United States
Environmental Protect!
Agency
2013 Highlights of Progress:
Responses to Climate Change
» by the ,
National Water Program
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Prepared by:
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
April 24, 2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Part I: National Program Highlights 5
Water Infrastructure
Watersheds and Wetlands
Coastal and Ocean Waters
Water Quality
Working with Tribes
Cross-cutting Program Support
Part II: Highlights from EPA Regional Programs 14
Region 1
Region 2
Region 3
Region 4
Region 5
Region 6
Region 7
Region 8
Region 9
Region 10
Part III: Assessment of Progress: 2013 Assessment 19
Appendix A: Compendium of Additional 30
2013 Accomplishments for Climate Change Adaptation
> National Water Program Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments
> Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments Related to Water in EPA Regions
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pj National Water Program 2012 Strategy:
; 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 Strategy is available at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/ climate
change/2012-National-Water-Program-Strategy.cfm.
This 2013 Highlights of Progress report provides a summary of the major accomplishments of
national water programs and EPA regional water programs in 2013. In addition, major research
projects addressing climate change and water that were completed in 2013 by the EPA Office of
Research and Development (ORD) are described.
This is the fifth climate change progress report for the National Water Program and is modeled
after the 2012 Highlights of Progress report released in March 2013 http://water.epa.gov/
scitech/climatechange/upload/FINAL-NWP-2012-Climate-Highlights-Report.pdf. Like the 2012
Highlights of Progress report, it is organized around the six long-term programmatic vision
areas described in the 2012 Strategy:
water infrastructure;
watersheds and wetlands;
coastal and ocean waters;
water quality;
working with tribes; and
cross-cutting program support.
Part I of this report presents key "highlight" projects and products implemented by the National
Water Program and Office of Research and Development in 2013 in each of these six vision
areas. Part II of this report includes descriptions of key 2013 "highlights" of climate change and
water work in each of the 10 EPA Regional offices.
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In addition to the major accomplishments highlighted in each of these vision areas and for each
EPA Region, other important projects and activities were accomplished in 2013. A detailed
compendium of 2013 activities and accomplishments related to climate change and water
programs underway in EPA national water program offices and Regional offices is provided in
Appendix A.
In addition to reporting on highlights of progress for 2013, the National Water Program is
continuing past work to assess progress in the overall implementation of the 2012 Strategy in
the context of the stage or phase of development of climate response programs. This
assessment effort is described in Part III of this report. The assessment effort tracks program
implementation progress through seven developmental phases:
> initiation;
> assessment;
> response development;
> initial implementation;
> robust implementation;
> mainstreaming; and
> monitor outcomes and adaptive management.
Each of these phases is described in greater detail in the 2012 Strategy and in this report.
In addition, Part III includes an assessment of the status of progress toward each of the 19 goals
described in the 2012 Strategy with respect to the developmental phases. This assessment
builds on the first, baseline assessment of the developmental status of climate change
adaptation programs and projects across the National Water Program that was provided in the
2012 Highlight of Progress report. The numerical score representing the 1-7 progress under
each of the 19 goals in the 2012 Strategy for 2013 is 51 of a possible score of 133. This is an
increase of 9 points above the 2012 score of 42 and indicates that some progress in
strengthening implementation of the program has been made but that more work is needed.
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OVERVIEW OF 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
National Water Programs/Research Products
Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure
1. Address Climate Change in Clean Water State Revolving Fund
2. Expand Climate Ready Water Utilities Program Outreach
3. Publish Reports of Water Utility Extreme Weather Case Studies
4. Expand WaterSense to Commercial Kitchen Products
5. Expand WaterSense Partners
Vision Area 2: Watersheds and Wetlands
6. Build State and Local Capacity to Protect Healthy Watersheds and Enhance Climate
Resiliency
7. Sign Joint Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Healthy Watershed Protection
8. Assess Climate Change in 20 Watersheds (Research Product)
Vision Area 3: Coastal and Ocean Waters
9. Publish for peer review Being Prepared for Climate Change Workbook
10. Hold Climate Change Vulnerability Workshop
11. Publish Study of Climate Change Impacts on Salmon Populations (Research Product)
12. Publish Research on Sea Surface Temperatures in Pacific Northwest (Research Product)
Vision Area 4: Water Quality
13. Develop Climate Change Extension for the Stormwater Calculator
14. Develop Improved Monitoring of Water Temperature and Flow (Research Product)
15. Publish Study of Climate Impacts on Nitrogen in Water (Research Product)
Vision Area 5: Working with Tribes
16. Support EPA's Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk/Sustainability Tool (Research Product)
Vision Area 6: Cross-cutting Program Support
17. Develop Office of Water Draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan
18. Co-Chair Climate Change Adaptation and Water Stakeholder Group
19. Contribute to Federal Interagency Climate Adaptation Projects
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OVERVIEW OF 2013 HIGHLIGHTS
EPA Regional Programs
