringstationatSedanBrookScientificandNaturalArea(fourothersareinprogress)andawatermonitoringwellnesthasbeeninstalledatBadouraJackPineWoodlandSNA,intheheavilyirrigatedPinelandSandsarea.


Training,outreach,andcommunication:

• Sixty-sixEWRstaffattendedMinnesotaDNR’s2016ClimateChangein-service,day-longtraining.• FifteenEWRstaffparticipatedinthesix-monthClimateAcademyofferedbytheNational

ConservationTrainingCenterandsubmittedclimateadaptationprojectstoconcludethecourse.

DivisionofFishandWildlife(F&W)Researchandassessments:

• F&Wcontinuestomonitorepilimnetictemperaturesin24sentinellakesandassociatedfishcommunitysamplingaspartofitsSustainingLakesinaChangingEnvironment(SLICE)program.

• Mooseresearchcontinuestoinvestigatethecausesofadultandcalfmortality.• ResearchcontinuesontheexpansionofwarmwaterfishesinMinnesotalakesystems.• Preliminarylong-termmonitoringresearchhasbegunontheviabilityofsprucegrouse,aboreal

gamebirdthatisvulnerabletoclimatechange.• SoilmoistureandtemperaturemonitoringstationswereinstalledatRedLakeWildlife

ManagementAreatoinformfuturehabitatmanagementasclimatechanges.• MinnesotaDNRisanactivecollaboratoronaNortheastClimateScienceCenter-fundedresearch

projectthatisinvestigatingtheeffectsofclimateonlakeandstreamtemperaturesinMinnesota,Wisconsin,andMichigan.


• ClimateadaptationguidancewasdevelopedunderDNR’sOperationalOrder#131anddisseminatedtostaffwithdetailedguidanceonhowtoaddressclimatechangeinmanagementplans,technicalconsultations,infrastructure,landacquisition,andhabitatmanagement.

• AscenarioplanningprocessonNorthShoreFisheriesManagementwascompleted.• DNRFisheriesworkedwiththeColdwaterCoalition,amultiplestakeholdergroup,todevelopa

priorityofstreams/riversalongtheNorthShoreforrestorationandprotection.Resiliencytoclimatechangewasoneofthecriteriausedtodevelopthislist.

• DNRFisheriesbeganincorporatingclimatechangeintolakeandstreammanagementplans.


• TullibeeLakeWatershedStewardshipProject.CleanWaterFundswereusedbyDNRForestrytoworkwithprivateforestlandownersinthewatershedsoftullibeefishrefugelakes.

• TullibeeLakesgrantprogram.DNRFisheriesisworkingwithDNRForestryandtheLeechLakeAreaWatershedFoundationtoprotectprivateforestsinthewatershedsoffiveimportanttullibeerefugelakeswithconservationeasements.

• ImplementingactionplantomanageNorthShorestreamsystemsandwatershedstoincreaselong-termbenefitandprepareforpotentialproblems.

• HabitatmanagementonWildlifeManagementAreasisintegratingchangingseedmixes(e.g.,moremesicspecies),increasedwatermanagement,increasedmanagementtoaddresswoodyencroachment,phenologicalmonitoring,andanincreasedfocusonhabitatcomplexesinwetlandsystems.


• TheClimateChangeHandbookwasdevelopedandsharedwithinDNR.Itcontainsselectedinformationonclimatechangeeffectsonfish,wildlifeandecosystems;adaptation;mitigation;trainingopportunities;casestudies;recommended,peer-reviewedresources;andcontacts.


• F&Wstaffweregivenanoverviewandtrainingonclimateadaptationattwolargetrainingevents(WildlifeSchoolandFishAcademy).

• StaffsupportedandparticipatedintwoNCTCcourses(ClimateAcademyandClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment).

• StaffparticipatedintwoNorthernInstituteofAppliedClimateScienceworkshops:integratingclimatechangeSectionForestResourceManagementPlansandForestAdaptation.

• F&Wstaffhasaccesstoamonthlynewsletteronclimatenews,research,casestudies,trainingopportunities,andresources.

• Staffhasbeennotifiedofwebinarsonclimatedata,impactstoresources,andmanagementopportunities.

DivisionofParksandTrailsAssessmentsandmonitoring:

• ParksandTrailscoordinatedwithEWRtoinstallmorethanadozenweatherstationsonstateparklandstomonitorclimatechange.

• ParksandTrailsisworkingincooperationwithotherDNRdivisionstoimplementalong-termnativeplantcommunitymonitoringprojectthatwillaidinunderstandingclimatechangeeffectsandadaptationstrategies.


• Considerationofclimatechangeimpactsandadaptationisbeingincorporatedintonewparkmanagementplansandrevisedplans.ArecentexampleistheSt.CroixStateParkManagementPlan.

• Climatechangeimpactsandadaptiveapproacheshavebeenincorporatedintounitresourcemanagementplans.

• TheDivisionparticipatesontheDNR’sCRESTtoimplementclimatechangeadaptationandrenewableenergystrategiesacrossthedepartment.


• AstreamrestorationprojectatWhitewaterStateParkwasdesignedandimplementedtoaddressmorefrequent/extremerainfallevents.

• TheWhitewaterStateParkcampgroundwasrelocatedtoaddresshigherfloodlevels.• Resourcespecialistsareconsideringclimatechangeeffectswhendesigningseed/plantspecies

compositionsfornativeplantcommunityrestorationsintheparks.• TheDivisioncontinuestoworkwithOSDtoinstallavarietyofrenewableenergysources(solar

panels,wind,woodheaters,etc.)atstateparkunitstoreduceenergyuse.• Managementofterrestrialinvasiveplantspecieshasincreasedbothduetoextremerainfall

eventsre-infestingareasandrangeexpansionsofotherinvasivespeciesintoMinnesota.• ParksservedonaninterdisciplinaryDNRteamthatdevelopeddepartmentalplantmaterial

standardsfornativeplantcommunityrestorationsthatincorporatedclimatechangeintorestorationplanningandsourcingofplantmaterials.



• ClimateadaptationguidancewasdevelopedunderDNR’sOperationalOrder#131toadapttoclimatechangeonParks&Trails-administeredlandsandfacilities.

• StaffpresentedacasestudyaspartofDNR’sClimateChangein-servicetrainingontheresponsetotheWhitewaterStateParkflood.

• Fifty-sixDivisionstaffattendedtheClimateChangein-servicetrainingconductedinwinter2016.• Outreachstaffincorporateskeymessagesregardingclimatechangeintocommunicationswith

visitorsandthepublic.• ParksparticipatedinthedevelopmentoftheMinnesotaClimateandHealthdocumentaryby

TwinCitiesPublicTelevisionandtheMinnesotaDepartmentofHealthin2013.• Climatechangewebinarsrelatedtocommunicationsstrategiesweresharedwithinterpretive

naturaliststohelpthemcommunicateaboutclimatechangetovisitorsandthepublic.

DivisionofForestryAssessments:

• Forestrycontinuestoconductassessmentsofforestmanagementissuesthatinvolvemanyfactors,includingclimate(e.g.,tamarack)andmakerecommendationstosharewithotherlandmanagers.

• Forestryparticipatesindepartmentalclimatechangevulnerabilityassessments.• TheDivisionisevaluatingthepossibilityandpotentialbenefitsofdevelopingresistantand

resilienttreegenotypesforuseinMinnesota.• TheassessmentofforestNativePlantCommunitiesisbeingcompleted.• Forestryisexploringopportunitiestoestablishmitigationprojectssuitableforgenerating

revenueviacarbonmarkets.• ForestryparticipatesinactivitiesoftheMinnesotaInvasiveTerrestrialPlantsandPestsCenterto

focusresearchonpriorityinvasivespecies.


• DNRForestryparticipatesintheNorthwoodsClimateChangeResponseFramework.Theframeworkincludesadetailedassessmentofthevulnerabilityoftreespeciesandforestplantcommunitiesaswellasadecisionapproachandcompilationofstrategiesthatwillhelpforestlandownersdetermineappropriatemanagementgoalsandworktowardthosegoalsinthefaceofclimatechange.

• DNRForestryisparticipatinginrevisionoftheMinnesotaForestResourcesCouncil’sNorthCentralLandscapePlan,whichwillincorporateinformationonclimatechangeimpactsaswellasrecommendmanagementstrategiesthattakethoseimpactsintoaccount.

• ForestryhasadoptedintoDNR’sSustainableForestResourcesManagementplanstheincorporationofmaintainingandincreasingdiversityasaprimaryadaptationstrategy.

• TheDivisionisrevisingitstreesuitabilitytablestoreflectanticipatedvegetationshiftsduetoclimatechange.Thegoalistoprovideforesterswithadditionalinformationonwhichtreespecieswouldbefavoredinawarmerand/ordrierclimate.

• TheDivisionisdevelopingaplantousethestate’sforestnurseriestohelpprotectthefitnessandresilienceofnativeforestecosystemsfrominvasivespeciesandclimatechange.

• Severaldifferentclimate-relatedgrantproposalshavebeensubmittedbyinterdisciplinarygroups,including“Lowlandconiferecosystems:Holisticassessmentforadaptivemanagement,”“Longlivethe(northern)conifers,”and“Seedsourcinginaneraofclimatechange.”


• NorthernSuperiorUplandsandNorthernMinnesotaandOntarioPeatlandsSectionForestResourceManagementPlanningprocesseshavebothincludedconsiderationofaclimatechange-basedcovertypechangescenario.

Managementresponse:

• DNR’sAdaptiveForestManagementProjectsareusedasdemonstrationareasforenhancingforestresiliencetoclimatechange.

• Forestryusestheinvasivespeciescontrolprogramtomaintainandenhanceforestresiliencetoimpactsofclimatechange.

• ForestrymaintainstheStateTreeNurseryanditsseedsourcecontrolprogramtoensureadequatesupplyofneededtreespecies.

• ThroughtheDivision’sMinnesotaTreeImprovementProgram,orchardseedisbredtobeadaptedtoavarietyofbioticandabioticconditions.

• TheDivisioninvestsinmodelingtheeffectsofstateforestmanagementoncarbonstocksandassessinganytradeoffswithadaptationstrategies.

• Divisionstaffdevelopedclimate-informedforeststewardshipplansforprivatelandownersinItasca(http://www.forestadaptation.org/node/392)andPine(https://www.forestadaptation.org/node/391)counties.

• Forestryisadaptingitsfirepreventionandsuppressionstrategiestochangesinthefrequency,intensity,anddistributionofwildfire.

• TheForestHealthUnitconductsaerialsurveystodetectdefoliationandotherdamageoneightto13millionacresannuallytorespondmorequicklytoforestinsects,diseaseorganisms,andabioticagentsfacilitatedbyclimatechange.


• EmployeeeducationandtrainingwasofferedthataddressedForestry’sclimatechangeefforts,anticipatedchangesinspeciescomposition,andsilviculturalmethodsforsustainingforestecosystems.

