2012 Highlights of Progress:
Responses to Climate Change
by the
National Water Program
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
.,
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Prepared by:
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
March 2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Part I: National Water Program Highlights 3
> Water Infrastructure
> Watersheds and Wetlands
> Coastal and Ocean Waters
> Water Quality
> Working with Tribes
Part II: Climate Region Highlights 12
> Northeast
> Southeast
> Midwest
> Great Plains
> Southwest
> Pacific Northwest
> Montane
> Alaska
> Caribbean Islands
> U.S. Pacific Islands and Territories
> Large Aquatic Ecosystems
> Great Lakes and Climate Change
Part III: Assessment of Progress: 2012 Baseline 18
Appendix A: Highlights Summary Table 29
Appendix B: Compendium of Additional 31
2012 Accomplishments
> National Water Program Office
> EPA Regional Offices
Appendix C: Summary of 2012 Research Highlights 44
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J Water Program 2012 Strategy:
-j' Response to Climate Change
Introduction
The National Water Program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the National
Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change (2012 Strategy) in December 2012
as an update to an initial climate change and water strategy released in 2008. The 2012
Strategy describes long-term goals for the management of sustainable water resources for
future generations in light of climate change and is intended to be a roadmap to guide future
programmatic planning and inform decision makers during the Agency's annual planning
process. The new Strategy is available at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/climatechange/2012-
National-Water-Program-Strategy.cfm.
The final completion and publication of the updated Strategy was the principal climate change
accomplishment of the National Water Program in 2012. Also during 2012, EPA's national
water programs and regional water programs continued work to implement a range of climate
change response actions called for in the 2008 Strategy and updated in the new 2012 Strategy.
This 2012 Highlights of Progress report provides a summary of the major accomplishments of
the EPA national water programs and regional water programs in 2012. This is the fourth
climate change progress report for the National Water Program and the first progress report
organized around the five long-term programmatic vision areas described in the new 2012
Strategy:
1. Water infrastructure;
2. Watersheds and wetlands;
3. Coastal and ocean waters;
4. Water quality; and
5. Working with Tribes.
Twenty highlights of projects and products implemented by the National Water Program in
each of these five areas and related to cross-cutting program support are described in Part I of
this report.
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The 2012 Strategy describes water related climate change adaptation programs and projects at
EPA regional offices. Part II of this report includes descriptions of a key 2012 accomplishment
related to this work in each of the 10 climate change regions identified in the 2012 Strategy and
for the large aquatic ecosystem programs implemented by EPA around the country (e.g.
Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Mexico). These national and regional highlights are
presented in summary form in Appendix A.
It is important to note that, in addition to the accomplishments highlighted in each of these
vision areas and climate regions, other important projects are in development and a range of
supporting activities are being implemented. A detailed compendium of activities related to
climate change and water programs is provided in Appendix B. Appendix C of this report
includes summary descriptions of the major accomplishment of the EPA Office of Research and
Development during 2012.
In addition to reporting on highlights of progress for 2012, the National Water Program is
beginning a new process to track progress based on the stage or phase of development of
climate response programs. Recognizing the long-term nature of addressing climate change,
this approach tracks progress through seven developmental phases:
1. Initiation;
2. Assessment;
3. Response development;
4. Initial implementation;
5. Robust implementation;
6. Mainstreaming; and
7. Monitor outcomes and adaptive management.
Each of these phases is described in greater detail in Part III of this report. In addition, Part III
includes an initial identification of the status of each climate change and water goal with
respect to the developmental phases. This is the first assessment of the developmental status
of climate change adaptation programs and projects across the National Water Program and
will form a baseline for future assessments.
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PARTI
Vision Area 1:
Water Infrastructure
Vision: In the face of a changing climate, resilient and adaptable drinking water, wastewater
and stormwater utilities (water sector) ensure clean and safe water to protect the nation's
public health and environment by making smart investment decisions to improve the
sustainability of their infrastructure and operations and the communities they serve, while
reducing greenhouse gas emissions through greater energy efficiency.
1. Issued Water Utility Climate Tool: Version 2.0
The Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT)
assists users in conducting climate change risk assessments and
promotes a general understanding of climate change impacts for utility owners and
operators. A new 2.0 version of GREAT was released in January 2013. The new GREAT
2.0 features more robust scenario-based planning, extreme events data, and energy
management capabilities. The new version also includes embedded basic and advanced
video training modules and allows utilities to conduct analysis comparison scenarios for
multiple time periods. During 2012, pilots were conducted in Oakland, California and
Wilmington, Delaware for the updated software.
2. Published Adaptation Strategies Guide
In January 2012, EPA published an Adaptation Strategies Guide that serves as an
introduction to climate change adaptation planning for drinking water, wastewater, and
stormwater utilities. Users can navigate this interactive Adobe PDF document in a
manner similar to clicking through pages of a website. A series of briefs organized by
region and climate-related impacts provide a better understanding of what challenges
utilities can expect to face along with adaptation strategies that can be used to prepare
their systems for those impacts. An updated version of the Guide will be released in the
spring of 2013. The new Guide will include two new sections on Green Infrastructure and
Energy Management, which contribute to a more comprehensive adaptation planning
process.
3. Published Planning for Extreme Weather Events: Workshop Planner for the Water
Sector
The Extreme Events Workshop Planner includes the tools and resources a utility needs to
plan, customize, and conduct a workshop focused on planning for more frequent and
more intense extreme events. Five extreme event scenarios are included in the
Workshop Planner.
Flooding;
Drought;
Sea level rise;
Wildfire; and
Reduced snowpack.
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
ABK
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Each scenario walks users through a long-term planning exercise in which workshop
participants gain a better understanding of how projected changes in the frequency and
intensity of extreme events can impact their utility and community, and how they can
begin to adapt to prepare for these changes. By the end of a workshop, each participant
will have identified actionable next steps they can take today to increase the resilience of
their utility and community to extreme events. Three communities piloted the Workshop
Planner. Manchester, New Hampshire; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Bisbee, Arizona.
4. Published Extreme Events Case Study Series
The Office of Water, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), Water
Research Foundation (WaterRF), and others, has developed case studies on six
communities' experiences with extreme events and how they are planning for the future.
The case studies are based on six workshops, focused on the Russian River Basin,
California; the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin, Georgia; Tidewater, Virginia; the
Washington, D.C. Region; the Lower Missouri River Basin in Kansas; and the Lower
Colorado River Basin in Central Texas. For more information, see:
http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/ClimatePrograms/ClimateSocietallnteractionsCSI/SARPProgra
m/ExtremeEventsCaseStudies.aspx.
F.PA
WaterSense
5. Expanded WaterSense to New Multi-Family Housing and
Irrigation
Efficient use of water is a key strategy for managing water
resources as supplies become more unpredictable as a result
of climate change. In August 2012, EPA released a revised specification for WaterSense
labeled new homes which expanded the label to include multi-family housing. The
WaterSense program also developed a fact sheet which was provided to EPA Regions to
provide messaging on how consumers could take water-efficient actions during a
drought. In late 2011, EPA released a WaterSense specification to label weather-based
irrigation controllers. Use of labeled controllers can help to reduce water waste
associated with outdoor landscape watering.
6. Published Planning for Sustainability Handbook for Water and Wastewater Utilities
EPA published the Planning for Sustainability Handbook for Water and Wastewater
Utilities (EPA-832-R-12-001) in 2012 and conducted webinars for utilities on the use of
the document. The handbook describes a number of steps utilities can undertake to
enhance their existing planning processes to ensure that water infrastructure
investments are cost-effective over their life cycle, resource efficient, and support other
relevant community goals. The handbook includes a section that talks about how to
incorporate Sustainability principles into financial management strategies. For more
information, see: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/upload/EPA-s-Planning-
for-Sustainability-Handbook.pdf.
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Vision Area 2:
Watersheds
and
Wetlands
Vision: Watersheds are protected, maintained, and restored to ensure climate resilience and to
preserve the social and economic benefits they provide; and the nation's wetlands are
maintained and improved using integrated approaches that recognize their inherent value as
well as their role in reducing the impacts of climate change.
7. Published Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts, Assessments, and
Management Approaches
In February of 2012, the Office of Water released a technical
guide Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts,
Assessments, and Management Approaches
http://water.epa.gov/healthywatersheds. This document serves
as a technical resource for states and other resource managers
interested in identifying healthy watersheds and implementing
holistic, healthy watersheds protection programs. EPA is also
working with the State of California to identify healthy
watersheds through an integrated assessment which includes a
climate change vulnerability component to be completed in May
2013. Partners include the California Water Resource Control Board, California
Department of Fish and Game, and EPA Region 9.
8. Hosted Webcast: Restore-Adapt-Mitigate: Responding to Climate Change through
Coastal Habitat Restoration
EPA hosted a National Webcast: Restore-Adapt-Mitigate: Responding to Climate Change
through Coastal Habitat Restoration in the spring of 2012 which provided an overview of
the newly released study linking ecologically important coastal habitat restoration with
adaptation and mitigation strategies as a way to reduce the impacts of ongoing global
climate change.
9. Integrated Climate Change in Wetland Program Development Grants
EPA integrated considerations of climate change (mitigation and adaptation) into its 2012
Headquarters Wetland Program Development Grants Request for Proposals (RFP)
announcement and used the RFP to guide funding decisions for building state and tribal
capacity. Appropriate partners are being identified for establishing restoration
objectives within the context of climate change. After new grant recipients are
announced in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, EPA will consider other potential partnerships.