Region 1: Organize New England Climate Change Leaders Summit that identified six key
themes to help local communities be more resilient to climate change impacts (Supports Vison
Area 6: Crosscutting Program Support)
Region 2: Provide grants of $340 million to the State of New York and $229 million to the State
of New Jersey for improvements to wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities
impacted by Hurricane Sandy (Supports Vision Area 3: Coastal and Ocean Waters)
Region 3: Hold an extreme weather events workshop titled Adapt, Mitigate, and Survive
with eleven drinking water and/or wastewater utilities representing a population served of
3.95 million people (Supports Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure)
Region 4: Expand outreach to States and Tribes to address impacts from all types of
hydrologic alteration under which there is Clean Water Act (CWA) authority (Supports Vision
Area 4: Water Quality)
Region 5: Support projects in the Great Lakes region related to climate change including
addition of climate change elements to State grant agreements, Federal interagency
agreements, and agreements with Canada (Supports Vision Area 4: Water Quality)
Region 6: Hold a climate change workshop in Albuquerque, NM for Tribal and environmental
justice communities vulnerable to climate change impacts (Supports Vision Area 5: Working
with Tribes)
Region 7: Work with states to incorporate climate change considerations into Intended Use
Plans (IDPs) for State Revolving Loan Funds (Supports Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure)
Region 8: Celebrate the first WaterSense labeled affordable home in the Nation and promote
water efficiency benefits with key stakeholders (Supports Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure)
Region 9: Release a final Coral Reef Strategy for Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Territories that
seeks to better focus authorities, technical assistance, and funds for protection of coral reefs
and to provide leadership on the links between coral reef protection and climate change
(Supports Vision Area 3: Coastal and Ocean Waters)
Region 10: Organize a workshop series focusing on energy efficiency for water and
wastewater utilities in western Washington (Supports Vision Area 1: Water Infrastructure)
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PARTI
NATIONAL
PROGRAM
HIGHLIGHTS
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.
2.
Address Climate Change in Clean Water State Revolving Fund: In 2013, the Clean Water
State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program developed a comprehensive list of CWSRF-eligible
projects to increase climate/weather-related resilience at water utilities to implement the
Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. Climate/weather-related eligibilities were also
discussed at the fall Council for Infrastructure Financing Authorities conference, where the
CWSRF program delivered a presentation to State and Regional counterparts regarding the
CWSRF's ability to promote climate/weather-related resilience in the water sector.
The CWSRF program also revised its Annual Review Checklist to incorporate several
questions on resilience to climate change and extreme weather and participated with the
DWSRF in the development of a draft guide for small utilities that want to become more
resilient to flooding.
Expand Climate Ready Water Utilities Program
Outreach: Through the Climate Ready Water
Utilities (CRWU) initiative, EPA has provided 15
workshops and webinars and reached over 2000
people. Key 2013 activities included:
CLIMATE READY
fATER UTILITIES
convening a working group to develop version 3.0 of the Climate Resilience Evaluation
and Awareness Tool (GREAT) including utilities, academia, associations and other
Federal partners;
holding two-day emergency response workshops with demonstrations of tools and
resources to aid utilities, review climate impacts, and discuss planning options with
different sector stakeholders, such as local governments, first responders, and
community leaders; and
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hosting webinars with the Water Utility Climate Alliance to help utilities plan for climate
change and other threats.
Ten webinars were held in 2013 and there are plans for at least four more over 2014. Each
webinar is recorded and archived on EPA's website at www.epa.gov/climatereadyutilities.
3. Publish Reports of Water Utility Extreme Weather Case Studies: EPA worked with partners
to organize workshops in six communities with a focus on areas that have already
experienced extreme events, including drought, flooding, wildfires, sea level rises, and heat
waves. The communities where workshops were held included:
> Georgia: Upper Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin;
> California: Russian River Watershed;
> Virginia: Tidewater Area;
> Washington DC: National Capital Area;
> Kansas/Missouri: Lower Missouri River Basin; and
> Texas: Central Region.
Fact sheets and reports on the lessons learned from these case studies were published
throughout 2013. Fact sheets are available at:
http://cpo.noaa.gov/ClimatePrograms/ClimateandSocietallnteractions/SARPProgram/Extre
meEventsCaseStudies.aspx. Partners included the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Water Environment Research Foundation, Water Research Foundation,
Concurrent Technologies Corporation, and Noblis.
I \>\
4. Expand WaterSense to Commercial Kitchen Products:
In September 2013, EPA finalized the first WaterSense
specification for a commercial kitchen product. Pre-
rinse spray valveswhich remove excess food waste
from dishes prior to dishwashingare now eligible to
earn the WaterSense label and help food service
establishments save water, energy, and money. Pre-
rinse spray valves can account for nearly one-third of the water used in a typical commercial
kitchen. If every U.S. commercial food service establishment installed and used a
WaterSense labeled pre-rinse spray valve, we could save more than 10 billion gallons of
water, and more than $225 million in water and energy costs annually across the country.