• SelectedregionalForestrystaffweredesignatedclimatechangeexpertstoanswerquestionsfromForestrystaff.

• Aninternalteamwascreatedtoanticipatescience-based,climate-relatedinformationneedsandsolutionstomanagementproblems.

MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoardTheMinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard(EQB)providesapublicforumfordiscussionofstateenvironmentalpolicies(includingclimatechange),encouragespublicengagementoncross-cuttingenvironmentalissues,andfacilitatesinteragencycollaboration.TheboardismadeupoftheGovernor’sOffice,fivecitizens,andtheheadsofninestateagenciesaswellastheMetropolitanCouncil.


MinnesotaEnvironmentandEnergyReportCard(2017)

The2017EnvironmentandEnergyReportCardisastatusupdateonMinnesota’sland,water,air,climate,andenergy.Thegoalofthereportcardistoevaluatetrendsandtoprovideaframeworkthatcouldinformagencyagendas,policyinitiatives,andcitizenandstakeholderactions.EQBworkedwithmemberagenciestoselectmetricsusingResults-BasedAccountabilitymethodology.Aninteragencyteamofexpertscollaboratedtodeveloptext,graphics,andanalysisthatwouldclearlycommunicatetothepublicthestateofMinnesota’senvironment.

EnvironmentalCongress(2017)WorkingintandemwiththeEnvironmentandEnergyReportCard,theMinnesotaEnvironmentalCongresshappenseverytwoyearsandisacornerstoneofcitizendialogandengagementontheenvironment.ThegoalsaretoinformcitizensaboutthestateofMinnesota’senvironment,engagethepubliconpressingpolicyissues,andtoprovidespaceforcross-sectordialogue.The2017,Congressincludedasessiononclimateadaptationandresiliency,andsessionsonclimatemitigationandenergypolicy,transportation,andenvironmentaljustice.

ClimateSolutionsandEconomicOpportunities(2016)MinnesotaiscommittedbystatutetodoitspartfortheclimatebymeetingitsNextGenerationEnergyActgoals.This2007lawsetsagoalforthestatetocutitsannualemissionsofgreenhousegasesby80%between2005and2050.

Whilemuchprogresshasbeenmade,the2050goalwillrequirepolicieswellbeyondwhatisalreadyinplaceatthefederalorstatelevel.Thisreportfocusesonnear-termemissionsreductionsbetweenthepresentand2030.Itincludesanalysisanddiscussionoftheoptionsbeforeus,providingaframeworkfordecision-makingthatisbasedinpartontheEQBandmemberagencies.Stakeholderengagementforthisprojectoccurredbetween2014and2016,engaging969stakeholdersand130differentorganizationsonclimatepolicythroughninepublicmeetingsandseventechnicalwebinars.

Source:MNEnvironmentalQualityBoard




BeyondtheStatusQuo:2015EQBWaterPolicyReport(2015)ThisreportisorganizedasamenuofoptionstomovebeyondthestatusquoonwaterchallengesMinnesotafaces.

WaterresourcesinMinnesotaareimpactedbyclimatechangeandarealsoacriticalcomponentofadaptationstrategies.Thereportwasdevelopedandwrittenbymultiplestateagencieswiththeintentofprovidingaframeworktocontinueabroadconversationonwaterpolicywithlocalandstateimplementationpartners.

MinnesotaandClimateChange:OurTomorrowStartsToday(2014)Thisreportexplainshowclimatechangeimpactsthewaywelive,work,andplayinMinnesota.Itisdesignedtobemodularwithsectionsfocusedondifferentsectorsofthestate,includingenergy,buildings,health,transportation,agriculture,naturalresources,andwaste.

ThereporthasbeenusedforcommunityclimatediscussionsledbytheUniversityofMinnesotaExtensionSchoolandbytheClimateGenerationorganization.ThisreportwasusedasthebasedocumentfortheGovernor’s2016WaterSummitandforabreakoutdiscussionatthesummitonadaptation.

Stakeholderengagement(ongoing)EQBhostsmonthlyboardmeetingsthatareopentothepublicandwhereanyonefromthepubliccanmakeacommenttotheboard.TheInteragencyClimateAdaptationTeampresentedtotheboardinDecember2016,January2016,andNovember2013.EQBalsoconvenesotherpublicmeetingsandforumsasissuesemergethatareofconcerntoagencyrepresentativesandcitizens.Climateadaptationisfrequentlyfeaturedattheseevents.Forexample,EQBconvenedtwopublicforumsforMinnesotacitizenswhoattendedtheinternationalclimatenegotiationsinParisin2015.TheseforumsprovidedawayforConferenceoftheParties(COP)21attendeestonetworkandcommunicatewiththeadministration.

MinnesotaPollutionControlAgencyTheMinnesotaPollutionControlAgency(MPCA)isrespondingtoclimatechangeimpacts,whichaffectenvironmentalqualityinanumberofareas.

MPCAClimateAdaptationStrategyandProposedNear-TermActionsTheMPCAcreatedaninternalMPCAClimateAdaptationTeam(MCAT)inDecember2013forthepurposeofadvancingclimateadaptationthroughcollaborationbetweentheagency’sdivisionsandprograms.MCATwasdirectedtorecommendastrategyandnear-termactionstoMPCAseniormanagementonclimateadaptationbymid-2014.MCATpreparedtheMPCAClimateAdaptationStrategyandProposedNear-TermActionsinJuly2014:https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/p-gen4-10.pdfThisdocumentrecommendsaclimateadaptationstrategyandnear-termactionsfortheMPCA,anditwasacceptedbyagencyseniormanagement.MCAThasbeenimplementingtheseactionsoverthepastthreeyears.




StormwatermanagementTheMPCA’sStormwaterProgramhasbeenaddressingtheissuesrelatedtoclimatechangeadaptationsince2005withthefirstissuanceoftheMinnesotaStormwaterManual.Itadvancedtheconceptoftreatingwateronsite,usinglowimpactdesign,andvolumecontrolbestmanagementpractices(BMPs).Sincethen,stormwaterpermitshaveadvancedtheseBMPs,andMPCAhasworkedtosetgoalsandquantifycreditsforusingtheseBMPsthroughtheMinimalImpactDesignStandards(MIDS)Project.ConsistentwithMIDSareBMPsthatcanincreaseinfiltrationandreducerunoff(includinggreeninfrastructurelikeraingardens,urbanforestry/trees,permeablepavement,swales,etc.).

TheMinnesotaStormwaterManualhttps://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Main_PagenowinaWikiformat,containsdetailedinformationongreeninfrastructurepracticesthatcanassistinreducingclimatechangeimpacts.Bestmanagementpracticessuchasraingardens,permeablepavement,andotherinfiltrationpracticesworktoreducethevolumeofstormwater,whichcanhelptoreduceflooding.Rainwaterharvestingtechniquessuchasrainbarrelsandcisternsreducethevolumeofwaterbycollectingandstoringitforalaterusesuchasirrigationortoiletflushing.Plantingtreesintreeboxesthatcapturestormwaterandinstallinggreenroofsonbuildingshelptoreduceurbanheatislandeffect.

Localunitsofgovernmenthavetraditionallyworkedtogetwateroffthelandscapeasquicklyaspossible.Inthelastcoupleofdecades,theMPCAstartedaddressingpollutantandratecontrol.Nowvolumecontrolisbeingaddressed.Volumecontrol,andworkingtomimicnaturalhydrology,helpstoresultinlessdramaticrunoffevents,whichreducesstreamerosionandscouring.Impervioussurfacesareincreasingfasterthanpopulationgrowth.Thisincreaseinimpervioussurfacecoupledwithlargerstormeventswillhaveasignificantimpactonreceivingwaters.Stormwatercaptureandreuseisanopportunitytoreducerunoffandreapbenefitsfromheavierrainfallswhilereducingdemandsonthepotablewatersupply.Tothatend,stormwaterstaffhavegatheredinformationonwaterreuseprojectsaroundthestate,participatedontheInteragencyWaterReuseTeam,andhelpedplanastatewidewaterreuseworkshop.

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)Atlas14updatesarebeingusedtomoreaccuratelyreflectprecipitationintensitiesanddurations.NOAAAtlas14incorporates50additionalyearsofdataintotheestimateofprecipitationintensityanddurations,andcouldaccountforchangesthatmayberelatedtoclimatechange.Theseestimates,usedasanengineeringstandard,arevitaltoensureproperdesignofculverts,stormsewers,andwaterqualitydevices.

InAugust2013,thereissuedMunicipalSeparateStormSewerSystem(MS4)GeneralPermitbecameeffective,whichregulatesstormwaterdischargefromcounties,cities,townships,andotherpubliclyownedentitiesinurbanizedareas.ThegoaloftheMS4programistopreventorreducethedischargeofpollutantstostormwater,andultimately,surfacewaters.Thispermit’sprovisionswillhelptoaddressproblemsoferosionandwaterpollutionassociatedwithheavyprecipitationevents.

WastewatertreatmentMPCAreviewsclimate-relatedissuesonaregularbasiseitherduetoreissuanceofNationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)permits(approximatelyeveryfiveyears),orattimeswhenthemunicipalityislookingtoeitherupgrade/expandthewastewatercollectionortreatmentfacilities.Whilereviewingthepermitreissuance(ormodification)ortheproposedmodificationstothecollectionsystemortreatmentfacility,MPCAstaffcanaskthatthemunicipalstaffortheirconsultantsrevieworconsiderclimate-relatedconcepts(changingpeakflows,changingfloodelevations,wastewaterreuseopportunities).

MPCAencourageswastewaterpermitteestojointheMinnesotaWater/WastewaterUtilitiesAgencyResponseNetwork(MnWARN),anemergencyresponsemutualassistanceprogramforwaterutilities,inordertohelpthemtoaddressfloodandotherdisasterresponseandrecovery.


MPCAencourageswastewaterpermitteestoexplorereuseofwastewater,whichcanextendwatersuppliesindroughtconditions.

MPCAworkswithwastewatertreatmentplantsinwaysthatcanincludeinfrastructureimprovementstomanageincreasingrainfallintensities.TheCleanWaterRevolvingFundprioritizesfinancialassistanceforinfrastructureimprovementsthatwouldfixproblemssuchasbypassing.