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10. Addressed Climate Change in Recovery Potential Screening Methodology
Climate change relevance to restoration planning has been incorporated into the
Recovery Potential Screening methodology that assists states in assessing prospects of
restoration success and linking this to driving factors. The Recovery Potential Screening
website (www.epa.gov/recoverypotential) now includes a "biotic and climatic risks"
subcategory under the stressor indicators (see
http://owpubauthor.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/recovery/indicatorsstres
sor.cfmffbioclimrisks), and several other parameters sensitive to climate change risks to
restoration success have been built into the ecological and stressor indicators that are
also available on the website. Examples include flow alteration and temperature stress.
The Recovery Potential screening website was comprehensively peer-reviewed by
members of the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) Global Climate Change
Research team to enable a good two-way exchange of indicator concepts and data
sources.
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Vision Area 3:
Coastal and
Ocean
Waters
Vision: Adverse effects of climate change and unintended adverse consequences of responses
to climate change have been successfully prevented or reduced in the ocean and coastal
environment. Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions are
working cooperatively; and information necessary to integrate climate change considerations
into ocean and coastal management is produced, readily available, and used.
CLIMATE READY
ESTUARIES
11. Expanded Climate Ready Estuaries Program
Climate Ready Estuaries grants were provided to four new
National Estuary partners in 2012:
San Juan Bay Estuary Program, Puerto Rico;
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program, Massachusetts;
Peconic Estuary Program, New York; and
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Alabama.
Climate ready projects have now been initiated with 23 National Estuary Programs
(NEPs). In addition, in 2012, the program initiated 6 new climate adaptation projects
(with five NEPs, including the 4 new partners listed above), bringing the total projects to
37. Additional information about the program can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/cre.
12. Hosted Workshop on Coastal Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments
In March 2012, the Climate Ready Estuaries program worked with NOAA to host a joint
meeting on climate change vulnerability assessments. About 50-60 members attended
from the program's stakeholder communities, in addition to about 20-25 more staff
members from federal agencies.
13. Implemented Pilot Projects on Climate Adaptation: Estuary and Utility Cooperation
In 2012, EPA conducted pilots to increase the coordination between Climate Ready
Water Utilities (CRWU) and Climate Ready Estuaries initiatives. The North Hudson
Sewerage Authority and the New York/New Jersey Harbor National Estuary Program
project was completed in 2011 and the report is now available on EPA's website. The
2012 pilots were conducted by the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program in North
Carolina and the Morro Bay National Estuary Program in California. For all three pilot
projects, GREAT was used to conduct a joint risk assessment with watershed partners to
identify current and future climate threats and adaptation options.
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Vision Area 4:
Water
Quality
Vision: The Nation's surface water, drinking water, and ground water quality are protected,
and the risks of climate change to human health and the environment are diminished, through a
variety of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
14. Developed Climate Assessment Tool (CAT) for Stormwater
In 2012, EPA developed the Climate Assessment Tool (CAT)
as a module for the Stormwater Calculator based on the
Stormwater Management Model (SWMM). The Stormwater
CAT, which will be released in final form in 2013, allows
users to assess the efficacy of Stormwater control measures
including "green infrastructure" measures, in a range of
potential climate change-influenced precipitation and
temperature conditions. The Stormwater CAT will aid
municipalities in implementing Stormwater management programs. Outputs from the
Stormwater calculator and SWMM may be integrated into watershed models which
would allow for comprehensive management of Stormwater controls.
15. Revised NPDES Permit Writers'Manual to Address Climate Change
The 2012 version of the NPDES Permit Writers' Manual includes
new text providing for consideration of climate change in two
sections:
Section 5.2.2.7: Apply Additional Regulatory Considerations
in Calculating Thermal Discharge Limits - Clean Water Act
Section 316(a) Variance: Permitting authorities should be
aware that the effects of global climate change could alter
the thermal profile of some receiving waters making the historical record of thermal
conditions less representative of future conditions.
Section 6.2.4.2: Receiving Water Critical Conditions Receiving Water Upstream
Flow: Modelers should be aware that the effects of climate change could alter
historical flow patterns in rivers and streams, making these historical flow records
less accurate in predicting current and future critical flows.
16. Established Principals for an Energy-Water Future
The Office of Water developed and published Principles for an Energy-Water Future,
which outlines six principles to address the energy-water nexus including:
Efficiency in the use of energy and water should form the foundation of how we
develop, distribute, recover, and use energy and water;
The exploration, production, transmission and use of energy should have as small an
impact on water resources as possible, in terms of water quality and water quantity;
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The pumping, treating, distribution, use, collection, reuse and ultimate disposal of
water should have as small an impact on energy resources as possible;
Wastewater treatment facilities, which treat human and animal waste, should be
viewed as renewable resource recovery facilities that produce clean water, recover
energy, and generate nutrients;
The water and energy sectors - governments, utilities, manufacturers, and
consumers - should move toward integrated energy and water management from
source, production, and generation to end user; and
Maximize comprehensive, societal benefits.
For more information on the principles, see:
http://water.epa.gov/action/upload/EnergyWater-Principles4 17 12.pdf.
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Vision Area 5:
Working with
Tribes
Vision: Tribes are able to preserve, adapt, and maintain the viability of their culture, traditions,
natural resources, and economies in the face of a changing climate.
17. Initiated Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk Sustainability Tool (Tribal-FERST)
The Office of Water is participating in a project with the EPA Office of Research and
Development to develop the Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk and Sustainability Tool
(Tribal- FERST). Tribal-FERST is a web-based geospatial decision support tool that
provides Tribes with access to the best available human health and ecological science. In
Tribal-FERST, users will be able to follow step-by-step guidance for identifying priority
issues (e.g. climate change), compiling data, ranking and addressing risks, and assessing
impacts of actions taken. At each step, relevant information will be provided, such as:
Fact sheets and reports about environmental issues of concern;
A tribal environmental data table providing quantitative information to support
risk prioritization;
Decision-making guides integrating traditional ecological knowledge and western
science;
A geospatial mapping component;
Access to best practices and guidance for addressing risks; and
Links to other tools relevant to tribal environmental decision-making.
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Vision Area 6:
Cross-cutting Program Support
UJ|QP WaterInformation Coordination Program
IjQllll Advisory Committee on Water Informatio
18. Co-Chair of the Climate Change Adaptation and Water Stakeholder Group
Since 2012, the Office of
Water has served as co-
chair of a newly
established Climate
Change Workgroup of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI). The
workgroup includes 40 representatives of federal agencies and stakeholder organizations
that have come together to provide advice and comment to Federal agencies on a range
of climate change and water resources issues, including the progress in implementing the
National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing
Climate.
19. Supported Development of Climate Technical Training
The Office of Water participated in developing a technical training curriculum that
instructs water resources professionals on how to incorporate climate science and its
associated uncertainties into hydrologic assessment studies. The project was conducted
in partnership with the EPA's ORD, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Western Water Assessment, and the University Consortium of Atmospheric
Research to build the curriculum.
20. Participated in EPA and Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Efforts
National Water Program staff participated in a range of workgroups within EPA and with
other federal agencies working to adapt to a changing climate including the:
EPA Climate Change Adaptation Workgroup;
Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force;
o Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy workgroup;
o National Ocean Policy workgroup on climate change;
o Freshwater Resources Workgroup;
Interagency Ocean Acidification Working Group; and
Coral Reef Task Force.
The Office of Water also has an interagency agreement with NOAA where climate
adaptation is a joint focus.
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PART II
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
CLIMATE CHANGE REGIONS
Climate change poses different challenges
in different regions of the country.
Highlights of the efforts to adapt water
programs to a changing climate in the
climate change regions identified in the
2012 Strategy, and for the large aquatic ecosystem programs implemented by EPA around the
country (e.g. Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Mexico) are presented below.
Northeast Climate Region
1. Initiated Water Champions Program
The Water Champions Program is a service-learning partnership program implemented
by EPA Region 2. It is designed to encourage development of sustainable, stakeholder
driven projects that lead to long-term behavioral changes in local communities, including
water conservation that leads to reduced energy use and reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions. Through collaboration with local and regional agencies and/or organizations
(such as universities, state agencies, schools, etc.) the Water Champions Program
identifies a Stewardship Facilitator and works with this person to develop a Water
Champions Project in a local community. High school students, at the direction of the
Stewardship Facilitator, develop and implement projects aimed at achieving measurable
reductions in local and regional water consumption. There are four core objectives to
the "Water Champions" Program:
Build capacity for organizations to inform the community about the importance of
water conservation and the existence of cost saving/water reducing technologies,
along with the WaterSense Program;
Recruit regional and/or local retailers of water consuming technologies to
participate in EPA's WaterSense program;
Gather data on the purchase of water efficient technologies and calculate the
reduced volume of water used and cost savings associated with these purchases;
and,
Share project outcomes and look to recruit additional organizations in the area to
participate in this service-learning project.
More information can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/p2/other p2 prog init actv.htmlffother programs.
