From all Sides: Water Resource Management in an Era of Extreme Variability

Abstract:

Extreme climate and weather events are occurring more frequently and with more intensity across the nation as projected by both the IPCC and the US National Climate Assessment. But these are abstract concepts until the consequences of such events are examined at the local level. Further, helping communities come to grips with what this means for building their climate resilience is better understood when multiple factors are considered. This presentation is based on a recent set of case studies about what happened in six communities that experienced one or more extreme events. Multiple interactions affect the outcome of actions taken by a variety of water-related jurisdictions, including those managing drinking water and wastewater utilities, water supply and flood control, and ecosystem and endangered species protection. Two of the case studies will be presented, showing the interdependent and cascading impacts challenging drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility managers and others within the watershed. Despite the unique attributes of each region, several common themes emerged from the case studies including how decisions are made, what information was used to inform decisions, what institutional dynamics helped or hindered, and how water resource managers (and their communities) are planning to deal with extreme events in the future.