WatershedapproachMPCAhasadoptedawatershedapproachthatincludeswaterqualitymonitoring,modeling,identificationofstressorsaffectingaquaticlife,completingtotalmaximumdailyloadsforpollutantsimpairingwaterquality,anddevelopingstrategiesforrestoringandprotectingthewaterresourcesinmajorwatersheds.Biological,physical,andchemicalmonitoringareintegratedtodeveloprelationshipsbetweenenvironmentalfactors(includingclimate)andaquaticlife.Monitoringactivitiesincludecomponentsthatwillallowlong-termtrendanalysisatvariousgeographicscales.Theprocessesforbiologicalstressoridentificationanddevelopmentofimplementationstrategiesincludeclimatechangeconsiderations.SubsurfaceSewageTreatmentSystemsTheSubsurfaceSewageTreatmentSystem(SSTS)programprovidesaframeworkforthelocalregulationofdecentralizedwastewatertreatmentsystemsthateffectivelytreatsewageandrechargegroundwater.Minnesotarulesthatgovernfacilityplanningandinfrastructurespendingprioritizationemphasizeright-sizesolutionstoaddresswastewatertreatmentneeds.Replacingoutdatedandpollutingonsitedisposalsystemswithindividualorclusteredsepticsystemsthatmeetcurrentdesignstandardscanpresentthemostcost-effectiveoptionfromalife-cyclebasisandmayofferconsiderableresourceconsumptionsavings.Theregulatoryframeworkitselfmaybeadoptedtorespondtoincreasingdemandforonsitewaterresourcemanagementortreatmentpracticesthatareincreasinglybeingofferedaseffectiveresponsestoimpactsfromclimatechange.Climatechangewillincreasetheneedtodeployqualitycontroleffortstonewindustriesandregionsbasedonemergingclimateadaptationstrategiesandpracticesthatmayincludeerosioncontrol,landscapedrainagemodifications,rainwaterharvesting,andwaterreuse.Thisstatedefinedandlocallyimplementedmodelforreviewing,permitting,inspectingandmanagingSSTSoffersareasonableandstate/locallybalancedregulatorypathtootheronsiteeffortstoadapttoclimatechange.Climatechangewillintroducerisksthatcouldimpacttheeffectivenessofsomesepticsystemsinsomeareas,andmaymakedecentralizedwastewatermanagementamoreattractivestrategyinothers.SSTSthatmeetcurrentdesignstandardsareexpectedtobemoreresilienttoclimatechange.Regionsthatexperienceareducedtreatmentcapacityofnaturalsoilsmayneedtoconsideradvancedtechnologiestomeettreatmentneeds.Areducedabilitytobeneficiallylandapplyseptagemayrequirepolicychangestoreevaluateseptagemanagementpractices.EmergencyresponseMPCA’sEmergencyManagementUnit(EMU)istheleadprogramattheagencytoplanandprepareforemergencysituationsthatmayinvolvetheMPCA.WhenlocalgovernmentseeksMPCAassistance,theEMUstaffcoordinatesallagencyprogramstorespondinaunifiedmanner.Apriorityfortheagencyistoimprovetheagency’spreparednessandourresponses.Diligentafter-actionreviewsareconductedandimprovementplansarecreatedtodocumentandprioritizeneeds.Additionally,in-housetrainingandexercisesareapriorityandincreasedparticipationisplannedandoccurring.


MPCAsustainablecommunityassistance

MinnesotaGreenStepCitiesLaunchedin2010,MinnesotaGreenStepCitiesisavoluntarychallenge,assistance,andrecognitionprogramtohelpcitiesachievetheirsustainabilityandquality-of-lifegoals.Thisfreecontinuous-improvementprogram,managedbyapublic-privatepartnership(co-coordinatedbyMPCA),isbasedon29sustainabilitybestpractices.Citiesimplementabestpracticebycompletingoneormoreactionsata1-,2-or3-starlevel,fromalistoffourtoeightpossibleactions.GreenStepCitiestailorsactionstoberelevantforallMinnesotacities,focusesoncostsavingsandenergyusereduction,andencouragescivicinnovation.AsofApril2017,109citiesandthreetribalnationshadbecomemembersofMinnesotaGreenStepCities.

Inearly2016,MinnesotaGreenStepCitiesreleasedabetaversionofthefirstnewbestpracticesincetheprogram’sinception,focusingonactionscitiescantaketoincreasetheirresilienceinacknowledgementofachangingclimate.SubsequentrevisionswereincorporatedinBestPractice29:ClimateAdaptationandCommunityResilience,https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bestPracticesDetail.cfm?bpid=31,whichcallsoncitiestoplanandprepareforextremeweather,adapttochangingclimaticconditions,andfosterstrongercommunityconnectednessandsocialandeconomicvitality.ThisbestpracticeorganizesitsactionsaccordingtothefouressentialdimensionsofurbanresiliencefromtheCityResilienceFrameworkhttp://www.100resilientcities.org/resilience#/:Leadership&Strategy,Health&Wellbeing,Economy&Society,andInfrastructure&Environment.BestPractice29complementstheother28sustainabilitybestpractices,whichcontainactionsthatalsocontributetoclimatechangemitigationandresilience.

BestPractice29provideseightclimateresiliencebestpracticeactionsasfollows,eachspecifyingthreepotentiallevelsofimplementationforcitiestoexplore:

• Preparetomaintainpublichealthandsafetyduringextremeweatherandclimate-change-relatedeventswhiletakingapreventiveapproachtoreducerisk.

• Integrateclimateresilienceintoplanning,policy,operations,andbudgeting.• Increasesocialconnectednessandprovideopportunitiesforeconomicallyvulnerableresidents

toimprovetheirprosperity.• Encourageprivatesectoractiontoinvestinpreventiveapproachesthatreduceriskand

minimizeimpactsofextremeweatherandthechangingclimate.• Protectpublicbuildingsandnatural/constructedinfrastructuretoreducephysicaldamageand

sustainfunction.• Reducetheurbanheatimpactsofpublicbuildings,sites,andinfrastructureandprovide

resiliencyco-benefits.• Protectwatersupplyandwastewatertreatmentfacilitiestoreducephysicaldamageandsustain

function.• Improvelocalenergyresiliencebyminimizingfuelpoverty,installingdistributedrenewable

energysystems,anddevelopingmicrogrids.

MPCAawardedeventsponsorshipsduringFiscalYear2016toincentivizeandsupportimplementationofBestPractice29communityengagementefforts.SixMinnesotacities(Austin,FalconHeights,Fridley,Hutchinson,LaPrairie,St.AnthonyPark)heldeventstoengageresidentsaboutsomeorallofthefollowing:needsofimmigrantpopulations,greeninfrastructureforextremerainfallandurbanheat,

Source:MNPollutionControlAgency


communityenergyresilience,planningforclimateresilience,andinformationsharingaboutcityresilienceeffortstodate.

ByApril2017,22citieshadcompletedatotalof34actionsimplementingBestPractice29.TheseactionsincludedreviewingtheHazardMitigationPlanwiththeircounty;identifyingcitypersonnelresponsibleforextremeweatherplanning,preparationandrecovery;addingresiliencechapterstocomprehensiveplans;proactivelyengagingcommunitymembersinresilienceplanningefforts;addressingtheneedsofvulnerablepopulationsinthecommunity;organizingresidentstoplanttrees,andretrofittinglow-incomehomesforfloodresilienceandrenewablepower.

MinnesotaGreenCorpsLaunchedin2009,MinnesotaGreenCorpsisastatewideprogramoftheMPCAtohelppreserveandprotectMinnesota’senvironmentwhiletraininganewgenerationofenvironmentalprofessionals.ThisprogramplacesAmeriCorpsmemberswithlocalgovernments,educationalinstitutions,andnonprofitorganizationsaroundMinnesota,wheretheyservefor11monthsonfocusedenvironmentalprojects.

TheMinnesotaGreenCorpsprograminvolvesthreetypesofactivitiesinacomprehensiveapproachtotacklingcommunity-identifiedenvironmentalstewardshipprojects.

Members:

• Assessthelocalcircumstancesandgatherdata.

• Engagecommunityandorganizationalmembers.• Implementlocallyappropriatesolutions.

Memberprojectsincorporateavarietyofevidence-basedbestmanagementpracticesinenergyconservation,publiclandenvironmentalstewardship,andrecycling.Theprojectsarecarefullydesignedtohavepositiveenvironmentalimpacts,besustainablelong-termatthecommunitylevel,andbuildthecapacityofcommunitiestoadaptandbecomemoreresilienttothreatsposedbyachangingclimate.

Results:Duringthe2015-16serviceyear,MinnesotaGreenCorpsmemberscompletedactivitiestohelpincreasetheresilienceofMinnesotacommunities.Theseincluded101energysavingretrofitsoroperationalimprovementprojects;275,000gallonsofnewannualcapacitytocaptureorinfiltraterainwater;44raingardens,1,273trees,and31,588squareyardsofbackyard/school/communitygardensinstalled;116acresofurbanforestsandstormwatergreeninfrastructuretreatedorimproved.Twenty-twotonsofwastewereprevented,recycled,composted,ordiverted;plans,policies,andresourcesdeveloped;trainingsandpresentationsgivenatclassesandworkshops;boothshosted;volunteereventscoordinated;anddatasetscollectedandanalyzed.

Theseeffortsresultedinmorethan$65,927indirectfinancialsavingsforMinnesotacommunities,andmuchlargeranticipatedannualsavingsfromenergyconservationprojectsthatextendbeyondthetimeframeoftheGreenCorpsserviceyear.

2016MinnesotaGreenCorpsenergyconservationmemberleadsarooftoptourshowingoffinstalledSolatubesandsolarthermalpanelsthataddtoCampRipley'sresiliencywhilereducinggreenhousegasemissions.Source:MNPollutionControlAgency


YouthCrewsforCommunityResiliencePartnershipThispartnership,startedin2016betweentheMPCAandConservationCorpsMinnesota,representsanewwaytoimplementcommunityresilienceprojectsandanewapproachfortheSummerYouthCorpsandYouthOutdoorsprograms.ProjectsarelocatedinunderservedurbanneighborhoodsandcitiesthroughoutMinnesotainsteadofstateparklands.Theyouthcrewsinteractwithlocalvolunteers,communitymembers,and/orcitystaffinsteadofworkingaloneinthewoods.Theresilienceprojectsinvolveinstallationofnewgreeninfrastructure—anewamenityforeachcommunity—ratherthanmaintenanceofexistingparklands.

Eachoftheprojectsprovidesongoingenvironmentalandresiliencebenefitsbeyondwhatexistedbefore,includingsomeorallofthefollowing:reducingstormwaterrunoff,helpingimprovelocalwaterquality,helpingimprovelocalairquality,enhancinggreenspaceavailableforcommunityuse,supportinglocalpollinators,diversifyingtheurbantreecanopy,andincreasingshadedareas.Allfour2016resilienceprojectswerelocatedinlower-incomeneighborhoods:threeinnercityandonefirst-ringsuburban.Twoabuttedbusyinterstateroadswithpoorairquality.For2017,25daysofyouthcrewserviceareavailabletolocalcommunitiesthroughoutMinnesota.

TheCommunityResiliencePartnershipalsodevelopedfivehoursofeducationalcontentonclimatechangescience,globalandlocalimpacts,andplanningforresiliency.Thecrewleadersforthefourresilienceprojects(andanoccasionalguestspeaker)taughtthiseducationalcontenttothecrewmembers,usinganinteractiveformatduringlunchhoursandeveningdiscussions.In2017,allyouthcrewsinConservationCorps’spring,summer,andfallprogramswillhaveaccesstotheselessonsonclimatechangeandresilience.