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Southeast Climate Region
2. Implemented Cooperative Energy Management Initiative for Wastewater Utilities
EPA Region 4 developed and implemented an Energy Management Initiative (EMI) in
collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to work
with water and wastewater public utilities in Tennessee to save energy and reduce their
carbon footprint. A group of seven Tennessee water utilities participated in the EMI,
which included several site visits and participation in a series of four energy management
workshops. The site visits were completed in November 2011 and included energy
benchmarking at each utility using Portfolio Manager and a preliminary energy
assessment of the utility's facilities. Reports from those visits were presented to the
utilities in January-February 2012. The project resulted in:
7,300,000 kWh savings on annual basis;
$620,000 energy cost savings annual basis;
7,100 tons carbon dioxide (C02) emissions reduction on an annual basis; and
Overall energy savings: 16.9%.
A public recognition event for participating utilities was held in Nashville, Tennessee in
October 2012.
Midwest Climate Region
3. Developed Innovative Aquifer Storage
EPA Region 5 issued an operational permit for the Joint Powers Water Board (JPWB) in
Minnesota. The Board's Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program is the first of its
kind in Region 5 and is expected to serve as a model for others. The ASR program is
currently in the storage phase, recharging the aquifer with potable water during winter
and fall months when consumer demand is low. ASR is expected to help the Board realize
significant capital savings by modulating daily treatment needs. JPWB captured/stored
more than 50,427,000 gallons of treated water in 2012.
Great Plains Climate Region
4. Organized Forum on Sustainable Materials for Climate Adaptation
EPA Region 6 worked to incubate a Sustainable Materials and Pollution Prevention Forum
in the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas. The forum continues to serve as a venue
for regular meetings of more than 16 cities in the DFW area to share project ideas and
results in a variety of sustainability areas that intersect with climate change adaptation.
The Forum has been formed and membership continues to grow.
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Southwest Climate Region
5. Improved Water Utility Energy Management
EPA Region 9's Sustainable Infrastructure Program completed a comprehensive one-year
pilot program of monthly energy management webinars with eight water/wastewater
utilities resulting in ten projects that reduced nearly 3,244 megawatt hour (MWh)/year
of electricity, greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 2,300 Metric Ton Carbon Dioxide
Equivalent (MTC02e)/year, plus nearly $600,000 in reduced operating costs by
implementing projects using the Environmental Management Systems approach.
Region 9 also partnered with the San Francisco State University and San Diego State
University's Industrial Assessment Centers (lACs) to audit 9 wastewater treatment
facilities in California, Hawaii and Arizona. The lACs recommended 25 unique energy
conservation opportunities which could save a total of $5.5M/year and 27M kilowatt
hour (kwh)/year.
Pacific Northwest Climate Region
6. Incorporated Climate Change into Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
EPA Region 10 hosted a workshop to kick off work on a Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) pilot project investigating how to incorporate climate change into a nonpoint
source TMDL. Participants included climate and watershed scientists, staff from the
Nooksack Tribe and Lummi Nation, Washington Department of Ecology, EPA ORD-
Corvallis Lab, and EPA Region 10.
Montane Climate Region
7. Added Climate Change to Water Supply Environmental Impact Statements
EPA Region 8's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 404 programs have
been working with other federal agencies to include climate change analyses in water
supply Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). In 2012, EPA advocated for a more
quantitative climate change water resources analysis to be utilized in the documents for
new water supply projects. These efforts mainly resulted in qualitative analyses of
climate change effects. Although EPA has not yet developed generalized watershed
information in the region for use in climate change analyses, comments and requests for
such analysis from other federal agencies may be influential. A water supply EIS
submitted in 2012 and reviewed by EPA Region 10 included a quantitative climate
analysis of impacts in the context of climate change. Key partners include the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, States, and local water providers.
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Alaska Climate Region
8. Conducted Climate Change Webinars for Tribes in Alaska
The EPA Anchorage Operations Office, in partnership with the Institute for Tribal
Environmental Professionals, hosted quarterly webinars with Tribes in Alaska on climate
change impacts, including impacts on water resources. One of these webinars was
hosted by the Chickaloon on salmon restoration in light of climate change. Another
webinar introduced the State of Alaska's project to assess coastal and riverine erosion
and its impacts to landfills and contaminated areas.
Caribbean Islands Climate Region
9. Used Coastal Zone Management Strategies to Address Coastal Climate Change Issues
EPA Region 2 and the Puerto Rico Coastal Adaptation Project (part of the Puerto Rico
Coastal Management Program led by NOAA) have been collaborating to:
Identify the communities and ecosystems most at-risk from coastal hazards and
climate changes using the best available scientific knowledge;
Identify, assess, and prioritize effective adaptation strategies and policies that
could be implemented in Puerto Rico;
Serve as a clearinghouse of climate information for Puerto Rico researchers,
planners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, and concerned citizens; and
Provide opportunities and space for multi-stakeholder communication on the
topic of coastal vulnerability and adaptation.
U.S. Pacific Islands Climate Region
10. Initiated Coral Reef Protection Strategy
EPA Region 9 is working with other federal agencies to develop a Coral Reef Strategy for
Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Territories of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands, and American Samoa. Corals in these regions are threatened by
climate changes including warming air and water, increased storm intensity, and rising
sea levels. Acidification of ocean waters as a result of increases in C02 levels in the
atmosphere also pose risks to corals, as do water pollution and overfishing. NOAA
evaluated 83 species of coral for risk of extinction from climate change-related stressors
and has proposed listing 59 coral species in the Pacific Ocean as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Region 9 seeks to better focus
authorities, technical assistance, and funds for protection of coral reefs in the Pacific
Islands, and to provide leadership on the links between coral reef protection and
climate change. The Strategy will identify actions needed to protect coral reefs include
reducing sources of land based pollution and increasing the resilience of coral reefs to
climate change stressors.
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Large Aquatic Ecosystems
11. Implemented Climate Change Adaptation Projects for Large Aquatic Ecosystems
Key projects concerning climate change were completed in several U.S. coastal areas:
The San Francisco Bay Large Aquatic Ecosystem program collaborated with the Bay
Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) to identify habitats and
infrastructure that are vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise, and to
formulate new policies for BCDC's Bay Plan to address these vulnerabilities. For
additional information, see
http://www.sfestuary.org/proiects/detail2.php?proiectlD=4.
The new Puget Sound Study action plan will include several climate pieces focusing
on a potential monitoring program.
The Chesapeake Bay Program reviewed the current understanding of climate change
impacts on the tidal Chesapeake Bay and identified critical knowledge gaps and
research priorities.
The Gulf of Mexico Program has developed a resilience index for coastal
communities and has installed equipment to monitor changes to land and water
elevation.
The Long Island Sound Study used Climate Ready Estuaries funding to develop a
Connecticut Adaptation Resources Toolkit (CART) that in turn was based on its
experience from another Climate Ready Estuary project that involved working with
the town of Groton and other federal and state partners to develop a climate change
adaptation plan.
EPA Region 1 and ORD are developing quantitative methods for projecting the likely
pollutant (phosphorus, nitrogen, and total dissolved solids) loading consequences of
climate change on Lake Champlain. This project will provide an example of how
climate change can be incorporated into the TMDL process.
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Great Lakes and Climate Change
12. Implemented Climate Change Adaptation Projects for the Great Lakes
In 2012, the Office of Water supported several projects in the Great Lakes region related
to climate change:
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) 2012 Request for Proposals: Awarded two
grants to work with local Great Lakes communities to help them assess their climate
vulnerabilities and implement adaptation planning and provided extra credit to any
GLRI application that incorporated a sensitivity to climate change implications into
their proposed work.
GLRI 2012 Interagency Agreements: Approved climate change information
activities under several interagency agreements with federal partners in
implementing the GLRI and encouraged all federal partners to incorporate sensitivity
to climate change impacts into their GLRI interagency agreements.
GLRI Capacity Grants to States and Tribes: Included climate change planning and
adaptation work in some GLRI capacity grants to Great Lakes States and Tribes.
U.S. - Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA): Succeeded in
adding a climate change impacts annex to the newly negotiated amendments to the
GLWQA with Canada.
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PART III
Assessment of Progress:
2012 Baseline
The National Water Program is beginning a new process in 2012 to track progress in
implementing climate change response programs based on assessing the stage or phase of
development of efforts to implement each of the 19 specific "Goals" identified in the 2012
Strategy.
Seven developmental phases for climate change related work are:
1. Initiation - conduct a screening assessment of potential implications of climate
change to mission, programs, and operations;
2. Assessment - conduct a broader review to understand how climate change affects
the resources in question;
3. Response Development - identify changes necessary to continue to reach program
mission and goals and develop initial action plan;
4. Initial Implementation - initiate actions in selected priority programs or projects
5. Robust Implementation - programs are underway and lessons learned are being
applied to additional programs and projects;
6. Mainstreaming - climate is an embedded, component of the program; and
7. Monitor Outcomes and Adaptive Management - continue to monitor and integrate
performance, new information, and lessons learned into programs and plans.
More detailed description of each of these phases of assessment is included in Table I.
Recognizing the long-term nature of work to address climate change, the National Water
Program has identified the current (i.e. December 2012) status of work on each of the
Supporting Actions in Table II of this report. The 2012 baseline assessment has a total numeric
value of 42 out of a total possible score of 133 (i.e., 19 Goals with the potential to achieve a
score of 7 for each action equates to a total score of 133). This combined score indicates that
many actions to implement goals are in the early stages of implementation.
Future annual progress reports will identify the cumulative progress toward full
implementation of the Strategy in both narrative and numeric terms.
