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Focus on Impacts of Climate Change in Washington State
February 2009
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) at the University of Washington and the Climate Leadership Initiative (CLI) (formerly at the University of Oregon) developed this focus sheet which summarizes two separate studies released in February 2009, detailing the projected impacts of climate change on Washington's environment and economy. Both reports demonstrate that without additional action to reduce carbon emissions, the severity and duration of the impacts due to climate change will be profound and will negatively affect nearly every part of Washington's economy.
Resource Category: Assessments
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Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment: Evaluating Washington's Future in a Changing Climate
2009
This is the full assessment report detailing the findings of the Climate Impacts Group's climate change impact assessment of Washington. The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment (WACCIA) involved developing updated climate change scenarios for the state and using these scenarios to assess the impacts of climate change on the following sectors: agriculture, coasts, energy, forests, human health, hydrology and water resources, salmon, and urban stormwater infrastructure. A chapter is dedicated to regional climate modeling.
Resource Category: Assessments
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Western Governors' Association Policy Resolution 09-3: Regional and National Policies Regarding Global Climate Change
2009
The Western Governors' Association (WGA) Policy Resolution 09-3 describes the WGA's position on climate change mitigation and adaptation. It makes recommendations for federal, state, and local policies to support the reduction of both GHG emissions and the impacts of climate change on states and localities.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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City of Seattle, Washington Stormwater Code
2009
The City of Seattle, Washington’s stormwater regulations are implemented in order to improve stormwater management for new development in Seattle, including on-site stormwater management. Seattle’s Stormwater Code imposes retention requirements on residential properties. These requirements vary according to several factors, including the type of sewer system or water body to which the site discharges and the size of the land disturbance or impervious surface on that site. For example, if a parcel discharges into small lake basins and its total new-plus-replaced impervious surface is 2000 square feet or more, it must manage stormwater from a 25-year rainfall event (a storm that has a 4% chance of occurring in any given year).
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Implications of 21st Century Climate Change for the Hydrology of Washington State
2009
This report is part 1 of Chapter 3 of the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment (see separate entry), focusing on water resource impacts for the state. Parts 2 and 3 of this chapter focus on the Puget Sound and the Yakima River Basin respectively. Based on results from 39 global simulations performed for the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR4) projections, this report presents downscaled model findings and the implications on the hydrology of the Pacific Northwest.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Marketa M Elsner, Lan Cuo, Nathalie Voisin, Jeffrey S Deems, Alan F Hamlet, Julie A Vano, Kristian EB Mickelson, Se-Yeun Lee, Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Resource Category: Assessments
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Seattle Climate Protection Initiative: Progress Report 2009
2009
The 2009 Climate Protection Initiative Progress Report details Seattle's numerous environmental and smart growth programs such as bicycle and pedestrian improvements, new transit options, electric car infrastructure, conservation efforts and green building programs. In addition to reducing the city's contribution to global warming, Seattle will also prepare for climate change by ensuring that its infrastructure, facilities, and services are ready to adapt to the projected impacts of climate change.
Resource Category: Monitoring and Reporting
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Climate Change Impacts on Water Management and Irrigated Agriculture in the Yakima River Basin, Washington, USA
2009
Utilizing a multi-model ensemble approach of downscaled climate model projections, hydrologic modeling, and water management models, this report presents results for changes in reservoir levels and snow pack in the Yakima River basin and resulting impacts to irrigated agriculture in the basin. The paper presents the analysis of hydrological conditions and how climate change is projected to impact water supply for water users with junior water rights and - in the extreme years - users with senior water rights throughout the basin.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Julie A. Vano, Michael Scott, Nathalie Voisin, Claudio O. Stockle, Alan F. Hamlet, Kristian E. B. Mickelson, Marketa McGuire Elsner, Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Resource Category: Assessments
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Climate Change Impacts on Water Management in the Puget Sound Region, Washington, USA
2009
This report presents historical observations and reliability analyses for planning by water utilities in the Puget Sound basin cities of Everett, Seattle, and Tacoma. By comparing changes in streamflow and snowpack and forecasting hydrological changes, this paper reviews the potential of the region's water supply systems to meet future demands. Each of the three water supply systems were analyzed, and water management models for each city are described. The models are then used to explore - without adaptations - the climate resiliency of the three systems over the next century, and the projected changes in water demand.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Julie A. Vano, Nathalie Voisin, Lan Cuo, Alan F. Hamlet, Marketa McGuire Elsner, Richard N. Palmer, Austin Polebitski, Dennis P. Lettenmaier
Resource Category: Assessments
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King County, Washington Climate Report 2008
January 2009
This document is the second annual progress report on King County's 2007 Climate Plan, providing activities the County is undertaking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to anticipate and adapt to projected climate change impacts. The report's adaptation highlights include a training program for coastal managers and planners on how to prepare for climate change, the rebuilding of the regional levee system, the completion of the Reclaimed Water Feasibility Study, the initiation of a reclaimed water plan, the development of a Vulnerable Facilities Inventory for sea-level rise impacts to wastewater treatment infrastructure, and the completion of the 2008 King County Biodiversity Report.
Resource Category: Monitoring and Reporting
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King County, Washington Climate Report 2009
2009
The 2009 King County Climate Report documents actions during the previous year that implement the 2007 King County Climate Plan. It also gives an overview of anticipated activities for 2010. The report outlines progress and plans in four key areas: leadership, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to prepare for the impacts of climate change, and assessment.
Resource Category: Monitoring and Reporting