Results:The2016partnershipreportedthefollowingmeasurableoutcomes:101trees,293shrubs,2,900+pollinatorperennials,and425+non-pollinatorperennialsplanted;3,766squareyards(3/4+acre)ofparks,greenspace,gardens,andpubliclandimproved;12greenstormwaterinfrastructureBMPsinstalled;and3,587gallonsofrainwatercapturedand/orinfiltratedduringeachone-inchrainevent.

EnvironmentalAssistanceGrantProgram(openroundandtime-sensitiveawards)Forthe2014-15EnvironmentalAssistanceGrantProgramOpenRoundandagainforthe2016-17OpenRound,MPCAincludedclimateadaptationandcommunityresilienceasapriorityfundingarea.

Inthe2014-15round,MPCAawardedsixclimateadaptationandresiliencegrants,including:

• ClimatedialoguesandactioninStevensCounty.• AseriesoffiveclimateadaptationconveningsinGreaterMinnesota.• DevelopmentofaStrategicResilienceFrameworkfortheCityofSaintPaul.• VulnerabilityassessmentandadaptationplanninginSouthCentralMinnesotaledbytheRegion

NineDevelopmentCommission.• CommunityoutreachonpotablewaterconservationintheCityofWoodbury.

2016ConservationCorpsSummerYouthCorpscrewplantssumactoimproveroadsidevegetationalongtheMississippiRiverRegionalTrailinFridley.Thesumacplantscanreducestormwaterrunoffwhilealsoprovidingco-benefitsforimprovedairandwaterquality.Source:MNPollutionControlAgency


• OutreachandtooldevelopmenttoincreasecommunityemergencypreparednessofhistoricallyunderservedandvulnerablepopulationsintheTwinCities.

Inthe2016-17round,MPCAagainawardedsixclimateadaptationandresiliencegrants,including:

• RileyPurgatoryBluffCreekWatershedpartnershipforpublicplanningtoaddressclimatechangeimpacts.

• WinonaEngagedcoordinatedefforttobuildmomentumandvisibilityforclimateresilience.• HighvisibilitydemonstrationofagravelbednurseryattheScienceMuseumofMinnesota,with

adaptedtreestobeplantedalongtheMississippiRiverinSaintPaul.• CoordinatedefforttobenchmarkCityofDuluthordinances,policies,andplansagainst

environmental/resiliencemetricsandprovidecommunityoutreach.• Researchtoidentifyeffectiveclimate-resilientdesignstrategiesfortwocommonbuildingtypes

(mid-risemulti-familymixed-use,libraries)foruseinupdatingtheStateofMinnesotaSustainableBuildingGuidelines.

• ExhibitonClimate,Energy,andCommunity:WhatWeCanDo.

Inaddition,MPCAopenedatime-sensitivegrantopportunityinwinter2014-15tofundnextstepimplementationeffortsforthoseMinnesotacitiesthathadparticipatedintheNationalLeagueofCitiesMidwestRegionalConveningforClimateResilienceinSaintPaul.Threecities(St.LouisPark,Burnsville,andFalconHeights)receivedmini-grantawardsof$3,000eachforvulnerabilityassessmentandcommunityengagementefforts.Thesemini-grantshelpedspurongoingclimateresilienceeffortsinallthreecities.

Anothertime-sensitivegrantopportunitywasopenedbyMPCAinspring2017tofundpreparationofpopulationvulnerabilityassessmentsforcitiesinterestedinincorporatingclimateresilienceintheircomprehensiveplans.

GreenBuildingProgramMPCA’sGreenBuildingProgramfacilitatespartnershipstolessentheenvironmentalimpactofMinnesota’sbuiltenvironment.Increasingly,thearchitecturalcommunityviewsresiliencyasanimportantcomponentofgreenbuildingpractice,includingadaptationstothechangingclimate.

In2014,MPCAreceivedanin-kindassistancegrantfortheGeorgetownClimateCenter(GCC)toresearchMinnesotaoptionstoincreaseclimateresilienceinbuildings.TheresultingJanuary2015report,MinnesotaOptionstoIncreaseClimateResilienceinBuildings(https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/tdr-fg15-01.pdf),postedonMPCA’swebsite,addressesresilientbuildingpractices(buildingcodesandmunicipalpowersinMinnesota);statewideactiontoimprovemunicipalabilitytoact(stateagencyauthorityandlegislativesolutions);andmunicipalsolutions(bestpracticesandincentives).TheseoptionshaveinformedMPCA’sworkonlegislativepolicyinitiatives,bestpracticesdevelopment,andgrantfunding.

Asaresultofoutreachandpartnershipsdevelopedwiththedesigncommunityovertheyears,majorstateandregionalconferencesofnationalassociations,includingtheAssociationofFloodPlainManagers,AmericanInstituteofArchitects,SocietyofAmericanMilitaryEngineers,U.S.GreenBuildingCouncil,AmericanPlanningAssociation,andtheNationalAdaptationForumhaveinvitedMCPAtogivepresentationsonclimateresilienceforthebuiltenvironment.


MinnesotaStateFairEcoExperienceBeginningin2014andongoing,theMPCA’sEcoExperienceattheMinnesotaStateFairbeganincludingexhibitpiecesonclimateadaptationandcommunityresilienceaspartoftheClimateChangeExhibit.MPCArefreshestheexhibitpieceseveryyear.Pastexhibitshaveincluded:

• Displayaboutresilienturbantreesandbestpracticesforplanting.

• Exhibithighlightingcommunityassetsthatcontributetoresilience,withsupplementaryinformationontheMPCACommunityResiliencewebpagehttps://www.pca.state.mn.us/quick-links/community-resilience.

• Flippanelsaboutchangingconditionsandhowtoadapt;largebannersdescribinghowMinnesota’sclimateisalreadychangingandexpectedfuturetrends.

• Largewalk-onscaletohighlighttheimpactofpeopleworkingtogethertotakeaction.

• Climateconnectionbingogame.

MPCAredesignedtheResilientCommunitiesexhibitin2015tomakeitportable.Nowlibrariesandotherpublicvenuesthroughoutthestatearedisplayingityear-round.

AirqualityIn2013,Minnesotacompletedamulti-stakeholderCleanAirDialogueprocesswiththegoalsofidentifyingnewopportunitiesforemissionsreductions,layingthegroundworkforfuturecollaborationtoimproveairqualityinMinnesota,andpreparingforpotentialnonattainmentdesignationsofairqualitystandards.Someoftheoptionsrecommendedthroughthisprocesshavepotentialforaddressingandadaptingtoclimatechangechallenges.MPCAalsoconductsmonitoringforclimate-influencedairpollutants.

SolidandhazardouswastemanagementMPCAworkswithcommunitiestocollecthouseholdhazardouswastes(HHW)afterdisasterevents,whichmaybeoneofthemostimportantstepsalocalcommunitycantaketopreventchemicalsfromenteringlocaldrinkingwatersupplies.HHWcoordinationeffortsrequireteamcollaborationwithvariousMPCAprograms,includingsolidwaste,hazardouswaste,andemergencyresponsestaff.Coordinationwithcounty,city,andotherlocalunitsofgovernmentisalsonecessaryandessentialfollowingadisasterevent.

Intermsofclimateadaptationatpermittedsolidwastefacilities,precipitationdataisusedforstormwatermodeling.Atthispoint,allpermitteesknowtheyshouldbedrawingonNOAA’sAtlas14fordata,nottheoldTechnicalPublicationNo.40fromtheNationalWeatherServicedated1961.Forlinedlandfills,thereisarulerequirementthatstormwatermanagementsystemsmustcopewith24-hourstormsat25-yearintervals.Whenpermitscomeupforreissuance,someoftheselandfillsarevoluntarilydesigningfor24-hourstormsat100-yearintervals.

The2016EcoExperienceClimateScaleexhibitdemonstratedhowmuchcanbeaccomplishedtoincreaseclimateresiliencebyenlistingothersinplantingtrees,bikingandwalking,savingenergy,andmore.Source:MNPollutionControlAgency


ForClass1demolitiondebrislandfills,therulerequirementisthatstormwatermanagementsystemsshouldhandle24-hourstormsat10-yearintervals.Whenpermitscomeupforreissuance,someoftheselandfillsarevoluntarilydesigningfor24-hourstormsat25-yearintervals.

MinnesotaDepartmentofPublicSafety,DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagementTheDivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement(HSEM)helpsMinnesotansprevent,preparefor,respondto,andrecoverfromdisaster.TheHSEMRecoveryandHazardMitigationbranchistaskedwithreducingtherisktopeopleandpropertyfromtheeffectsofnaturalhazardsbydevelopingandimplementinglong-termmitigationmeasuresthatwillreduceoreliminatefutureimpactsofextremeweatherevents.

Inordertoimprovethedisasterresilienceofcommunities,HSEMincorporatedclimatechangeandadaptationintothe2014StateofMinnesotaAll-HazardMitigationPlan.Localmulti-jurisdictionalhazardmitigationplansareencouragedtoanalyzetheirhazardsandimplementhazardmitigationactionstoreduceandavoidfuturedamagesusingClimateResilientMitigationActionsasavailablethroughFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)grants.

Minnesota’smostcommonnaturalhazardthreatissevereweather,includingtorrentialrainsandtheresultingflashflooding.PostPresidentialDisasterDeclarations,HSEMimplementstheFEMAHazardMitigationGrantProgram(HMGP).Acquisitionanddemolitionofflood-damagedhomesisapriorityprojectforthestateandmanylocalgovernments.Thelandisdeedrestrictedtoopenspaceinperpetuity,withthegoalofreturningthefloodplaintofullyfunctionandremovethepossibilityoffuturedamages.

HeavyrainsinJune2012resultedinmanyPineCountyresidents’homesbeingflooded.UsingthePresidentialDisasterDeclarationHMGPfunding,PineCountyoffereditsresidents’pre-eventfairmarketvaluefortheirflooddamagedhomes.Voluntaryparticipationintheacquisitionprojectwasofferedtoall40damagedpropertyowners;27participatedintheprogram.Buyoutsoccurredin2014.Theprojectcostwas$5million,withFEMAcostsharing75%andtheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcescoveringtheremaining25%.

Fouryearslater,theintenserainfallinJulyof2016ledtoastatedisasterdeclarationinthissamearea.Manyofthehomesthatdidnotparticipateweredamagedinthisevent.

ManyjurisdictionsinthestateofMinnesotahaveusedtheHMGPandotherfederal,state,andlocalprogramstoremovehomesinthefloodplain.HSEMRecoveryandMitigationwillcontinuetoworkwithlocalcommunitiestoplanforandacttoremovepropertiesoutofharm’sway,whetherit’sfromintenserainfall,wind,wildfire,orotherextremeweatherevents.


