using climate change information in water utility planning ... · brighton grant redclif c ol rad...

© 2020 The Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

Using Climate Change Information in Water Utility PlanningWebinar Series

Series Coordinators: Guillaume Mauger | UW Climate Impacts Group

Heidi Roop | University of MinnesotaJulie Tolmie | UW Climate Impacts Group

Helping small- and medium-sized water utilities plan and design for a changing climate.

© 2020 The Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2

ZOOM LOGISTICS

This is a collaborative learning environment so please feel free to engage with the group by using the chat function.

Mute & Video

Chat function

Gallery or Speaker view


What We Heard: Regional Needs & Priorities

122 survey participants

30 focus group participants

WHO water managers, funding

organizations, and environmental professionals from the greater NW region, California and Utah

Impacts of Concern

80%5%12%

59% 51% 48% 48%

43% organizations use climate change information25% organization partially use climate change information


People & Perspectives

Please answer this series of

polling questionsso we can learn about

you and your connection to water management and climate change.

Have more to add? Feel free to comment in the chat.


Learning How to Adapt to a Changing Climate: A Collection of Case Studies from Water Agencies

Throughout the U.S.

Julie Vano | Research Director, Aspen Global Change InstituteTuesday, August 11, 9:00am-10:30am PT

Learning How to Adapt to a Changing Climate

Webinar Series: Using Climate Information in Water Utility Planning, August 11, 2020

Julie Vano, Research Lead, Aspen Global Change Institute

Laurna Kaatz, Project Lead, Denver Water, WUCA Past Chair

Heather Dalrymple and Marisa Flores-Gonzalez, Austin WaterMohammed Mahmoud, Central Arizona Project, WUCA ChairJennifer McCarthy, Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaAlan Cohn, New York City Dept of Environmental ProtectionAbby Sullivan and Julia Rockwell, Philadelphia Water DepartmentKavita Heyn, Portland Water Bureau, WUCA Vice ChairSeevani Bista, San Diego County Water AuthorityDavid Behar, San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionDanielle Purnell, Seattle Public UtilitiesKeely Brooks, Southern Nevada Water AuthorityTirusew Asefa, Tampa Bay Waterand a host of other water managers and planners throughout the U.S.

AGCI Mission

Programs

Interdisciplinary Workshops Research

Advancing global change science and solutions

Services

Research that supports innovations and solutions, including new pathways for collaboration

Leading practices in climate adaptation, coproducing with 12 large water utilities across the U.S., supported by WUCA

Climate change information guidance, increasing the utility and appropriate use of climate change information supported by USACE

Mountain West Climate Services Partnership, supporting small to mid-size communities through peer-learning and enhancing access to existing information and tools, supported by NOAA SARP

SOURCE: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov

Guiding principles for using climate information• It is important to evaluate climate risk

• It is important to evaluate climate risk• Models can be helpful tools, if used appropriately

SOURCE: NCAR

Guiding principles for using climate information

Water managers planning for the unexpected is their responsibility

Scientists being clear about uncertainties and placing them in context is their responsibility

SOURCE: J. Vano, Dos and Don’ts

• It is important to evaluate climate risk• Models can be helpful tools, if used appropriately• Uncertainty is everyone’s responsibility

Guiding principles for using climate information

New motivation

Water managers planning for the unexpected is their responsibility

• It is important to evaluate climate risk• Models can be helpful tools, if used appropriately• Uncertainty is everyone’s responsibility• Climate change adaptation is much broader than understanding

climate change information and accelerates through peer-learning

Scientists being clear about uncertainties and placing them in context is their responsibility

SOURCE: J. Vano, Dos and Don’ts revised

Leading Practices in Climate Adaptation

Vision: Climate-resilient water utilities, thriving communitiesMission: Collaboratively advance water utility climate change adaptation

Leading Practices in Climate Adaptation Project

Goal: gather and share WUCA’s experiences to help develop and implement climate change adaptation more effectively.

Path: develop a set of versatile Leading Practices, grounded in WUCA experiences, that spur innovations within and across utilities and with the adaptation community more broadly.