18 I
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TABLE I
DESCRIPTION OF PHASES
National Water
Program Phases
Explanation
Examples of Evidence of Achievement
1. Initiation
Conduct a screening
assessment of
potential implications
of climate change to
mission, programs,
and operations
Preliminary information is developed to evaluate
relevance of climate change to the mission or
program; a decision is made as to whether to prepare
a response to climate change; further exploration of
climate change implications has been authorized
Responsibilities are assigned at appropriate levels
within the organization and resources are available to
develop a more in-depth assessment
2. Assessment
Conduct a broader
review to understand
how climate change
affects the resources
in question
Work with
stakeholders to
develop an
understanding of the
implications of
climate change to the
mission, programs,
and operations
Review science literature and assessments to
understand how climate change affects the resources
being protected (threat to mission); Engage internal
staff and external stakeholders in evaluation
Identify climate change issues and concerns and
communicate with internal and external stakeholders
and partners.
Identify which specific programs are threatened and
what specific information or tools need to be
developed
Communicate findings to partners and stakeholders
and engage them in dialogue on building adaptive
capacity
3. Response
development
Identify changes
necessary to continue
to reach program
mission and goals
Develop initial action
plan
Identify and seek the
research, information
and tools needed to
support actions
Begin to build the
body of tools,
information and
partnerships
needed to build
capacity internally
and externally
Develop initial program vision and goals for responding
to climate change.
Identify needed response actions or changes that will
allow the organization to begin to address climate
impacts on its mission
Initiate strategies and actions in a few key areas to
begin to build organizational ability to use climate
information in decision processes
Identify program partners' needs for building
adaptive capacity
Begin working with an external 'community of
practice' to engage in tool and program development
Rudimentary methods are put in place to track
progress and options for more formal measures are
identified and evaluated
Develop a strategy and partnerships to obtain
additional needed research
19 I P a
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4. Initial
Implementation
Initiate actions in
selected priority
programs or projects
Make it clear within the organization that
incorporating climate change into programs is
critical
Initiate actions and plans identified in Step 3
Initiate projects with partners
Develop needed information and tools
Initial implementation of measures capable of
documenting the extent of implementation of
needed actions by partners/stakeholders
Some program partners have begun to implement
response actions
5. Robust
Implementation
Programs are
underway and lessons
learned are being
applied to additional
programs and
projects
Lessons learned are evaluated and strategies are
refined
Efforts are initiated to consider climate change in
additional program elements
Continue to institute institutional changes to
include climate change in core programs, including
refinement of measures
External communities of practice are in place to
support ongoing capacity development
6.
Mainstreaming
Climate is an
embedded,
component of the
program
The organization's culture and policies are aligned
with responding to climate change
All staff have a basic understanding of climate
change causes and impacts
All relevant programs, activities, and decisions
processes intrinsically incorporate climate change
Measures for documenting progress among
partners/stakeholders are well established and
supporting program evaluation
7. Monitor
Outcomes and
Adaptive
Management
Continue to monitor
and integrate
performance, new
information, and
lessons learned into
programs and plans
Progress is evaluated and needed changes are
implemented
As impacts of climate change unfold, climate
change impacts and organizational responses are
reassessed
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TABLE II
SUPPORTING ACTIONS AND 2012 BASELINE ASSESSMENTS/SCORES
Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012
Development
Phase /Score
Infrastructure: In the face of a changing climate, resilient and adaptable drinking water,
wastewater and stormwater utilities (water sector) ensure clean and safe water to protect
the nation's public health and environment by making smart investment decisions to improve
the sustainability of their infrastructure and operations and the communities they serve,
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through greater energy efficiency.
Goal 1:
Build the body
of information
and tools
needed to
incorporate
climate
change into
planning and
decision
making.
Goal 2:
Support
Integrated
Water
Resource
Management
(IWRM)to
sustainably
manage water
resources.
SA1: Improve access to vetted climate and hydrological
science, modeling, and assessment tools through the Climate
Ready Water Utilities program.
SA2: Assist wastewater and water utilities to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and increase long-term
sustainability with a combination of energy efficiency, co-
generation, and increased use of renewable energy
resources.
SA3: Work with the States and public water systems,
particularly small water systems, to identify and plan for
climate change challenges to drinking water safety and to
assist in meeting health based drinking water standards.
SA4: Promote sustainable design approaches to provide for
the long-term sustainability of infrastructure and operations.
SA5: Understand and promote through technical assistance
the use of water supply management strategies.
SA6: Evaluate and provide technical assistance on the use of
water demand management strategies.
SA7: Increase cross-sector knowledge of water supply
climate challenges and develop watershed specific
information to inform decision making.
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012
Development
Phase /Score
Watersheds & Wetlands: Watersheds are protected, maintained and restored to ensure
climate resilience and to preserve the social and economic benefits they provide; and the
nation's wetlands are maintained and improved using integrated approaches that recognize
their inherent value as well as their role in reducing the impacts of climate change.
GoalS:
Identify,
protect, and
maintain a
network of
healthy
watersheds and
supportive
habitat corridor
networks.
Goal 4:
Incorporate
climate
resilience into
watershed
restoration and
floodplain
management.
GoalS:
Watershed
protection
practices
incorporate
Source Water
Protection to
protect drinking
water supplies.
SA8: Develop a national framework and support efforts to
protect remaining healthy watersheds and aquatic
ecosystems.
SA9: Collaborate with partners on terrestrial ecosystems
and hydrology so that effects on water quality and aquatic
ecosystems are considered.
SA10: Integrate protection of healthy watersheds
throughout the National Water Program core programs.
SA11: Increase public awareness of the role and importance
of healthy watersheds in reducing the impacts of climate
change.
SA12: Consider a means of accounting for climate change in
EPA funded and other watershed restoration projects.
SA13: Work with federal, state, interstate, tribal, and local
partners to protect and restore the natural resources and
functions of riverine and coastal floodplains as a means of
building resiliency and protecting water quality.
SA14: Encourage States to update their source water
delineations, assessments or protection plans to address
anticipated climate change impacts.
SA15: Continue to support collaborative efforts to increase
state and local awareness of source water protection needs
and opportunities, and encourage inclusion of source water
protection areas in local climate change adaptation
initiatives.
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
Watersheds & Wetlands (continued)
Goal 6:
Incorporate
climate change
considerations
into the Clean
Water Act 404
regulatory
program as they
relate to permit
reviews and
compensatory
mitigation.
Goal?:
Improve
baseline
information on
wetland extent,
condition and
performance to
inform effective
adaptation to
climate change.
SA16: Consider the effects of climate change, as
appropriate, when making significant degradation
determinations in the Clean Water Act Section 404 wetlands
permitting and enforcement program
SA17: Evaluate, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, how wetland and stream compensation projects
could be selected, designed, and sited to aid in reducing the
effects of climate change.
SA18: Expand wetland mapping by supporting wetland
mapping coalitions and training on use of the new federal
Wetland Mapping Standard.
SA19: Produce a statistically valid, ecological condition
assessment of the nation's wetlands.
SA20: Work with partners and stakeholders to develop
information and tools to support long term planning and
priority setting for wetland restoration projects.
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Phase:
Initiation
Score:
1
Phase:
Initiation
Score:
1
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Coastal and Ocean Waters: Adverse effects of climate change and unintended adverse
consequences of responses to climate change have been successfully prevented or reduced in
the ocean and coastal environment. Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, organizations,
and institutions are working cooperatively; and information necessary to integrate climate
change considerations into ocean and coastal management is produced, readily available, and
used.
Goal 8:
Collaborate to
ensure
information and
methodologies
for ocean and
coastal areas
are collected,
produced,
analyzed, and
easily available.
Goal 9:
EPA
geographically
targeted
programs
support and
build networks
of local, tribal,
state, regional
and federal
collaborators to
take effective
adaptation
measures for
coastal and
ocean
environments.
SA21: Collaborate to ensure that synergy occurs, lessons
learned are transferred, federal efforts effectively help local
communities, and efforts are not duplicative or at cross-
purposes.
SA22: Work within EPA and with the U.S. Global Change
Research Program and other federal, tribal, and state
agencies to collect, produce, analyze, and format knowledge
and information needed to protect ocean and coastal areas
and make it easily available.
SA23: Work with the National Water Program's larger
geographic programs to incorporate climate change
considerations, focusing on both the natural and built
environments.
SA24: Address climate change adaptation and build
stakeholder capacity when implementing NEP
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans and
through the Climate Ready Estuaries Program.
SA25: Conduct outreach and education, and provide
technical assistance to state and local watershed
organizations and communities to build adaptive capacity in
coastal areas outside the NEP and Large Aquatic Ecosystem
programs.
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
Coastal and Ocean Waters (continued)
Goal 10:
Address climate
driven
environmental
changes in
coastal areas
and ensure that
mitigation and
adaptation are
conducted in an
environmentally
responsible
manner.
Goal 11: Ocean
environments
are protected
by EPA
programs that
incorporate
shifting
environmental
conditions, and
other emerging
threats.
SA26: Support coastal wastewater, stormwater, and
drinking water infrastructure owners and operators in
reducing climate risks and encourage adaptation in coastal
areas.
SA27: Support climate readiness of coastal communities,
including hazard mitigation, pre-disaster planning,
preparedness, and recovery efforts.
SA28: Support preparation and response planning for
diverse impacts to coastal aquatic environments.