Casestudy:HazardMitigationGrantsFEMA’sHazardMitigationGrantProgram,administeredbytheDivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement,allowsforpurchaseofflood-damagedhomeswhenriskofarepeateventisconsideredtobesignificant.

Forexample,thishomeinPineCountywasimpactedbyseverestormsandheavy,intenserainfallinJune2012andwasconsideredtobeathighriskforfutureflooding.Thehomeownersvoluntarilyacceptedpre-floodfairmarketvaluefortheirproperty,whichwasthendemolishedafteritwaspurchasedbythecountywithsupportfromfederalandstatefunds.Afterhomeslikethisaredemolished,thelandmustremainopenspace,whicheliminatesrepeateddamageandallowsthefloodplaintofunction.

Seethis2015HSEMvideotolearnmore:https://tinyurl.com/kue65co

MinnesotaDepartmentofTransportationTheimpactsofclimatechangeontheDepartmentofTransportation(MnDOT)areprojectedtobesignificant.MnDOTiscommittedtoaddressingclimatechangeadaptationinourstatewidevisionforamultimodaltransportationsystemthat“isflexibleandnimbleenoughtoadapttochangesinsociety,technology,theenvironment,andtheeconomy.”ClimateissueswillaffectmanyfunctionalgroupswithinMnDOT,includingBridge,Hydraulics,WaterResources,Maintenance,Design,Construction,Materials,andFreight,RailandWaterways.MnDOThasincorporateddiscussionofclimateadaptationanditsimportanceinitsFebruary2017SustainabilityReport:http://www.dot.state.mn.us/climate/pdf/sustainability-report-2016.pdf

Thepredictionsforincreasedfrequencyandintensityofrainfallevents,warmerwintersleadingtomoreicethansnow,extremeheateventsresultinginworsenedairquality,andanincreasednumberoffreeze/thawcycleswillaffectthewayMnDOTdesigns,builds,operates,andmaintainsthestate’smultimodaltransportationsystem.ItwillalsocompelMnDOTtoinventorymorestatewidetransportationassetstoassesstheirvulnerabilitytotheimpactsofclimatechange,anddeterminecost-effectivemethodstominimizeandmitigatethoseimpacts.

Thedefinitionsofextremeweathereventsvarybetweenclimatologistsandhydraulicengineers.Tohydraulicengineers,an“extremeevent”representsaneventgreaterthanthedesignevent(basedonannualprobabilityofoccurrenceinaspecificlocation),i.e.,a100-yearstormmaybeconsideredacheckstormbyhydraulicengineerswhenconsideringfloodingimpacts.Amorefrequentstormmightbeconsidered“extremeweather”byclimatologists.

MnDOTisrespondingtoclimatechangeimpactsinanumberofthefollowingareas.

ClimatevulnerabilityassessmentpilotprojectMnDOTconductedasystem-wideassessmentoftrunkhighwaynetworkvulnerabilitytoincreasedheavyprecipitationinMnDOTDistricts1and6.Theassessmentwasoneof19pilotstudiesacrossthe

Source:MNHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement


countrysponsoredbytheFederalHighwayAdministration(FHWA)toexaminetheeffectsofclimatehazardsontransportationsystems.

Theprojectteamscoredandranked316bridges,521largeculverts,920pipes,and,approximately45milesofroadsegmentsparallelingstreamsbasedonthesensitivityandexposuretoheavyprecipitationandthesystem’sadaptivecapacity.

Theprojectalsoincludedanadaptationanalysisoftwoculverts:oneonMinnesota61overSilverCreekinDistrict1andoneonU.S.63intheCityofSpringValleyinDistrict6.Theanalysisevaluatedthecurrentculvertperformanceandthreeadaptationoptions.Alloptionswereassessedagainstthreefutureclimatescenariosandapreferredoptionwasidentifiedbasedonlowestlifecyclecostanalysisthatincludedcostfordirectrepair,replacement,detours,andsafety.

Moreinformationisavailableat:http://www.dot.state.mn.us/climate/pilotproject.html

Figure14

AssetvulnerabilitytoflashfloodeventsinMnDOTDistrict1.Source:MnDOT


Figure15

AssetvulnerabilitytoflashfloodeventsinMnDOTDistrict6.Source:MnDOT

FloodmitigationprojectsIn2011,MnDOTdedicated$50millionofChapter152bondstofundprojectsthatmitigateandensurelong-termsustainabilityforflood-pronehighways.Theprogramfunded34projectsallofwhicharenowcompleteorunderconstruction.Someoftheprojectsincludedthefollowing:

• Hwy101Floodmitigationproject(MetroDistrict).http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy101river/index.html

• Hwy169&Hwy22Floodmitigationprojects(District7).http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/floodmitigation/

• Hwy75nearKent(District4).http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d4/projects/hwy75kent/

Moreinformationabouttheprogramandalistofallthemitigationprojectsisavailableathttp://www.dot.state.mn.us/floodmitigation/


Bridgescour-relatedeffortsScourmayleavebridgesvulnerabletodamageandfailureduringfloodingbyunderminingbridgefoundationsorremovingtheprotectionfromtheabutmentslopes.

MnDOTaddressesbridgescourthrougheffortsincludingthefollowing:

• Manageawebpagethatprovidesbridgescourmonitoringinformation:http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bridge/hydraulics/scour.html.

• Educatebridgeinspectorsduringre-certificationtrainingaboutwhatbridgescouris,howtomonitorscour,andhowtouseaBridgeScourPlanofAction(POA).

• DevelopPOAsforallbridgesthatarescourcriticalorneedtobemonitoredforscour.• AssistdistrictswithFloodResponsePlans.• Investinnewunderwatersonar/inspectiontechnology.• SetupacooperativeagreementwiththeU.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS)thatallowsMnDOTto

hirethemtomonitorbridgesduringfloods.

SupportupdatedhydrologyWhilenotpredictiveoffuturechanges,MnDOTcontinuesworkingtokeepprecipitationfrequencyestimatesanddischargeregressionequationsuptodatethroughanongoinginteragencyagreementwiththeUSGS.MnDOTandUSGSmatchfundingtomaintaincrestgagestocollectdatatodevelopstreamregressionequations,developnewregressionequations(aboutevery10years),developandmaintainStreamstats,andperformhydrologicstudies.Aregressionequationstudyisunderwayandnewregressionequationsshouldbepublishedin2018.

MnDOTprovidedfundingtoNOAAtodevelopupdatedprecipitationfrequencydata:publishedasAtlas14(http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/).Atlas14isanimportantnewdatasourcethatfullydocumentsthechangingfrequencyofextremeprecipitationinMinnesota,updatingolderprecipitationfrequencieswhich,insomecases,aredecadesold.MnDOTadoptedAtlas14inDecember2013anditisrequiredforallprojectsafterJune2014.

FundingforresearchprojectsMnDOTfundsresearchprojectstoinvestigateslopevulnerability,ditchorswaleinfiltrationtoreducerunoff,roadwayovertoppingprotection,scourmonitoringimplementation,new/improvedscourcountermeasuretechniques,drought-tolerantsod,andusingnaturalflocculantstoreducetotalsuspendedsolidsandphosphorousdischargefromextremeweathereventsduringprojectconstruction.

OtherMnDOTclimateadaptationactivitiesinclude:• Incorporatingplanningforfloodeventsandanyotherweather-relatedincidentsintoMnDOT

IncidentManagementPlansandapplyinglessons-learnedfromrecentfloodevents.• Developingmoreefficientwaystoinventoryourtransportationassetsthatmaybeimpactedby

extremeclimateevents.• PartneredwiththeDNRandBWSRtodevelopfloodanddroughttolerantseedmixturesthatare

beingusedonroadsidesandinstormwaterponds.• Createdmanagement-levelSustainableTransportationSteeringCommittee(STSC)tosetagency

directiononclimateandsustainabilityefforts,includingclimateadaptation.• Participatinginstatewideclimatechange,climateadaptation,andairqualitygroupstobetter

understandhowclimateissuesdirectlyaffectMinnesotaandcollaboratewithotherstateagenciestominimizeimpactsandincreaseourclimateresilience.


• Participateinnationalcommitteesandresearchprojectstostayinformedontransportationclimatestrategies,includingleadershiprolesinthefollowingefforts:o NationalCooperativeHighwayResearchProgram(NCHRP)researchproject:Applying

ClimateChangeInformationtoHydrologicandHydraulicsDesignofTransportationInfrastructure.

o NationalAcademiesTransportationResearchBoardTaskForceonClimateChange.

o AmericanAssociationofStateHighwayandTransportationOfficials(AASHTO)ResilientandSustainableTransportationSystemsSteeringCommittee.

o FHWAClimateChangeResiliencePilotsNationalAirQualityandHealthPeerExchanges,andinternationalSymposiumonDecarbonizingTransportation.

Figure16

PotentialeffectsofclimatechangeinMinnesotafromMnDOT'sFebruary2017SustainabilityReport(sourceofchart:MinnesotaStateClimatologyOffice)


MinnesotaBoardofWaterandSoilResourcesTheBoardofWaterandSoilResources’(BWSR)missionistoimproveandprotectMinnesota’swaterandsoilresourcesbyworkinginpartnershipwithlocalorganizationsandprivatelandowners.

BWSRisfocusedonusingcurrentclimatechangescienceandclimateadaptationsolutionstoprotectMinnesota’snaturalresources.TheboardrecentlyupdateditsClimateChangeTrendsandActionReport:http://www.bwsr.state.mn.us/native_vegetation/BWSR_Climate_Change.pdf

LocalwatermanagementplanningBWSRsupportsandpromotesintegratedwaterresourcesmanagementthatusesawatershedapproachtosolvesoilandwaterresourceissuesandconsidersthepotentialformoreextremeweathereventsandtheirimplicationsforthewaterandlandresources.Thisincludestheuseofdesignstandardsforstormwaterandconservationprojectsthataddresslargerprecipitationevents.

WetlandprotectionandrestorationWetlandanduplandbufferrestorationandprotectionconductedthroughtheReinvestinMinnesota(RIM)ReserveProgramandfederalpartnerships,WetlandsConservationActimplementation,andCleanWaterFundprojects,helptorestoreandmaintainwaterretention,runoffreduction,wildlifehabitat,andwaterqualityinMinnesota.This,inturn,enhancesadaptationtoclimatechange.

Theecosystemservicesprovidedbywetlandsalsoprotectagainstintensestormeventsandperiodsofdrought.Associateduplandbuffersprotectwetlandecosystems,andprovidelandscapeconnectivityandotherfunctionsthatpromotelandscaperesiliency.Restorationprojectsalsoincreasecarbonsequestrationthatcanincreaseinfiltrationratesandstorewateronthelandscape.

