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Climate Chaos and Local Resiliency – Water Solutions in the American West
December 2017
Carpe Diem West presents seven case studies of local water resilience/conservation initiatives across the western U.S. in this online resource. The organization’s 10th year anniversary report is a presentation of successfully implemented solutions for adapting our water usage to the changing climate. These seven stories highlight strategies that are grounded on the principles of equity, collaboration and sustainability.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Oregon 2017 Integrated Water Resources Strategy
December 2017
The 2017 edition of Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy builds on the state’s 2012 strategy and is aimed at predicting and meeting the state’s instream and out-of-stream water needs, both now and in the future. The updated version addresses climate change as a “cross-cutting issue” and illustrates the need for continuous monitoring of water resources as predictions based off of historical data becomes unpredictable because of climate change. The state’s past efforts are highlighted, including a 2015 Executive Order which called for the 2017 strategy to address drought resiliency, which it does in Chapter 5 (section 5.
Resource Category: Planning
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Ripple Effects: Colorado Water Plan in Action 2017
November 2017
Ripple Effects: Colorado’s Water Plan is a 2017 update on implementation of the plan that was published by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in 2015 - outlining two years of progress. Three main values are intended to guide the document: a productive economy, especially in the agricultural and tourism sectors; efficient water infrastructure; and a strong environment with healthy watersheds and wildlife. Many of the water plan’s objectives and strategies focused on climate change impacts to these focal sectors, and have been implemented according to this progress report.
Author or Affiliated User: Megan Holcomb
Resource Category: Monitoring and Reporting
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California SB 667 - Department of Water Resources: riverine and riparian stewardship improvements
October 6, 2017
SB 667 updates the California Water Code requiring the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to establish a program to implement watershed-based riverine and riparian stewardship improvements through technical and financial assistance. The program will support projects that “reduce flood risk, restore and enhance fish populations and habitat, improve water quality, achieve climate change benefits, and in general ensure resilient ecological function within areas that include, but are not limited to, urban or urbanizing areas of the state.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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U.S. Water Alliance - Water Equity Clearinghouse
September 2017
The Water Equity Clearinghouse is an online database of organizations working at the intersection of water and equity, and presents emergent practices in equitable water management. The clearinghouse highlights the work of utilities, community-based organizations, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, researchers, and others. Climate mitigation and adaptation is one of the “Issues Addressed” filters that returns a number of organizations involved in climate change planning and resiliency around water resources.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Key Principles of Watershed Investment: Restoration Priorities
Carpe Diem West is a nonprofit dedicated to addressing “the profound challenge of increasing climate impacts on our water resources in the American West.” They developed this brief to offer an overview of watershed restoration initiatives in the western U.S. that demonstrate successful agency partnerships, investments, and climate adaptive and restoration projects for watershed resiliency - in order to support the creation of more actionable watershed investment plans.
Resource Category: Solutions
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Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation in Indian Country
July 2017
Limited land and resource rights allocated to indigenous peoples in the United States create structural barriers that restrict many tribes’ ability to sustainably manage natural resources and adapt to climate change. This article reviews these barriers, and how land fragmentation and policies that hinder a tribe’s authority and control of natural resources restrict their capacity to manage climate change risks. After describing the history of political barriers for tribes, the report is primarily a case study of water rights and management at the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan
June 2017
The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program has developed a strategy to address climate change impacts on water systems while prioritizing the needs of low-income communities. The report describes a set of integrated strategies for how grants and investments can best support climate-resilient and equitable water systems. Recommendations are focused on scaling up green infrastructure, water efficiency, and climate planning to address flooding, storm damage and drought impacts.
Resource Category: Funding
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Chester, Pennsylvania Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan and Community-Based Public-Private Partnership
June 2017
The City of Chester, Pennsylvania introduced the Chester City Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan in 2017 as a means of addressing consistent stormwater pollution and overflow into the Delaware River, Chester Creek, and Ridley Creek watersheds. Chester’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) system often is overwhelmed during high rain and runoff events, which leads to increased flooding and water pollution and degradation of the river basin. The plan details Chester’s specific infrastructure needs, as well as the environmental and social benefits of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). It also analyzes common GSI techniques including rain gardens, green roofs, stormwater planters, and porous pavements, and includes their typical cost. The plan then lists 20 potential sites within the City for GSI projects, guidance for first steps, suggestions for effective community engagement, and potential sources of both public and private funding. To fund the GSI projects, the City formed a community-based public-private partnership (CBP3), which is a different approach to financing stormwater management that expands on the traditional public-private partnership model by incorporating considerations of a community’s economic development needs. Coupled with its focus on green infrastructure as a primary means of stormwater management, this structure promotes not only improvements in water quality but in the community’s overall quality of life. The plan will also address equity through hiring local contractors for the infrastructure projects, training local workers to maintain projects, and creating new maintenance jobs for community members.
Resource Category: Planning
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California State Water Board - Resolution No. 2017 - Comprehensive Response to Climate Change
March 7, 2017
On March 7, 2017, California's State Water Resources Control Board adopted a resolution to integrate climate change comprehensively into its programs and decisionmaking, including drinking water regulation, water quality initiatives, and financial assistance. The resolution creates new requirements for divisions within the State Water Board that will help the agency achieve goals relating to adaptation, ecosystem resilience, water use and efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