SA29: Consider climate change impacts on marine water
quality in NWP ocean management authorities, policies, and
programs.
SA30: Use available authorities and work with the Regional
Ocean Organizations and other federal and state agencies
through regional ocean groups and other networks so that
offshore renewable energy production does not adversely
affect the marine environment.
SA31: Support the evaluation of sub-seabed sequestration
of C02 and any proposals for ocean fertilization.
SA32: Participate in interagency development and
implementation of federal strategies through the National
Ocean Council and the National Ocean Council Strategic
Action Plans.
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Water Quality: Our Nation's surface water, drinking water, and ground water quality are
protected, and the risks of climate change to human health and the environment are
diminished, through a variety of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Goal 12:
Protect waters
of the United
States and
promote
management of
sustainable
surface water
resources.
SA33: Encourage States and communities to incorporate
climate change considerations into their water quality
planning.
SA34: Encourage green infrastructure and low-impact
development to protect water quality and make watersheds
more resilient.
SA35: Promote consideration of climate change impacts by
NPDES permitting authorities.
SA36: Encourage water quality authorities to consider
climate change impacts when developing wasteload and
load allocations in TMDLs where appropriate.
SA37: Identify and protect designated uses that are at risk
from climate change impacts.
SA38: Clarify how to re-evaluate aquatic life water quality
criteria on more regular intervals; and develop information
to assist States and Tribes who are developing criteria that
incorporate climate change considerations for hydrologic
condition.
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
Goal 13:
As the nation
makes decisions
to reduce its
greenhouse gas
emissions and
develop
alternative
sources of
energy and fuel,
the National
Water Program
will work to
protect water
resources from
unintended
adverse
consequences.
SA39: Continue to provide perspective on the water
resource implications of new energy technologies.
SA40: Provide assistance to States and permittees to assure
that geologic sequestration of C02 is responsibly managed.
SA41: Continue to work with States to help them identify
polluted waters, including those affected by biofuels
production, and help them develop and implement TMDLs
for those waters.
SA42: Provide informational materials for stakeholders to
encourage the consideration of alternative sources of
energy and fuels that are water efficient and maintain water
quality.
SA43: As climate change affects the operation or placement
of reservoirs, EPA will work with other federal agencies and
EPA programs to understand the combined effects of
climate change and hydropower on flows, water
temperature, and water quality.
Phase:
Initiation
Score:
1
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Water Quality (continued)
Goal 14:
Collaborate to
make
hydrological
data and
projections
available.
SA44: Monitor climate change impacts to surface waters
and ground water.
SA45: Collaborate with other federal agencies to develop
new methods for use of updated precipitation, storm
frequency, and observational streamflow data, as well as
methods for evaluating projected changes in low flow
conditions.
SA46: Enhance flow estimation using National Hydrography
DatasetPlus(NHDPIus).
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Working With Tribes: Tribes are able to preserve, adapt, and maintain the viability of their
culture, traditions, natural resources, and economies in the face of a changing climate.
Goal 15:
Incorporate
climate change
considerations
in the
implementation
of core
programs, and
collaborate with
other EPA
Offices and
federal
Agencies to
work with
Tribes on
climate change
issues on a
multi-media
basis.
Goal 16:
Tribes have
access to
information on
climate change
for decision
making.
SA47: Through formal consultation and other mechanisms,
incorporate climate change as a key consideration in the
revised NWP Tribal Strategy and subsequent
implementation of Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water
Act, and other core programs.
SA48: Incorporate adaptation into tribal funding
mechanisms, and collaborate with other EPA and federal
funding programs to support sustainability and adaptation
in tribal communities.
SA49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change
science, information, and tools for Tribes, and incorporate
local knowledge.
SA50: Collaborate to develop communication materials
relevant for tribal uses and tribal audiences.
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
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Visions and
Goals
Strategic Actions
2012 Baseline
Assessment
Cross-Cutting Program Support
Goal 17:
Communication,
Collaboration,
and Training
SA51: Continue building the communication, collaboration,
and training mechanisms needed to effectively increase
adaptive capacity at the federal, tribal, state, and local
levels.
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Goal 18:
Tracking
Progress And
Measuring
Outcomes
SA52: Adopt a phased approach to track programmatic
progress towards Strategic Actions; achieve commitments
reflected in the Agency Strategic Plan; work with the EPA
Work Group to develop outcome measures.
Phase:
Response
Development
Score:
3
Goal 19: Climate
Change and
Water Research
Needs
SA53: Work with ORD, other water science agencies, and
the water research community to further define needs and
develop research opportunities to deliver the information
needed to support implementation of this 2012 Strategy,
including providing the decision support tools needed by
water resource managers.
Phase:
Assessment
Score:
2
Total Score:
42 of a
possible 133
28 (Page
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Appendix A:
Highlights Summary Table
Highlights: National Water Programs
Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure
1) Issued Water Utility Climate Tool: Version 2.0
2) Published Adaptation Strategies Guide
3) Published Planning for Extreme Weather Events: Workshop Planner for the Water Sector
4) Published Extreme Events Case Study Series
5) Expanded WaterSense to New Multi-Family Housing and Irrigation
6) Published Planning for Sustainability Handbook for Water and Wastewater utilities
Vision Area 2: Watersheds and Wetlands
7) Published Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts, Assessments, and
Management Approaches
8) Hosted Webcast: Restore-Adapt-Mitigate: Responding to Climate Change through
Coastal Habitat Restoration
9) Integrated Climate Change in Wetland Program Development Grants
10) Addressed Climate Change in Recovery Potential Screening Methodology
Vision Area 3: Coastal and Ocean Waters
11) Expanded Climate Ready Estuaries Program
12) Hosted Workshop on Coastal Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments
13) Implemented Pilot Projects on Climate Adaptation: Estuary and Utility Cooperation
Vision Area 4: Water Quality
14) Developed Climate Assessment Tool (CAT) for Stormwater
15) Revised NPDES Permit Writers' Manual to Address Climate Change
16) Established Principals for an Energy-Water Future
Vision Area 5: Working with Tribes
17) Initiated Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk Sustainability Tool (Tribal-FERST)
Vision Area 6: Cross-cutting Program Support
18) Co-Chair of the Climate Change Adaptation and Water Stakeholder Group
19) Supported Development of Climate Technical Training Organize Extreme Events
Workshops
20) Participated in EPA and Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Efforts
29 I P a
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Highlights: Climate Regions
Northeast Climate Region
1) Initiate Water Champions Program
Southeast Climate Region
2) Implement Cooperative Energy Management Initiative for Wastewater Utilities
Midwest Climate Region
3) Develop Innovative Aquifer Storage
Great Plains Climate Region
4) Organize Forum on Sustainable Materials for Climate Adaptation
Southwest Climate Region
5) Improve Water Utility Energy Management
Pacific Northwest Climate Region
6) Incorporate Climate Change into Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Montane Climate Region
7) Add Climate Change to Water Supply Environmental Impact Statements
Alaska Climate Region
8) Conduct Climate Change Webinars for Tribes in Alaska
Caribbean Islands Climate Region
9) Use Coastal Zone Management to Address Coastal Climate Change Issues
U.S. Pacific Islands Climate Region
10) Initiate Coral Reef Protection Strategy
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Appendix B:
Compendium of Additional 2012 Accomplishments
In addition to the accomplishments highlighted for each of the vision areas and climate regions,
other important projects are in development and a number of supporting activities are being
implemented. A complete summary of activities related to climate change and water programs
is provided below.
National Water Program Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
In 2012, EPA developed a Climate Change Risk Management Workbook designed to
assist water resources managers in the development of climate change vulnerability
assessments and action plans on an estuary or waterbody basis. The workbook
describes a step-by-step process that managers can follow to evaluate climate related
risks and develop response actions that fit the conditions and needs of a specific water
resource. The workbook is planned for release in late 2013.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the National Wetlands Inventory. In 2009,
EPA co-led a stakeholder working group (Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
Wetlands subcommittee) to develop a new standard to support digital mapping of
wetlands for incorporation into the National Wetlands Inventory and the National
Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Accurate mapping of wetlands is essential to
understanding how climate change may result in changes in wetlands over time. EPA
has supported the long-term objective of the FGDC Wetlands subcommittee to
complete digital mapping for the country. Specifically, a number of 2012 RFP Wetland
Program Development Grants have supported National Wetlands Inventory mapping,
including:
o Vermont Agency of Natural Resources: Vermont Agency of Natural Resource's
proposal aims to strengthen and develop the overall Vermont Wetland Program;
o DuPage County Wetland Survey and Mapping Project in DuPage County Illinois;
o Colorado State University FY 2012 Wetland Program Development Grants
Stream Mitigation and Mapping project;
o Developing Key Components of a Coordinated Wetlands Program for the Kenai
Peninsula (Keep-Wet) Alaska;
o Chilkoot Indian Association Wetland Program Planning Capacity Building Project
- will include a wetland mapping pilot study; and
o Washington Historical Mapping and Wetland Program Development.
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The Office of Water is planning a national conference focused on the linkages between
healthy forests and healthy waters, which will include topics related to climate-induced
impacts, sustainability, and economic-based incentives fostering protection and
restoration of natural resources including those in floodplains which protect water
quality and provide resilience in the face of climate change. The conference is being
developed by the American Water Resources Association in partnership with EPA, U.S.
Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Pinchot Institute among others. Final
topic areas have been agreed upon and a finalized "Call for Abstracts" has been
approved by the conference steering committee. The target audience consists of
foresters, water resource managers, aquatic ecologists/biologists, land use planners,
economists, engineers, water supply purveyors, companies who are major water users,
and land managers from the governmental, private, environmental and academic
communities.
EPA and its state, tribal, and federal partners are implementing the first-ever National
Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA), a statistical survey of the quality of our
Nation's wetlands. This assessment data will help provide a baseline of wetland
condition that will help understand changes in wetland condition overtime as a result of
climate change and other factors. Field crews collected data at 1,179 sites from Florida
to Alaska in the summer of 2011. In 2012, EPA processed field and laboratory data from
these sites and initiated data validation and quality assurance reviews. During 2013,
EPA will continue to validate and perform quality assurance checks on the field and
laboratory data, and begin analysis of the data with key federal, state, and academic
collaborators. A report detailing the results of the survey will be drafted for public
release and comment in 2013.
EPA serves on the U.S. government delegation to meetings of the London Convention
and London Protocol, international ocean dumping treaties, and supported
development of several actions related to climate change:
o On November 2, 2012, Contracting Parties to the London Convention and
London Protocol issued a statement of concern regarding an ocean fertilization
activity reported to have been carried out in July 2012 in ocean waters off the
Canadian west coast. See
http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/47-ocean-
fertilisation.aspx for the International Maritime Organization press release;
o In November 2012, Contracting Parties to the London Convention and London
Protocol adopted revised international guidance for the Assessment of Carbon
Dioxide Streams for Disposal into Sub-Seabed Geological Formations (2012 C02
Sequestration Guidance).
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Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
The Climate Ready Water Utilities Toolbox (a searchable web-based toolkit that
contains approximately 600 climate-related resources for water utilities) was updated in
February 2012 enabling faster and easier access to the newest and most relevant
climate information. The resources available include reports and publications, funding
resources, activities, upcoming events, and models and tools for technical information.
EPA and its partners have published the web-based Adaptive Response Framework
reference document built on the 2011 National Drinking Water Advisory Council's
Climate Ready Water Utilities report. It explains that using an adaptive management
approach is important when planning for climate change and highlights aspects to
consider throughout the process of becoming "climate ready" including awareness,
adaptation, mitigation, policies, community, and partnerships.
Office of Science and Technology
Work continues in partnership with the U.S. Geological Society (USGS) to develop
estimates of the plausible future hydrologic response of our nation's rivers and
streams to climate change. Presentations describing this work were given by USGS
colleagues at the November 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Water Resources
Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Work currently focuses on calibrating the Water
Balance Model and adapting the USGS gridded Water Balance Model to the NHDPIus
waterbody network. Interim products are expected to be ready for peer review in 2013,
pending budgetary decisions.
Completed a hydrologic flow assessment with the state of Virginia in July 2012,
described in the technical document, Virginia Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration
(ELOHA): Development of Metrics of Hydrologic Alteration. This document ties
landscape alteration and flow alteration together and examines the effects on aquatic
life. (Partnership with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality).
The Office of Water is developing a draft Hydrologic Flow white paper, in collaboration
with EPA Regions, EPA Office of Research and Development, and USGS scientists, which
provides technical content and non-prescriptive approaches for considering hydrologic
flow. Completion of the white paper is expected in 2013.
Office of Wastewater Management
In 2012, EPA released the 2012 Guidelines for Water Reuse. The 2012 reuse guidelines
update and build on the Agency's previous reuse guidelines issued in 2004,
incorporating information on water reuse that has been developed since the 2004
document was issued. In addition to summarizing U.S. existing regulations, the
33 I P a a e
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document includes water reuse practices outside of the U.S., case studies, information
on planning for future water reuse systems, and information on direct potable reuse
and industrial reuse. Disinfection and treatment technologies, emerging contaminants,
and public involvement and acceptance also are discussed.
EPA helped fund a National Research Council study entitled Water Reuse: Potential for
Expanding the Nation's Water Supply Through Reuse of Municipal Wastewater. The
study, which was finalized in 2012, concluded that "environmental buffers do not
provide water quality services that cannot also be provided by the use of engineered
practices, such as advanced treatment and constructed storage facilities. Although
environmental buffers remain useful elements of water treatment systems that should
be considered alongside other options, they are not essential elements to reach water
quality goals."
The Office of Water posted the Green Infrastructure Permitting and Enforcement fact
sheets on the green infrastructure website, discussing how municipalities can
incorporate green infrastructure into sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), combined sewer
overflow (CSO), and MS4 permitting and enforcement. The facts sheets are available at:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi regulatory.cfmffpermittings
eries.
EPA worked with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to hold a
green infrastructure conference in September 2012 in which approximately 90 green
infrastructure experts from across the country gathered to discuss opportunities for and
barriers against green infrastructure.
In July 2012, the Office of Water began a series of technical assistance projects with 17
communities in 16 states. The projects include code reviews to eliminate barriers to
green infrastructure in local codes and ordinances, design guidance for particular sites/
contexts, and cost - benefit analyses of the multiple benefits of green infrastructure.
These projects are ongoing and will be completed by December 2013
In September 2012, the Office of Water launched the Campus RainWorks Challenge for
college and university students - a design competition to engage students in green
infrastructure design. 370 teams are participating from 46 states. The competition
closed at the end of the fall semester and winners will be announced in April 2013.
The Office of Water completed an Energy Management Progress Report documenting
national and Regional efforts to assist utilities in developing energy management plans
based on EPA Energy Management Guidebook. Three webinars on energy management
for utilities were conducted.
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Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments
Related to Water in EPA Regions
Region 10
With seed money from EPA Region 10 and additional support from other sponsors,
Washington State University Extension Energy Program led a planning team to design a
workshop series focusing on energy efficiency for water and wastewater utilities in
western Washington. Two workshops were conducted in 2012 with ten utilities
participating. Partners include Bonneville Power Administration, Puget Sound Energy,
Zero Waste Alliance and the EPA. The utilities participating in this series will learn
approaches and techniques leading to reduced energy consumption.
EPA Region 10 is working with the Washington Department of Ecology, the Lummi
Nation, and the Nooksack Tribe to identify the best way to integrate available climate
change data into Ecology's TMDL for temperature stress on salmon in the South Fork
Nooksack River, Washington. This will provide a case study of both process and climate
change science as a basis to support future decisions. Examining the way temperature
can be improved in the Nooksack watershed in order to support salmon restoration is a
high priority for the Nooksack and Lummi Tribes. The climate change pilot will identify
available science for the watershed, and document technical issues in a parallel effort to
the ongoing TMDL.
Consistent with the Puget Sound Action Agenda, EPA Region 10:
o conducted an erosion survey to evaluate sea level rise threat in San Juan County;
o mapped habitat and infrastructure vulnerability in Puget Sound and restoration
potential for reducing climate change vulnerability; and
o worked with several Tribes and counties to incorporate climate change in their
plans and/or analyses.
Region 9
Region 9 focused on the development and beneficial use of biogas at wastewater
treatment facilities. Primary areas of emphasis in 2012 included working to expand the
Region 9 Biogas Mapping Tool, researching biogas characteristics, and working with
California agencies and other interested entities to remove technical and regulatory
barriers that currently discourage the use of biogas.
With American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds, EPA Region 9 and
the Hawaii Department of Health held targeted workshops on each of the main
Hawaiian Islands for field energy audits at four major wastewater treatment plants in
Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, and Hawaii counties. In 2012, Honolulu County received a
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Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan from the Hawaii Department of Health to
support implementation of audit recommendations at the Kailua Wastewater
Treatment Plant. This cogeneration and energy conservation project will construct a
facility to convert methane to electricity at the wastewater treatment plant.
Region 8
Through the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Program, Region 8 promoted utility
energy efficiency through outreach, training, workshops, and incentives. This activity
stresses the adoption and use of cost-effective technologies and management strategies
to enhance energy efficiency at water and wastewater utilities. The Region worked with
13 utilities to benchmark energy use, complete process audits, and develop energy
management plans. The utilities worked with EPA and its partners on follow-up activities
to facilitate implementation of their plans. Eleven of 13 utilities are actively
implementing some or all of the efficiency opportunities identified. Average savings,
excluding Denver Metro Wastewater, equal $57,166/year and 750,235 kWh/year,
equivalent to 517 MTC02e. Denver Metro identified almost $800,000/year and
1,752,917 kWh/year in annual energy cost savings, equivalent to 1,209 MTC02e.
The first WaterSense labeled affordable home in the nation was recognized in Region 8.
The home, in Colorado, was built by Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver to the
specifications of EPA's three labeled home programs - ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS and
WaterSense. Representatives of WaterSense have been involved in numerous speaking
engagements to promote the WaterSense label for new homes, and to educate
consumers about the Program. A webinar was given by ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS
and WaterSense for various state chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council that
showcased how these programs are a component of LEED.
In EPA Region 8, Colorado Springs Utilities was selected as WaterSense Promotional
Partner of the Year. Not only have they promoted WaterSense, but they have also
offered rebates for water-saving products, and have a new home in their jurisdiction
built to WaterSense specifications.