AgriculturalconservationpracticesBWSRpromotesavarietyofconservationpracticesinagriculturalareasthatpromotesoilhealthandtheabilityofsoilstocaptureandstorerainfall,storecarbon,anddecreaseheatabsorptionfromtilledground.Examplesofconservationpracticesthatminimizeimpactsfromlargerstormsincludecovercrops,fieldterraces,no-tillfarming,bufferstrips,retentionareas,andconstructedwetlands.

MultipurposedrainagemanagementBWSRpromotesandsupportsimplementationoftraditionalandnewconservationpracticesformultiplepurposes,includingconservationdrainageanddrainagewatermanagementpractices.Thesepracticeshelpreducerunoffandnutrientloss,avoidrunoffconcentration,protectareaswhererunoffconcentrates,reducepeakflowstoreduceerosion,maintainagriculturalproductivity,improvewaterqualityandhabitat,andreduceflooding.Multipurposedrainagepracticeshelpmakeworkinglands,aswellasartificialandnaturaldrainagesystems,moreresilienttohighintensityrainfall.

ShallowlakeinAnokaCounty.Source:BWSR


IncreasinglandscaperesiliencyAvarietyofrestorationandlandmanagementstrategiesarepromotedforconservationprojectstoincreaseresiliencytoextremestormsandotherlandscapestressors.Examplesinclude:

• Restoringhealthynaturalsystemswheretheycanhavethegreatestlandscapebenefits.• Decreasingfragmentationofintactplantcommunities,andcreatinghabitatcorridors.• Restoringplantcommunitiesandvegetationthatfitcurrentandexpectedprojectsite

conditions.• Promotingindividualspeciesforprojectsthatcanhandleexpectedconditionsandprovide

ecologicalfunctions.• Promotingspeciesdiversitytoincreaseresiliencyandpromotehabitatforawiderangeof

wildlifespeciesincludingpollinators.• Usingdeep-rootedplantstopromoteinfiltrationandgroundwaterrecharge.• Restoringhighqualityhabitatforpollinatorsandotherbeneficialinsects.• Managinginvasivespeciesacrossgeographicandownershipboundariestominimizetheir

competitiveadvantage.• Adaptingprojectdesign,implementation,andmanagementapproachesbasedonproject

experience.• Takingalong-termviewtothemanagementofnaturalresources.

AdaptivelandscapemanagementDisturbancesassociatedwithclimatechangecangiveinvasivespeciesacompetitiveadvantageovernativespecies.BWSR’sCooperativeWeedManagementArea(CWMA)programisfocusedonforminglocalorganizationsthatshareinvasivespeciesmanagementexpertiseandresourcesacrossownershipboundaries.

CWMAsarealsofocusingoncontrollingemergingweedthreatsthatbenefitfromwarmingclimatesuchaswoodyinvasivespeciesthatareinvadingnorthernforests.Bypromotingadaptivelandscapemanagementpracticessuchasforestmanagementandprescribedburning,BWSRisalsoworkingtoincreasethelandscape’sabilitytosequestercarbonandwithstandlargerainevents.

NorthernforestmanagementBWSRisworkingthroughpartnershipstoprotecttheintegrityofnorthernforests.Recenteffortsinclude:

• ProtectionofwildricelakesandsurroundingforeststhroughtheRIMProgram.

• Anefforttoprotectandrestorewhitecedarwetlandsthatarebecominglesscommon.

• SupportofCWMAsinnorthernMinnesotatoaddressemergingweedthreats.

BWSRalsopromotesmanagingforestsforhighdiversitytoadapttoclimatevariation,largestorms,diseases,andpathogens.

DisasterresponseFloodinghascausedsignificantdamagetoprivatelandsandconservationpracticeinfrastructureinMinnesota.Since2000,BWSRhasprovided$53millionforfloodinginsoutheast,northeastandnorthwestMinnesotawithafocusonrebuildinginfrastructurethatwillberesilienttofuturestorms.


Casestudy:EllefsonGroupWetlandRestorationRestoredwetlandsandprairiesprovideanimportantapproachinadaptingtoclimatechangebyincreasingtheresiliencyofwatersheds.TheEllefsonGroupWetlandRestorationinNormanCountywasacombinedeffortbyfourlandownersandstate,federal,andlocalagencies.

Thesitewaspreviouslyfarmlandthatfrequentlyhadcropfailureduetoflooding.Throughhydrologyrestorationandtheplantingofdiverseseedmixes,thesitewasrestoredto448acresofrestoredprairieandwetlandandcontainseightwetlandbasins.

Thewetlandandprairierestorationnowprovidesarefugetoawiderangeofwildlife,includingpollinators,amphibians,reptiles,shorebirds,andwaterfowl.

Thesitealsodecreasesdownstreamfloodingbydetainingwaterfromlargestorms.Surfacerunofffromthesiteisestimatedtobereducedby88%.

MetropolitanCouncilClimateadaptationplanningandimplementationisoccurringatalldivisionsoftheMetropolitanCouncil(Council),includingthoseprovidingorganizationalleadershipandregionalplanningassistance—likeRegionalAdministrationandCommunityDevelopment—aswellasthoseprovidingoperationsandservices,likeMetroTransit,MetroMobility,andEnvironmentalServices(MCES).ThesectionsbelowprovideaselectoverviewofadaptationactivitiesattheCouncil,andisnotexhaustive.

RegionaladministrationBasedonoutcomesfromThriveMSP2040—theCouncil’s25-yearregionalvision—theCouncilestablishedanImplementationWorkGrouponClimateChangeandEnvironmentalSustainability(CCEST).CCEST’sgoalsincludecoordinatingacrosstheCouncil;developingandimprovingenvironmentallysustainableplans,policies,andprocedures(includingresiliencyandclimateadaptation);leadingbyexampleintheCouncil’soperations;andhelpingmetropolitanareacommunitiesandothersimprovetheirenvironmentalfootprintandsustainability.SeniorexecutivesfromtheMetropolitanCouncildivisionshavebeenprovidedGETS(GovernmentEmergencyTelecommunicationsService)togetpriorityaccessduringacrisis.

Moreover,MetropolitanCouncilInformationServiceshasfocusedondevelopmentandimplementationoftechnologyrecoverystrategiesandplanstoensurerecoveryandresumptionofdisruptedinformationtechnologysystemsandservicesformanyhazardsituations,rangingfromnaturalhazards(floods,fires,tornados,pandemic,etc.)tohuman-causedhazards(bombings,riots,etc.).InformationServices’strategiesforrecoveryoftechnologyoperationsoutagesduetoclimate-relatedevents,includingoff-sitedatabackupstrategies,areincludedinthebusinesscontinuityplans.

Marshmilkweed.Source:BWSR

RestoredwetlandinNormanCounty.Source:BWSR


CommunitydevelopmentMetropolitanCouncil’sCommunityDevelopmentdivisionprovidesresourcesforcommunitiesworkingtointegrateclimateadaptationstrategiesintolocalcomprehensiveplans.

ThriveMSP2040,theCouncil’s25-yearregionalvision,(https://metrocouncil.org/Planning/Projects/Thrive-2040/Thrive-MSP-2040-Plan.aspx?source=child)encouragesclimatechangeadaptationtobepartofcomprehensiveplanupdates,whicharerequiredofallcities,counties,andtownshipswithintheseven-countymetropolitanevery10years.ThenextcomprehensiveplanupdatesareduebyDecember31,2018.

Communitiesareencouragedtoidentifyandaddressvulnerabilitiestostrengthentheirabilitytoprepareforandrespondtoclimateimpacts.Resiliencyincludesplanningformorefrequentandmoreintensesevereweather(includingprolongedheatwaves),forhealthofresidents,andforeconomicstrengthanddiversity.TheCouncil’sLocalPlanningHandbook(https://metrocouncil.org/Handbook.aspx)providesguidanceandresourcesonallelementsofacomprehensiveplanupdate,includingaResiliencePlanElementthataddressesfourareas:InfrastructureandEnvironment,EnergyInfrastructureandResources,HealthyCommunitiesandEconomyandSociety.

AsparttheCouncil’s2016-2017PlanItseries(https://metrocouncil.org/Handbook/PlanIt.aspx),webinarsontopicssuchasComprehensivePlanningforSolarEnergySystemsareavailabletocommunities.APlanItDecember2016conferenceprovidedadaptation-relatedbreakoutsessions:AdaptingtheUrbanForestintheTwinCitiesMetroAreatoClimateChangeandIntegratingSustainabilityandResiliencePlanningintheCityComprehensivePlan.Additionaltrainingandworkshopsoncommunityresiliencyandclimatechangeintheareasofsolar,energy,openspace,andurbanforestry/climatevulnerabilityassessmentarebeingplannedfor2017.

TheCommunityDevelopmentdivisioniscurrentlyconductingaClimateVulnerabilityAssessment,whichconsiderstheclimatehazardsoflocalizedfloodingandextremeheatonregionalassets.ThedivisionhasalsocollaboratedwithaUniversityofMinnesotacapstoneclasstocompleteaSocialClimateVulnerabilityAssessmentforthesametwoclimatehazards.Bothoftheseassessmentsshouldbecompletebytheendofsummerin2017.

ThriveMSP2040,theCouncil'sregional25-yearvision,providesclimateadaptationstrategiestometrocommunities.Source:MetropolitanCouncil

FocusgroupmeetsontheMetCouncil’sClimateVulnerabilityAssessmentduringJuly2016.Source:MetropolitanCouncil


TheCommunityDevelopmentdivisionisalsoworkingcloselywithFreshwaterSocietyinleadingworkshopsforcommunityresilienceplanning.Thedivisionhascompletedonecohortofcommunityworkshopsacrosstwowatersheddistrictsinthesouthwestmetro,andthepartnershipplanstorolloutmorecommunityresilienceplanningworkshopsacrossotherwatersheddistrictsin2017.

ThedivisionhasworkedwiththeSolarFoundationandtheMcKnightFoundationtofundanewSolarAdvisorpositiontoprovidetechnicalassistancetometropolitancommunitiesinplanningforsolarandobtainingSolSmartCertificationshttp://www.gosparc.org/duringthecurrentcomprehensiveplanningcycle.

EnvironmentalServicesMetropolitanCouncilEnvironmentalServices(MCES)provideswastewaterservicesandintegratedplanningtoensuresustainablewaterqualityandwatersupplyforthemetropolitanregion.MCESoperatessevenwastewatertreatmentplants(WWTPs)andonewaterreclamationfacility(WRF),whichtreatover200milliongallonsofsewageperday.MultipleclimateadaptationstrategiesarebeingimplementedthroughoutMCES,includingtheInflowandInfiltrationReductionProgram,FloodResponseandMitigation,andInfrastructureRehabilitation.