Spectrum of Climate Adaptation

Motivating action, engaging and

supporting others, and developing climate

messages

Acting to implement changes in assets and actions

Monitoring conditions, developing funding,

maintaining capacity, and managing expectations

Building capacity and planning for multiple futures

Understanding climate science, your system,

and your system’s vulnerabilities, risks,

and opportunitiesLeading

Practices

40 total practice, I’ll share a small subset

ENGAGEMotivating action, engaging and

supporting others, and developing climate messages

A climate adaptation message that resonates with one individual or group might not with others. Listening and understanding what message works best can be time well spent.

Tailor the climate adaptation message for the intended audienceENGAGE

The Climate Change Adaptation Program at PWD developed an internal communication strategy and did audience mapping. They listened to first learn the challenges and what is valued within a program/unit/ division so the climate message resonated.

Progress happens more quickly with support by motivated individuals who value and prioritize climate adaptation work. It is important to build relationships and educate champions. Staff across the organization can contribute diverse expertise and resources.

The Central Arizona Project (CAP) functions represented are as follows: Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District Colorado River Programs Communications Engineering Environmental, Health and Safety Financial Planning and Analysis Human Resources Information Technology Legal Services Maintenance Operational Technology Protective Services Public Affairs (including the CAWCD Board of Directors) Resource Planning and Analysis Risk and Liability Management Water Operations and Power Programs

ENGAGE Seek out and support climate champions throughout your utility

UNDERSTANDUnderstanding climate science, your system, and your system’s

vulnerabilities, risks, and opportunities

To understand climate change impacts, it is important to know your water system (e.g., where water comes from, how is it stored, what are key operations) and explore its susceptibilities.

Know your water system

See it.

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

Rive

r

Plat

te

BarrLake

LakeStandley

Spinney Mountain

Creek

Salt Creek

South

TroutCreek

NorthFork

ElkCreek

AuroraReservoir

Tu

rkey

N.

RiverFork Ralston

Clear

South

Cre

ek

Creek

Big

Dry

Cre ek

Creek

Arkansa s

C

reek

St.

Cr.

Cr.

Cre

ek

Vrain

St.

St.Vrain

Trout

Creek

East

Clear

River

Blue

Tenm il e

Creek

River

River

Straight

St.North

River

Bear

Fountain

Creek

Monum

ent

Creek

F

ork

Coal

Creek

Creek

Fork

Cot tonwood

Creek

Che rry

Creek

North

Piney

Rueter-HessReservoir

Alva B. AdamsTunnel

Barker Res.Midd le

Boul der

CraigC reek

WellingtonLake

Creek

Jefferson

Lake Creek

Taylor ParkReservoir

HomestakeReservoir

Homes

take

Cre

ek

River

Williams Keyser Cr.

McLellan Reservoir

West

Goo

seCreek

Frisco

Cre ek

TunnelBusk-Ivanhoe

River

Cr.

Snake River

Loui

s

Fr aser

Middle V ra

in

HAROLD D.

TUNNEL

VASQUEZ TUNNEL

CANYONRESERVOIR

Pla

tte

HIGH LINECANAL

Creek

Tarryall

Brighton

Grant

Redcliff

Colorado Springs

Leadville

Rollinsville

Fairplay

Bailey

GrandLake

Longmont

Cre ek

Colora

do

River

MOFFAT TUNNEL

Plum

Plum

Creek

West

ELEVEN MILE

R

iver

Vas q

uez

B

lue

Eagle

Middle

For k

Reservoir

Grand Lake &

GoreCreek

Twin LakesReservoir

WinterPark

MountainReservoir

Green

Shadow Mt. Lake

Creek

GapWindy South

Vrai

n

St.

Boulder

RALSTON

Golden

CONDUITS 16 & 22

SPRINGSRESERVOIR

STRONTIA

Cre ek

Creek

Creek

Michigan

Taylor

CreekBuena Vista

Trout

RESERVOIR

Vail

IdahoSprings

Parshall

FORK

Sout

h

River

(96,822 af)RESERVOIR

WILLIAMS

RESERVOIRDILLON

RESERVOIRGROSS

CHEESMAN

ROBERTS

City and

DenverCounty of

Willow

Wolford MountainReservoir

(10,749 af)

(97,779 af)

RESERVOIR(79,064 af)

(257,304 af)

GUMLICKTUNNEL

(41,811 af)