Region 7
During 2012, EPA Region 7 worked with the Wichita State Environmental Finance Center
to conduct four workshops on energy management for a group of five pilot
communities in the Wichita area. During workshops, participants from municipal water
utilities learned how to assess energy use and develop plans for improving energy
efficiency. Climate change was discussed as one of the reasons to improve utility
performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the coal-fired power
industry. The five cities are currently implementing projects that each have committed
to undertake along with monitoring and measuring to record achievements. Partners in
this effort included the Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University,
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Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Pollution Prevention Institute at Kansas
State University, Kansas Municipal Utilities, Kansas Energy Office, Westar Energy, and
Schneider Electric.
Water Sense Program in Region 7 gained four new partners in 2012. The new partners
include two irrigations partners, one promotional partner and one building partner.
EPA Region 7 supported Kansas Department of Health and the Environment
implementation of an asset/energy management training on small systems conducted
with Wichita-Environmental Finance Center and Kansas Municipal Utilities focused. The
Department hosted workshops in each field office with follow-up on a case-by-case
basis if requested.
EPA Region 7 worked with the States and public water systems, particularly small water
systems, to identify and plan for climate change challenges to drinking water safety
and to assist in meeting health based drinking water standards. The Region also worked
with State Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) networks to host
trainings for improved planning and encourage inclusion of source water protection
areas in local climate change adaptation initiatives, especially in drought impacted
areas.
Region 6
EPA Region 6 worked with communities along the Mexico Border to improve energy
efficiency at water facilities. The Region developed a Pumping System Assessment Tool
and provided training to water and wastewater utility operators of systems along the
border. Operators learned how to assess the energy efficiency of pumps and motors
and to consider operational changes or capital improvement upgrades to more efficient
pumps/motors. The Region also conducted a workshop with utility managers from four
communities along the border to increase awareness of developing and implementing
an energy management plan. Two energy management webinars that highlighted
energy management practices at water and wastewater utilities as well as ways to
reduce energy consumption were also conducted.
EPA Region 6 continues to work with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources on
the development of its primacy delegation application for Class VI COz
geosequestration injection wells. To date, no other Region 6 state program has
indicated that they are actively pursuing Class VI delegation.
In Dallas, EPA Region 6 partnered with Delta Faucet Company, along with local Green
Plumbers, Innerline Plumbing and Andress Plumbing, to complete replacements with
WaterSense-labeled showerheads, faucet aerators and toilet flappers at 12 non-profit
organizations that run facilities to help the homeless find shelter and temporary
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housing. These organizations did not have the budget to pay for these much needed
plumbing repairs and replacements. Delta Faucet, along with BrassCraft and Neoperl,
donated the water efficient products. Andress Plumbing and Innerline Plumbing
donated the labor and installation materials.
To make it easier for businesses to sign up for these programs, EPA Region 6 created a
Green Bundling Program. This program provides a single point of contact at EPA and
consolidates the applications into a single form. This saves environmentally conscious
businesses time, money, and bureaucratic delays that can stall innovative projects. This
creates a "win-win" situation for EPA and the business community.
Region 6 continues to provide technical assistance to incorporate relative sea level rise
(land loss) projections and other adaptive measures into the post-Katrina and post-
Deepwater Horizon oil spill coastal planning efforts for Louisiana. The objective of this
participation is to increase coastal community sustainability and decrease coastal
habitat vulnerability as part of the feasibility planning, design, and construction of some
of the largest flood damage risk reduction features in the nation.
Region 5
Region 5 teamed up with WaterSense Partner Delta Faucet Company to fix water leaks
in Chicago housing developments during the 2012 EPA-sponsored Fix-a-Leak Week. The
Chicago effort led to an estimated leak removal of 1 million gallons per year. The Region
participated in the Minnesota state fair, helping Minnesota celebrate the very first
statewide WaterSense Day. Region 5 added 50 new WaterSense Partners in 2012.
Watershed planning and implementation work in Region 5 under both ARRA and 319
programs has enabled additional cross-programmatic considerations, including green
infrastructure that improves watershed resilience and improves adaptation to a
changing climate. Water utility needs and outputs have been, and increasingly are,
considerations for comprehensive watershed plans. Most watershed plans now include
green infrastructure best management practices as a way to address nonpoint source
pollution, but the practices also have the effect of assisting flow and water quality
related to treatment plant operations.
Region 5 concluded the Indiana Energy Management Pilot in 2012. For the 10 utilities
who participated, annual natural gas use decreased by 34% on average and electricity
use decreased by 15%, translating to $234,000 saved annually for the group. Published
outputs from the pilot are posted at:
http://www.epa.gov/r5water/energymanagement/index.html, including fact sheets for
each participant, a summary report with recommended action, and supplemental
documents.
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Region 4
EPA Region 4 worked with National Estuary Programs across the Region to implement a
range of projects related to climate change focusing on sea level rise. Some of these
projects were:
o Albemarle Pemlico NEP partnered with the North Carolina Division of Public
Health and East Carolina University to map coastal assets at risk from sea level
rise;
o Indian River Lagoon NEP funded the Balmoral Institute for a project titled
"Prioritizing TMDLs Using Seagrass Habitat Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise";
o Sarasota Bay NEP collaborated with Sarasota County and Florida Sea Grant
Program to integrate sea level rise and climate change into the 'Post-Disaster
Redevelopment Plan' process; and
o Tampa Bay NEP participates in an information and technology exchange with
scientists and water managers in The Netherlands through the "Resilient Tampa
Bay" program sponsored by the University of South Florida.
Region 4 submitted comments on a Class V CO2 experimental permit application and
draft Underground Injection Control permit which was eventually issued by the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management to Denbury Onshore.
Additionally, prior to the Class V C02 experimental permit application being withdrawn
by the permit applicant, Tampa Electric Company, Region 4 submitted comments to the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection on a Class V C02 experimental permit
application for a proposed C02 sequestration project near Tampa, Florida. In 2012,
Region 4 received and reviewed post injection monitoring reports from permittees for
two Class V C02 experimental wells in Kentucky (Direct Implementation state).
EPA Region 4 is working with EPA Region 1 to develop tools that can be used by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during Presidential Declared
Disasters so opportunities for energy efficiency and energy improvements can be
identified and implemented as part of the emergency repair and replacement assistance
from FEMA. EPA Regions 4 and 1 are participating with EPA Headquarters in
development of a joint workgroup with FEMA to discuss and explore this issue.
In 2010, FEMA and EPA Region 4 signed a Memorandum of Agreement that is designed
to enhance the agencies' collaboration on the use of smart growth approaches in
communities that have been impacted by disasters, and to provide information to
communities that are planning to minimize weather-related impacts. In 2011, the
state of North Carolina also expressed support for sustainable communities and
establishment of a sustainability workgroup at the state level. As these actions raised
the potential interest of communities in piloting climate adaptation projects, EPA and
FEMA announced an opportunity for technical assistance. In 2012, two communities-
New Bern and Wilmingtonwere selected as pilot locations. The technical assistance
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consisted of two-day workshops held onsite to evaluate and propose approaches to
deal with local sea level rise issues that will increase with climate change. The New
Bern project focused on challenges related to storm surge from the Neuse River that
occurs during hurricanes and other significant storms, in particular in a low-wealth
downtown neighborhood. The Wilmington project was designed to address the threat
of storm surge to grey infrastructure that will increase due to sea level rise predicted to
occur more frequently in the future.
Region 3
EPA Region 3 and Pennsylvania Department of the Environment developed "Weathering
Change" in which the agencies work with the community to foster understanding of the
weather-related changes that are beginning to happen in the community. They
maintain extensive information on their website, targeted to communities, on how to
prepare for climate change, covering issues such as flooding, stormwater and coastal
erosion. The agencies hosted a Climate Change Roundtable over the course of a year
and a half and hosted an "Out of Harm's Way" day-long forum on managing climate
change impacts in the communities around the Delaware Estuary.
The Region 3 Energy Team is working with state and local partners to develop and
present courses in energy audits in 2013. The Region is also planning on working with
local journals and newsletters from various organizations related to water and
wastewater to do more articles on energy audits.
A comprehensive landscape condition assessment for non-tidal wetlands in Region 3
was completed under a collaborative agreement between Penn State University and the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The assessment characterizes the capacity of every
mapped wetland (i.e., in the National Wetland Inventory database) in Region 3 to
provide water quality and habitat services using remotely sensed data. The project will
also diagnose the dominant stressors affecting wetland condition in each state and
ecoregion in the Mid-Atlantic. The data will be valuable to the Region for establishing
baseline wetland condition and will increase the ability to track changes that may
occur as a result of climate change. Additionally, the data can be used to move toward
more targeted watershed initiatives.
Region 2
EPA Region 2 worked with New York State to include a strategic goal in the annual
workplan to address and document the basis (including the use of mixing zones) for
Clean Water Act 316(a) thermal variance determinations. The New York Department of
Environmental Conservation is currently working with EPA to determine how to best
evaluate, document, and consider the thermal and biological impacts of Clean Water
Act 316(a) determination in permits in the context of climate change.
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EPA Region 2 participated with the EPA's Global Change Impacts and Adaptation Group
and Tetra Tech, Region 1, and scientists from State bioassessment and biomonitoring
programs on an analytic foundation for a pilot climate change monitoring network for
freshwater medium-high gradient streams in New England and New York. The
steering group also assisted with the development of decision points, including regional
reference criteria, stream classification and vulnerability assessment priorities. The
vulnerability assessment focused on three categories: (1) low flow events and warming
temperatures, (2) shift in the timing of winter/spring runoff, and (3) peak flow events.