InflowandInfiltrationReductionProgramInflowandInfiltration(I/I)areseparateandrelatedchallengesthatallowclearwaterfromstormwaterandgroundwatertoenterthewastewatersystem,increasingbaseflowandpeakflowdeliveredtoWWTPsandresultingincostlyandunnecessaryexpansionofpipesandWWTPcapacity.I/Ivolumesareaffectedbyincreasedprecipitationandstormintensities.I/Icancauseexcessiveflows,leadingtountreatedsewagedischargestobasementsorwaterwaysthatendangerpublicandenvironmentalhealth.

PreviousstudiesoftheMCESsystemindicatethatupto20%oftheannualwastewaterflowisfromI/I.ReductionofthebaseflowfromI/Ipreservessystemcapacityforgrowthandallowsforsurfacewatertorechargetheregion’saquifers.(https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Planning/Wastewater/Inflow-and-Infiltration.aspx)

MCESownsandmaintainsmorethan600milesofregionalinterceptorsewersthatcollectwastewaterflowfromroughly5,000milesofsewermainsownedandoperatedby109communitieswithinthemetropolitanarea.Upstreamoftheregionalandlocalsystemsareoveramillionconnectionstoprivateproperties,includinganestimated7,500milesofprivatesewerlaterals.Servicelateralpipestoover400,000homeswereconstructedpriorto1970frombrittlematerialsthatarepastdesignlifeandcontributeanestimated20%to80%ofI/Iintheregion.

TheMCESI/Iprogrambeganin2004toaddresssourcesofI/Iinthelocalwastewatersystems.Through2016,over50communitieshaveparticipatedinI/Imitigationworkplansandhavereportedover$160millionofinvestmentsintolocalandprivateinfrastructure.Aftercompletionoftheworkplan,manycommunitieschosetocontinueinvestinginI/Isourceidentificationandmitigationprojectsaspartofsystemmaintenanceandassetmanagement.

SincethebeginningoftheI/Iprogram,regionalwastewatervolumeshavereducedbyroughlyeightbilliongallonsperyear.Theflowdecreasehasoccurredevenasprecipitationvolumes,rainfallintensities,andpopulationshaveincreased.Thefigurebelowshowsthetrendsinrainfallandregionalwastewaterfrom2005-2015.ThisflowreductioncanbeattributedtoI/Imitigationandwaterconservation.


Figure17

From2007-2015,MCEScompleted$205millionofimprovementstotheregionalinterceptors.MCESwillcontinuetoaddressI/Ithroughlong-rangeplanningandinvestments,including$80to$100millionofmaintenancetotheinterceptorsystemannuallythrough2023.ItisestimatedthatI/Isourcemitigationavoidsbillionsofdollarsinunnecessarycapitalspendingfortheregion.Giventheuncertaintyinpredictingrainfallintensitiesandfrequenciesforthenext20to50years,amorepreciseestimateoftheamountofspendingtoprovideadditionalcapacityforI/Iintheregionalsystemisnotcurrentlyavailable.

AnI/ITaskForcemetin2016toevaluatetheongoingI/IProgram,andtodiscussthetechnicalandfinancialchallengesassociatedwithmitigatingI/Ifromprivatepropertysources.ThetaskforcerecommendedthatMCESdevelopapublicoutreachprogram;supportcommunitiesthroughdevelopmentofmodelordinancesandbestpracticesforprivatepropertymitigationprograms;andpursueconsistentfundingforI/Imitigationfromstateandpotentiallyregionalsources.MCESplanstocompletetheserecommendationsby2019.

Trendsinrainfallandregionalwastewaterannualflow,2005–2015.Source:MetropolitanCouncil


Floodresponseandmitigation

Wastewatertreatmentfacilitiesareprotectedbydikesandfloodwallsthatexceedthelevelofextremefloodingthatoccurredin1965,orgreater.Otheradaptationsincludeauxiliaryequipmentandbackuppumps(topumpfloodwatersoverthefloodwallandintotheeffluentchannel)andstockingofreservefuelduringperiodsofimminentflooding.

Inaddition,theCouncilhasstockpiledgraveltoallowquickconstructionoftemporaryroadaccessduringfloods,andhasahelicoptercompanyoncontingency.Also,atsomesites,dewateringpumpshavebeeninstalledtolowerthegroundwatertableandprotectundergroundinfrastructure.

InfrastructurerehabilitationDespiteCouncilprogramstomitigateinflowandinfiltration,periodsofexcessprecipitationcantaxthewastewatersystem.Ongoingmaintenanceensurescapacityexiststohandleincreasedflowsduringwetweather.TheCouncilhasalsoimplementedaConditionAssessmentProgram,resultingininspectionofmostofthegravityinterceptorsystem.

A1-5ratingsystem,with“5”beingtheworstcondition,isusedtoratetheconditionoftheCouncil’sregionalwastewaterconveyanceinfrastructure.Necessaryimprovementsareprioritizedbasedonconditionandaddressedthroughanongoing$100million/yearcapitalimprovementprogram,whichisfocusedprimarilyonrehabilitation.

AuxiliaryequipmentprovidesbackupserviceatMCESwastewatertreatmentplantsduringfloods,poweroutages,andotheremergencies.Source:MetropolitanCouncil

Maintenanceandrehabilitationofregionalwastewaterconveyanceinfrastructurereducesexcessflowscausedbyunusualperiodsofextendedwetweatherandintensestorms.Source:MetropolitanCouncil


StormwaterPlanningandGreenInfrastructurePilotGrantProgramsResearchandmonitoringhaveshownthatnonpointsourcepollutionishavingadetrimentaleffectonthewaterqualityoflakes,streams,andriversintheMinneapolis–St.Paulmetropolitanarea.Nonpointsourcepollutionisstormwaterrunofffromagriculturalandurbanlandthatenterswetlands,lakes,streams,andriverswithouttreatment.Changesintemperatureandprecipitationpatterns—particularlythosetrendingtowardexcessiveheatandprecipitation—andmoreintensestormslikelyexacerbatedeclinesinsurfacewaterquality.

ThegoalofMetropolitanCouncil’sstormwatergrantprogramistodemonstrateinnovativepracticesthattreatandmanagestormwaterwiththeintentofreducingrunoffvolumeandpollutantsdischargingtoreceivingwatersintheseven-countymetropolitanarea.Thesegrantswillhelpfundanddocumentinnovative,highvisibilitydemonstrationprojectsthatcouldbereplicatedthroughoutthemetroregion.Projectsapprovedforfundingin2016includeactivitieslikestormwatercaptureandreuse,raingardenconstruction,andgroundwaterconservation.$1millionisagainavailableforstormwatergrantfundingin2017.Eligibleentitiesincludewatermanagementorganizationsandsoilandwaterconservationdistricts.ProjectswillbeselectedfromtheapplicantpoolbyearlyJune2017.

Alsoin2017,theCouncilisofferingupto$1millionforone-watergreeninfrastructureprojects,availabletometropolitanareacommunities,tosupportapproachestosolvingwater-relatedproblemsthatacknowledgetheconnectionbetweenwastewater,stormwater,groundwater,andsurfacewater.Morefrequentandintenseraineventsassociatedwithclimatechangeoftentaxtheregion’sagingstormwaterandwastewaterinfrastructure.Theone-watergrantprogramisgearedtowardimplementingsolutionsforcommunitywaterproblemsthatwillprovidemultiplebenefitsforregionalwaterqualityquantityandquality.

MetroTransitMetroTransitprovidesanintegratednetworkofbuses,lightrail,andcommutertrains,aswellasresourcesforthosewhocarpool,vanpool,walk,orbikeinthemetropolitanarea.In2016,MetroTransitprovidedmorethan80millionrides.

MetroTransithasnotdevelopedspecificclimateadaptationstrategies,butinsteadhasfocusedoncreationandimplementationofroute-andfacility-specificbusinesscontinuityplanstoensurerecoveryandresumptionofdisruptedtransitoperationsformanyhazardsituations,rangingfromnaturalhazards(floods,fires,tornados,etc.)tohuman-causedhazards(bombings,riots,etc.).Manyadaptationsofoperationstoclimate-relatedevents,likeestablishingalternativeroutesduringperiodsoflocalizedfloodingorestablishingalternativeoperationsheadquartersduetotornadoorstormdamage,areincludedinthebusinesscontinuityplans.

StatewideclimateadaptationindicatorsWiththegoalofbettertrackingandmonitoringMinnesota’sclimateadaptationprogress,ICATdevelopedfivestatewideindicatorsinlate2015usingtheResults-BasedAccountabilityprocess.WorkingwithconsultantsupportfromMinnesotaManagementandBudget,ICATmembersparticipatedinahalf-dayworkshopinSeptember2015,whichwasfollowedupbyadditionalmeetingsanddiscussionthroughwhichindicatorswereagreeduponbyconsensus.ICATestablishedbaselinesanddatasourcesforeachoftheseindicatorsinfall2016.

Theseindicatorsandaccompanyingbaselineand/ortrenddataaredescribedbelow.


Climateadaptationplanningbystateagencies,localunitsofgovernmentandtribalgovernmentsPurposeofindicator

• Measuredegreetowhichstand-aloneadaptationplansarebeingpreparedbyagencies,localunitsofgovernmentandtribes.

• Alsomeasuredegreetowhichadaptationisbeingincorporatedintoongoingplansandplanning.

Datacollectionstrategy:Onlinesurvey.

Leadagency:MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency

Baseline/ongoingdatasource:17.5%ofsurveyedorganizationsina2016onlinesurveyindicatethattheyhaveatleastonetypeofplanorplanningeffortthatspecificallyaddressesclimateadaptationandresilience.Thisonlinesurveywillberepeatedperiodically(everythreetofiveyears).

DisruptionstothepowergridPurposeofindicator

• Proxymeasureofpreparedness/resilienceforextremeweatherandotherpotentialclimateimpacts.

Datacollectionstrategy:UseexistingdatasourcesfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy.

Leadagency:MinnesotaDepartmentofCommerce

Baseline/ongoingdatasource:Dataareavailablefortheyears2000-2016forMinnesotaSevereWeatherElectricDisturbanceEventsfromreportingfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,OfficeofElectricityDeliveryandEnergyReliability(ReportOE-417)https://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/oe417.aspx.

Dataindicatethenumberofcustomersaffectedandprovideinsightintotrendsofsevereweatheroccurrencesandtimetoachievetotalpowerrestoration.

Source:MNPollutionControlAgency


Figure18

MinnesotaSevereWeatherElectricDisturbanceEvents(OE-417)–AvailabledatafromEnergy.gov,OfficeofElectricityDeliveryandEnergyReliability(https://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/oe417.aspx)archivesfromtheyear2000through7/5/2016isillustratedinthegraph(FigureprovidedbytheMinnesotaDepartmentofCommerce)ofreportablesevereweatherrelatedelectricgriddisturbancesforMinnesota.

Emergencydepartmentdataforheat-relatedhealthimpactsPurposeofindicator

• Proxymeasureofpreparedness/resilienceforextremeheatonhumanhealth.