TunnelBoustead

TunnelHomestake

Twin LakesTunnel

Fraser

Cr

eek Creek

Boulder

Muddy

Kremmling

Dillon

RESERVOIRANTERO

(19,881 af)

Hartsel

SOUTH

CANALDIVERSIONBOULDER

(20,262 af)RESERVOIR

CherryCreek

Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir

East

CastleRock

26CONDUIT

20CONDUIT

Reservoir

ClearCreek

ReservoirTarryall

Deckers

LakeGranby

SouthLake George

Tr oubl es ome

Willow CreekReservoir

Granby

Meadow CreekReservoir

Breckenridge

MARSTON

LakeTurquoise

LittleThompson

River

(7,863 af)

HeeneyState Bridge

Wolcott

Avon

EldoradoSprings

Tarryall Creek

LUPTON,NORTH AND

SOUTH RESERVOIRCOMPLEXES

Water Collection System

City and County of DenverBoard of Water Commissioners

LEGEND

South Platte Collection System

Roberts Tunnel Collection System

Moffat Collection System

Williams Fork Reservoir Watershed

Major Lake or Reservoir

P Town

Continental Divide

Major Canal or Aqueduct

Major Stream or River

Author: Planning WRGISMap Date: 12/29/2015

This Geographic Information Systems (GIS) map and information shown is provided "AS IS" with no claim by the Denver Water Board as to the completeness, usefulness or accuracy of its contents. © 2015 Denver Water

Ü 0 20 4010

Miles

1:1,000,000

Scale number is accurate when printed at 8.5 x 11 inches in size. Sources: USGS-NHD, DOLA, Denver Water, NRCS, CDWR.

Map it. Model it.

Learn. >80% precipitation goes to atmosphere, warming has overall drying effect

UNDERSTAND

Foster sustained relationships with the climate science communityUNDERSTAND

UW Climate Impacts Group

Oregon Climate Change Research Institute

and others!

Climate science continues to advance, providing new data, tools, and knowledge. Long-term relationships can help navigate what is new and relevant, and what questions are important.

Across the Northwest, there are numerous University researchers and organizations with experience collaborating with the water sector to provide usefuland useable climate science information.

The Northwest Climate Conference held its 10th

Annual Conference last October https://www.nwclimateconference.org

PLANBuilding capacity and planning

for multiple futures

Climate adaptation happens when there is increased awareness that future conditions will be different. While it is not clear how big changes will be, a lot can be accomplished just by asking managers to evaluate new vulnerabilities to understand the implications of an uncertain future.

PLAN

___ ___ ___ ___

SECTION 4 – Capital Planning Committee This section is for City Engineer and Capital Planning Committee or Designee completion only.

This project is certified as consistent with the CCSF Sea Level Rise Guidance and _ will not be exposed to expected SLR and related flooding impacts during its functional lifespan _ is exposed but is not vulnerable due to low sensitivity or high adaptive capacity _ is exposed, is vulnerable, but includes sufficient adaptation planning for SLR _ will require additional adaptation planning

EDWIN M. LEE Mayor

NAOMI M. KELLY City Administrator

Guidance for Incorporating Sea Level Rise into Capital Planning in San Francisco Sea Level Rise Checklist (Version 2.0)

Leverage the power of well-placed climate change screening questions

Fireboat Pier Design:Rising with Rising Seas

Leverage the power of well-placed climate change screening questionsPLAN

•Property Damage•Natural CatastropheHazard

•Asset Value•Liquidity•Credit

Financial

•Service Failure•Human Resources Operational

•Reputation•Competition•Regulatory

Strategic

Enterprise Risk Management

Plan

What are your existing risks? How might they change with climate change (e.g., increasing frequency of failure)?

PLAN Take on climate change as another component of risk management

SUSTAINMonitoring conditions,

developing funding, maintaining capacity, and managing

expectations

Improving resiliency takes time and resources andcan save time and resources. Transparency about financial elements from the beginning can help bring resources to help build and sustain the effort.

In their resiliency plan, NYC Dept of Environmental Protection showed that by investing in flood protection now, NYC could avoid over $2 billion in estimated damages over 50 years.