The final products include maps of catchments and sampling sites classified by different
types of vulnerabilities to climate change effects. Recommendations include the
selection of 30 sites across the region, common sampling methodologies, and a list of
parameters to collect.
Region 2 began a dialog with the tribal nations regarding climate change adaptation and
Total Ecological Knowledge (TEK). EPA Region 2 provided a climate change grant to the
Nations in September 2011, which has been extended through September 2013. Under
this grant activities are underway by the nations who are meeting, gathering and sharing
data, discussing the hired consultant's report of vulnerability assessment of nation
lands, and also planning climate adaptation strategies. Three nation climate adaptation
strategies will be prepared and submitted to Region 2 as an output of the grant - one for
a consortium of four nations; one for the Seneca Nation and one for the ocean coastal
Shinnecock Nation).
Region 2 sought and received Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) funding to
quantify the role of ribbed mussel populations in promoting salt marsh accretion and
nutrient removal. Partners included EPA ORD at Naragansett and the Partnership for
the Delaware Estuary (PDE).
Region 2 conducted "energy roundtable meetings" in New Jersey attended by
environmental engineers and wastewater operators that and spread awareness on
energy efficiency by:
o Providing energy efficiency and sustainability training
o Benchmarking and EPA software tools
o Promoting New Jersey Board of Public Utilities programs
o Exchanging technical information of technologies and management practices
o Exchanging real world experience
Region 1
In EPA Region 1, over 100 municipal water/wastewater facilities participated in
roundtable discussions and have been trained on energy management plans. Two
wastewater facilities are near Zero Net Energy and at least four others are working on
plans to reach Zero Net Energy. Nearly $139M in ARRA, State Revolving Funds (SRFs),
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and State and Tribal Grant Program (STAG) funds has been invested in energy projects in
water/wastewater facilities since FY 2008.
EPA Region 1 supported development of a sustainability model for Narragansett Bay
that evaluates nitrogen reduction options and their impact on energy/climate issues,
water quality improvements and social and economic goals. This model will be tested to
evaluate whether it should be adapted for other watersheds.
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership are
working with the New England Environmental Finance Center, based at University of
Southern Maine, to use its COAST model in evaluating the economic vulnerability of
communities in their watersheds to sea-level rise and coastal flooding, focusing on
Portland, Maine and Hampton/Seabrook, New Hampshire. The project has included
multiple stakeholder meetings for each area and the development of adaptation
recommendations.
Piscataqua Region Estuary Partnership replaced the first high-priority undersized culvert
identified in its 2010 Climate Ready Estuaries-funded Oyster River Culvert Assessment
Report (during dry summer 2012 conditions) and will work to incorporate findings into
hazard mitigation plans to possibly become eligible for FEMA funding to replace
additional culverts. In addition, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership applied the culvert
assessment and prioritization approach from the Piscataqua Region Estuaries
Partnership project throughout the entire Casco Bay watershed, a great example of tech
transfer.
EPA hosted a successful regional Climate Ready Estuaries "lessons learned" workshop
attended by over 80 individuals from NEPs, Federal agencies, States, local governments,
and NGOs. In partnership with Headquarters, EPA Region 1 will produce a "lessons
learned" brochure based on the workshop to disseminate widely across the region.
EPA Region 1 is an active member of the New England Federal Partners, which recently
established a climate change workgroup to coordinate and share information about
cross-agency climate change concerns and actions. EPA and NOAA co-chair this
committee.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data has been acquired for the Northeast coastal
zone through a state-federal partnership with EPA support. LIDAR data provide highly
accurate topographic data and is a key tool in development of state and local plans for
adapting to risks posed by sea level rise and storm surges. EPA Region 1 is working to
disseminate LiDAR products as they are released, and develop a prioritized list of areas
for new LiDAR data collection in order to strategically obtain LiDAR for all of New
England.
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EPA Region 1 worked with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to
finalize a report and CIS (geographic information systems) maps that identified drinking
water infrastructure at risk of flooding and status of generator coverage at drinking
water utilities in 2011 and 2012. A community-based water emergency exercise was
conducted in a vulnerable community based on a flood/climate change scenario.
In partnership with New England Water Works Association, two New England Water
Emergency Response Conferences were held (one in New Hampshire, one in
Connecticut) with a spotlight on mapping climate change messaging for the water
sector.
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Appendix C:
Summary of 2012 Research Highlights
Major accomplishments of the EPA Office of Research and Development in 2012 related to
climate change and water resources are summarized below.
1) Eco-regional Analysis of Nearshore Sea-Surface Temperature (SST) in the North Pacific
This work assembled a 29-year nearshore time series of mean monthly sea surface temperature
(SST) along the North Pacific coastline using remotely-sensed satellite data. The data were used
to describe nearshore (<20 km offshore) SST patterns of 16 North Pacific ecoregions delineated
by the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) hierarchical schema, as well as SSTs in the U.S.
Arctic ecoregions. The quantification of sea surface temperature SST is extremely important
because it influences the distribution, migration, and invasion of coastal species. Near-shore
and estuarine environments provide critical habitat to most fisheries resources and are likely to
be impacted by climate change. The present analysis and processed data enable climate
modelers and ecologists to assess future changes in SST and can be used in predictions of
potential impacts of near-shore temperature increases using current patterns of species'
distributions and temperature regimes.
2) Decision-making Framework to Evaluate the Full Costs and Benefits of Different
Mitigation and Adaptation Actions
This research is developing approaches to evaluate costs and benefits of adaptation efforts for
water utilities. The work describes the cost-carbon footprint calculation and Pareto
optimization techniques to support decision making in water infrastructure expansion, and also
includes development of a process engineering procedure with examples to calculate water
consumption and wastewater generation in alternative fuel production systems and
conventional coal-fired power plants. Research in this project also included development of a
CIS-based model and program for calculation of water conservation achieved using alternative
adaptive urban planning scenarios.
3) Regional Coordination and Implementation of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption;
Region 10 Pilot
This research and its results are designed to inform Region 10 and the Office of Water about
how to consider climate change in water quality temperature impairments forTMDLs. The
initial efforts of this work resulted in a negotiated work plan with Region 10. Input was solicited
from key stakeholders to identify the scope, approach, methods and study design, and was
incorporated into a formal research plan. The plan's development included substantial Tribal
involvement by the Nooksack Indian Tribe and Lummi Nation and is supportive of the Tribal
Science Priorities for Climate Change and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).
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The applied research plan outlines a parallel study strategy that is being used to concurrently
accomplish both a Research Objective (Start-To-Finish Climate Change TMDL Pilot) and a
Regulatory Objective (South Fork Nooksack River, Washington Temperature TMDL). This
research was developed in response to Region 10's stated preference for a Climate Change Pilot
to implement a "learn by doing" approach for climate change adaptation. Phase 2 (Research
Analysis and Risk/Vulnerability Assessment) is proceeding on schedule and will be followed by
an EPA report scheduled to be completed in 2014.
4) Water Demands of Future Energy Portfolios under a Changing Climate
This analysis compares different scenarios of future energy portfolios to assess regional
differences in water needs as well as aggregate water demand for transportation energy, and
how those trade off against greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The research relied upon a
nine-region model of the integrated U.S. energy system represented in the MARKAL (MARKet
Allocation) energy systems model to map the changes in water withdrawal and consumption
during a transition to a low carbon-emitting U.S. transportation fleet. The study evaluated
alternative scenarios both with and without carbon constraints, while varying the pace of
vehicle electrification. Results indicate that the regional water demand and interregional
transfers of embodied water could be significant as the light-duty vehicle (LDV) fleet moves
away from petroleum-based fuels toward a more heterogeneous LDV fleet and fuel mix, with
exports of embodied water on the order of hundreds of billion gallons of water per year for
ethanol coming from the Midwest. Interregional transfers of water embodied in electricity may
also reach tens of billion gallons of water per year. However, these water requirements will
vary substantially based on the light-duty vehicle mix, carbon policy, electric power generation
mix, biofuel production levels, and feedstock characteristics. Water consumption associated
with energy could increase from less than 3,000 Bgal/yr in 2005 to over 6,000 Bgal/yr by 2035.
5) The Role of Nitrogen in Climate Change and the Impacts of Nitrogen-Climate Interactions
on Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems, Agriculture and Human Health in the United States
This report reflects discussions and perspectives of participants at a recent workshop on
climate change and the nitrogen cycle. Key findings specifically related to climate and water
were identified. One point is that the effect of climate change on nitrogen processing in fresh
and coastal waters will be felt most strongly through changes to the hydrologic cycle, and that
alterations in the amount, timing, frequency, and intensity of precipitation and hydrologic
manipulation by human infrastructure and climate change will affect input and removal rates of
reactive nitrogen. Further, without mitigation, the concurrent impositions of climate change
and the increasing load of nitrogen to freshwater and estuarine ecosystems will most likely
have unprecedented additive or synergistic effects on water quality, aquatic biodiversity,
human health, and fisheries. Another important finding related to nutrients and water quality
is with regards to the application of nitrogen as a fertilizer. Crop demand for nutrients is highly
dependent upon climate and climatic variability, so improved nutrient use management will be
increasingly challenging under climate change scenarios of more variable climatic patterns.
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&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Office of Water (4101M)
Washington, D.C. 20460
EPA 850-R-13-001
March 2013
http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange
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