Datacollectionstrategy:Useexistingdatasources.

Leadagency:MinnesotaDepartmentofHealth

Baseline/datasource:Dataareavailablefortheyears2000-2014fromtheMDH’sMinnesotaPublicHealthDataAccessPortalathttps://apps.health.state.mn.us/mndata/heat_ed

Thegraphshowsemergencydepartment(ED)visitratesforheat-relatedillnesseswithaveragesummertemperaturesperyear.


Figure19

InflationadjusteddamagesfromextremeweatherPurposeofindicator

• Proxymeasureofpreparedness/resilienceforclimateimpacts.

Datacollectionstrategy

• Useexistingdatasources.

Leadagency:MinnesotaDivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement

Baseline/datasource:Annualcostforeligibledamagesfromfederalandstatedeclareddisasters2000-2016.TheMinnesotaHSEMPublicAssistanceProgramisdesignatedtorestorepublicinfrastructureandpromotesrecoveryforlocal,countyandstategovernments,tribalgovernments,andcertainprivatenonprofits.EacheligibleapplicantwithinthePublicAssistanceProgramwillhaveprojectworksheetscreatedtorepresentestimatedcoststorestoretheirfacilitiesbacktoapre-disastercondition.ThePublicAssistanceProgramisbasedontheStaffordAct,44(CFR)CodeofFederalRegulationsandFEMA’spoliciesandguidanceasoutlinedforeachpresidentialdisaster.Eachdisastervariesduetoitsintensity,durationandtypeofstorm(e.g.,flooding,rainfall,wind)andthereforetheextentofthedamageswillbesubjecttovariousconditionsoftheevent.Minnesota’sStateDisasterfundwascreatedin2014toassistlocalunitsofgovernmentrecoverincaseswhendamagesdonotmeetthefederalthreshold.


Figure20

Sources:https://www.fema.gov/states/minnesotaandHSEM

CanopycoverofurbanandcommunityforestsPurposeofindicator

• Proxymeasureofimplementationofgreeninfrastructurepracticesforclimateadaptationanddegreeofvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.

Datacollectionstrategy

• UseexistingdatasourcesfromDNR.

Leadagency:MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources

Baseline/datasource:TheUSDAForestServicesoftware,i-TreeLandscape,wasusedtooverlaythe2011U.S.GeologicalSurveyNationalLandCoverDatabasewithU.S.CensusBureaudataofU.S.CensusPlacestodefineurbanandcommunityforestrycanopycover.U.S.CensusPlacesisboundarydatadevelopedin2010andisdesignatedbyhighconcentrationsofpopulationof2,500inhabitantsormore.Basedonthemethodprovidedabove,urbanandcommunityforestrycanopycoverwasmeasuredat15.1%in2011.

$-

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

2000 2001 2002 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

FEMAandStateDisasterCosts2000-2016

Inflationadjusteddamagecostsinmillions

FEMADisasterCosts StateDisasterCosts

Figure21

MapofU.S.CensusPlaces.AreasinblueareconsideredurbanandcommunityareasinMinnesotaduetopopulationlevelsandarebeingmeasuredforurbanandcommunityforesttreecanopycoverthroughUSForestServicei-Treesoftware.Source:MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources


RecommendationsforactionICAT’svisionisofaresilient,economicallythriving,andhealthyMinnesotathatispreparedforbothshort-andlong-termclimatechangesandweatherextremes.ICAT’sgoalistoencouragestateagenciestoidentifyandimplementmeasurestoassistthestateanditscommunitiesinadaptingtoclimatechange.TheteamrecognizesthatbuildingaresilientMinnesotainthefaceofachangingclimateisacomplexchallenge.

WhileMinnesotastateagenciesarecarryingoutawiderangeofactivitiesrelatedtoadaptationasdescribedinthisreport,additionalopportunitiesalsoexistforagenciestoincreasetheirworktogetheronthisissue.ICAThasidentifiedthefollowingpriorityrecommendationsforneededactioninclimateadaptationbystategovernment.

Thesesixrecommendationswerepresentedindraftformfordiscussiontoparticipantsinthe“AdaptationandResiliency:HowDoWeMeettheChallengesofMinnesota’sChangingClimate?”breakoutsessionattheEQBEnvironmentalCongressonFebruary3,2017,andthewordingbelowreflectsfeedbackreceivedinthatsession.Therecommendationsarenotinpriorityorder.

ICATwillworkin2017tofurtherfleshoutpriorityactionsandworkplansrelatedtotheserecommendations.Theteamrecognizesthatimplementationoftheserecommendationsinvolvesstaffandfinancialresourcesanddependsuponincreasedcollaborationamongstateagencies.

1. Buildgreaterresiliencetoextremeprecipitation.• Identifypriorityrisksfromcurrentandprojectedextremeprecipitationthatthreatensstateand

localinfrastructure,environmentalquality,health,ecosystems,publicsafety,andeconomicdevelopment.

• Developstateagencyactionplansincludingspecificstepstoincreaseresiliencytotheseimpactsandimplementpriorityprojectstoaddresskeyvulnerabilities,andasappropriate,integratefloodandflashfloodresilienceintoexistingplansandplanningmechanisms.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaBoardofWaterandSoilResources,Minnesota

DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,MinnesotaDepartmentofAgriculture,MinnesotaDepartmentofTransportation,MinnesotaDepartmentofEmploymentandEconomicDevelopment,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard,MetropolitanCouncil,MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairs

2. IdentifyopportunitiestostrengthentheclimateresilienceandhealthofvulnerablepopulationsofMinnesotansacrossstateagencyprogramsandthroughcooperationwithlocalgovernments.• Protecthealthofvulnerablepopulationsfromclimateimpacts,includingflooding,heat,reduced

airquality(ozone,pollen,wildfire,dust),vector-bornedisease,anddrought.• Developtoolsthatindividualcommunitiesatthecountyorcitylevelcanusetobetterincrease

theresilienceoftheirvulnerablepopulations.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaDepartmentofHealth,MinnesotaPollution

ControlAgency,MetropolitanCouncil,MinnesotaDivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyManagement,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard


3. Increasefocusonpreservingnaturalandrestoredterrestrialandaquaticecosystemsandhabitattoincreaseresilienceofwildlifeandnativeplants.• Developcontiguousmigrationcorridorsforwildlifeandnativeplantsthatwillincreaseresilience

ofMinnesota’snaturalandrestoredterrestrialandaquaticcommunitiestoclimatechangeimpacts,withpriorityfocusonpreviouslyidentifiedpopulationsmostatrisk.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,Minnesota

BoardofWaterandSoilResources,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,MinnesotaDepartmentofMilitaryAffairs,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard

4. Strengthenagriculturalwatermanagementeffortstoincreaseresiliencetoclimatechangeimpacts.• Mitigateincreasedamountandintensityofprecipitationanddrought,includingthrough

agronomic,soilconservation,soilhealth,irrigation,anddrainagewatermanagementpractices.• Reduceerosion,promoteinfiltration,managewaterretentionandrunoff,andimprove

resiliencetodroughtthroughcropselectionandmanagement,andsoilandwatermanagementofcropland.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaDepartmentofAgriculture,MinnesotaBoardof

WaterandSoilResources,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard

5. Increasefocusonmanagingclimateimpactsincities,towns,andotherpopulationcenters.• Reduceurbanheatislandandotherclimateimpactsthroughapproachesthatwillpreserveand

expandtreecanopy,incorporatetreesandvegetationintocompletestreetdesign,encourageuseofperviousandcoolpavingmaterials,usecoolcoloredandgreenroofs,reducegenerationofwasteheatfrombuildingsandvehicles,andincorporateenergyefficiency,renewableenergy,infrastructureupgrades,andprinciplesofresiliencyandsustainabilityinbuildingdesigntostrengthenourbuiltenvironment.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,Minnesota

DepartmentofCommerce,MinnesotaDepartmentofTransportation,MetropolitanCouncil,MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard

6. Strengthenourclimateinformationinfrastructuretosupportclimateadaptationpractices.• Enhancethestate’scapacitytocollect,analyze,shareandcommunicatebothmeasuredand

projectedclimatedataatallscalestohelpensurethatthepeople,communities,andorganizationsinallregionsofMinnesotacanbetterplanfor,respondto,andwithstandtheimpactsofongoingandanticipatedclimatictrendsthroughimplementingclimateadaptationpractices.o Keyagenciesforimplementation:MinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,

MetropolitanCouncil,MinnesotaDepartmentofHealth,MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency,MinnesotaEnvironmentalQualityBoard

Inadditiontothespecificrecommendationsabove,ICATalsorecommendsthatMinnesotastategovernmentacceleratetheincorporationofclimateadaptationintoallaspectsofstateagencyoperations.Thiscanbeaccomplishedthroughavarietyofmethods,suchasGovernor’sExecutiveOrder,Legislativedirective,commissioner-ledagencyoperationalorders,agencystrategicplanningprocesses,programbudgetinganddevelopment,andstafftraining.


ICATalsorecognizesthatstategovernmentwillnotbeabletofullyachievethecomplexandevolvinggoalofclimateadaptationonitsown.Itwillbenecessaryandimportanttobuildandnurturepartnershipsonclimateadaptationamongstategovernmentandfederal,tribal,andlocalgovernments,highereducationalinstitutions,theprivatesector,nonprofitorganizations,communitymembers,andothercollaborators.Asavehicleforfocusingthiscollaboration,ICATrecommendsthatMinnesotastategovernmentengageinacomprehensiveeffortalongwithpublicandprivatepartnerstodevelopamultistakeholderstatewideclimateadaptationplanby2020.

ResourcesHarding,K.J.,andP.K.Snyder(2014),ExaminingfuturechangesinthecharacterofCentralU.S.warm-seasonprecipitationusingdynamicaldownscaling,J.Geophys.Res.Atmos.,119,doi:10.1002/2014JD022575.

Harding,K.J.,andP.K.Snyder(2015),UsingdynamicaldownscalingtoexaminemechanismscontributingtotheintensificationofCentralU.S.heavyrainfallevents,J.Geophys.Res.Atmos.,120,doi:10.1002/2014JD022819.

MelilloJ.,Richmond,T.,andYohe,G.,2014.AnassessmentfromtheU.S.GlobalChangeResearchProgramtoinformthepublicwithscientificinformationandmethodsregardingclimatechange.

Pryor,S.C.,D.Scavia,C.Downer,M.Gaden,L.Iverson,R.Nordstrom,J.Patz,andG.P.Robertson,2014:Ch.18:Midwest.ClimateChangeImpactsintheUnitedStates:TheThirdNationalClimateAssessment,J.M.Melillo,Terese(T.C.)Richmond,andG.W.Yohe,Eds.,U.S.GlobalChangeResearchProgram,418-440.doi:10.7930/J0J1012N.

adapting to climate change in minnesota · pdf fileminnesota department of agriculture ......

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