Make the business case for climate adaptationSUSTAIN

PlanSUSTAIN Establish a community of practice to integrate climate change

A community can provide a supportive forum for instigating ideas, defining focus, sharing knowledge, investigating ideas and communally advancing and celebrating progress.

Mountain West Climate Services Partnership, supporting small to mid-size communities through peer-learning and enhancing access to existing information and tools, supported by NOAA SARP

Built around identified shared risks: • Rising temperatures• Diminishing snowpack• Streamflow timing

Contact [email protected] to participate

mailto:[email protected]

Impacts and adaptions Mt. Westcommunities are planning for…

Increasing water storage to compensate for reduced snowpack

Preparing for increased wildfire and fire prevention

Evaluating groundwater potential and vulnerabilities

Improving snow and streamflow monitoring

Improving water quality to compensate for warmer, more diluted streams

Implementing water conservation and efficiency measures (landscaping, leak detection)

Reclaiming and reusing water

Building relationships with ag community

Adopting regional resilience plans

Convening local decision makers and climate scientists

Leading community efforts on energy and carbon innovations

Building an informed, climate-smart public

and so much more!!

Making drought management proactive

Managing stormwater

Considering climate change-driven population changes

IMPLEMENTActing to implement changes in

assets and actions

Enact changes in facilities plans, designs, and operationsIMPLEMENT

A WUCA effort to identify facility and infrastructure-based adaptation strategies that incorporate climate information.

Strategies to enact change range widely: from diversifying water supply sources to expanding local surface water reservoir storage to modifying pumping station designs.

https://www.wucaonline.org/adaptation-in-practice/engineering-case-studies/index.html

- Engineering Case Studies -supporting peer-to-peer learning

What comes next?

Available Resources • WUCA products

• PUMA project and Engineering Case Studies• www.wucaonline.org

• Federal Agency Guidance• U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit• Bureau of Reclamation• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers• Environmental Protection Agency

• Professional Societies• American Society of Civil Engineers

• Dos and Don’ts Guidelines• Reviews other guidance• https://global-change.github.io/dos_and_donts

• Many others, including each other

http://www.wucaonline.org/

The Northwest leads the nation in the breadth & depth of public sector/NGO attention to building climate resilience –

at all levels of governance.Who Is working on Adaptation in WA?

CIG, 2020

40 Leading Practices, coming soon…

Motivating action, engaging and

supporting others, and developing climate

messages

Acting to implement changes in assets and actions

Monitoring conditions, developing funding,

maintaining capacity, and managing expectations

Building capacity and planning for multiple futures

Understanding climate science, your system, and

your system’s vulnerabilities, risks, and opportunities

https://www.wucaonline.org

Leading Practices

What are your

leading practices?

An opportunity to share your leading practices

What common barriers do you face in climate adaptation?

What are ways we could address barriers as a region?

Opportunities to learn from each other, today!

Leading Practices

Leading Practices in Climate Adaptation

Ideas, comments, questions??

Please email:

Laurna Kaatz, [email protected]

Julie Vano, [email protected]




Questions for Julie?

Please type your questions in the chat box.


BREAKOUT DISCUSSIONS

1) You will be automatically assigned to 1 of 5 breakout rooms. 2) Each discussion group will be assigned one of the leading practices3) Participate in a dynamic discussion using the following two prompts:

a) What common barriers do you face in this leading practice?

b) What are some of the ways that we can address these barriers as a region?

3) Zoom will automatically return you to the main room.4) Facilitators will highlight key discussion points for each leading practice at the

end of the breakouts.

This is an opportunity to interact and engage with your peers.We hope you enjoy these small group discussions.


Register: Bit.ly/aug-water-webinar

UPCOMING WEBINARS

Tuesday, August 25 | 9:00am-10:30am PT

| NISHANT PARULEKAR | City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

Throw Away Your Crystal Ball: A Stress Testing Approach to Infrastructure Planning Under

Climate Change Uncertainty

Tuesday, August 18 | 9:00am-10:30am PT

| FRED BUCKENMEYER | City of Anacortes Public Works

Climate Adaptation in Public Works


bit.ly/waterwebinar_811

CEU CREDITS for proof of participation for CEU/PDH credits, please

email [email protected]

POST WEBINAR SURVEY

using climate change information in water utility planning ... · brighton grant redclif c ol rad...

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