Because kitchens use hot water to rinse dishes, installing a WaterSense labeled pre-rinse
spray valve can also reduce a commercial kitchen's annual natural gas use by more than
6,400 cubic feet per year.
5. Expand WaterSense Partners: In 2013, the number of WaterSense partners across the
country continued to grow, increasing by close to 120 to a total of 1,474 partners, which
includes water utilities, state and local governments, manufacturers, retailers, and builders.
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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.
6. Build State and Local Capacity to Protect
Healthy Watersheds and Enhance Climate j? ^S. LJ p ~) I f hw
Change Resiliency: EPA's Healthy T * ' Ca I LI Ijf
Watersheds Program (HWP) is working to
build state and local capacity to identify and
protect healthy watersheds using a systems
approach that recognizes watersheds as dynamic, interconnected ecosystems. Natural,
intact watersheds are better equipped to withstand, recover from, and adapt to natural and
man-made disturbances, including climate change. Implementing strategies to maintain
and protect healthy watersheds is key toward enhancing climate change resiliency. In 2013,
HWP worked to build state and local capacity to identify and protect healthy watersheds at
a variety of scales and locations:
> Identification and Protection of Kansas's Healthy Watersheds;
> California Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health;
> Aquatic Ecosystem Protection in Minnesota's Snake River Watershed;
> Establishing Temperature Regime Characteristics of High Quality Streams in
Connecticut;
> Sustaining West Virginia's Natural Capital: A Framework for Green Infrastructure;
and
> Green Infrastructure Practitioners Guide and Ulster County New York Case Study.
For more information on the Healthy Watershed Program see:
www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds.
7. Sign Joint Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Healthy Watershed Protection: On
February 22, 2013, EPA, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Association of Clean Water
Administrators (ACWA) jointly signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to
promote EPA's Healthy Watersheds Program (HWP: www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds).
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8.
JheNature
Conservancy
This MOD formalizes a mutual collaboration between these groups as they strive to develop
and implement healthy watersheds programs in states and with regional aquatic ecosystem
programs. These programs include working with states and other partners to identify
healthy watersheds state-wide and to implement healthy watershed protection plans, to
integrate such protection into EPA programs and to increase awareness and understanding
of the importance of protecting our remaining healthy watersheds. TNC, EPA, and ACWA
recognize that healthy, intact watersheds can offset the potential impacts of climate change
in a variety of ways including maintenance of baseflow during periods of drought, native
vegetation that provides cooling during heat waves, carbon storage in native vegetation and
soils, and enhanced stormwater infiltration capacity that mitigates downstream flooding.
The partners will promote data gathering/data sharing and evaluation of conservation and
environmental outcomes resulting from the implementation of state and regional healthy
watershed programs. See: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/hwi-mou.cfm.
Assess Climate Change in 20 Watersheds: The EPA Office of
Research and Development released in 2013 a report that
evaluated streamflow, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in
20 different watersheds across the U.S. for the periods 1970-
2000 and 2041-2070 to examine the effects of six different
scenarios of climate change and urban/residential development. Additional scenarios were
evaluated for five of the watersheds to examine implications of using different
methodological choices for this and similar studies. The results indicate that different
conditions by mid-21st century are possible for many watersheds, with larger differences
likely where development is concentrated. The results also showed sensitivity to the
methodological choices, such as use of different watershed models and approaches to
downscaling results from global-scale models. (See EPA/600/R-12/058F).
(http://www.epa.gov/ncea).
Office of Research and
Development:
2013 Product
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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
&EPA
9. Publish for Peer Review Being Prepared for Climate
Change workbook: A public draft of the Climate
Ready Estuaries (CRE) Program workbook titled Being
Prepared for Climate Change was sent out for peer
review in September and posted on the CRE website
in October 2013 for public comment. The workbook applies a risk management
methodology for climate change adaptation and helps organizations prepare vulnerability
assessments and action plans. The vulnerability assessment methodology of the Being
Prepared for Climate Change workbook was shared with staff from NEPs, EPA Regions, EPA
headquarters, and other federal partners. For more information see
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/cre/news.cfm.
10. Hold Climate Change Vulnerability Workshop: On February 25, 2013, EPA held a climate
change vulnerability assessment workshop with two main goals:
> to share the vulnerability assessment methodology of the Being Prepared for
Climate Change workbook; and
> to hear from NEP staff (a main audience for the workbook) about what they want to
know in order to prepare high-level, risk-based vulnerability assessments.
The workshop provided a step-by-step walk through of the vulnerability assessment steps in
the CRE workbook. The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) also shared some of its
experience working on a climate change vulnerability assessment. SJBEP was part of a 2012
Climate Ready Estuaries pilot project to use an early version of the workbook for their
assessment.
11. Publish Study of Climate Change Impacts on Salmon Office of Research and
Populations: EPA's Office of Research and Development Develooment-
used empirically based simulation modeling of 48 sockeye 2013 Product
salmon populations to examine how reliably alternative
monitoring designs and fish stock assessment methods can estimate the relative
contribution of climate compared to non-climatic factors. The study covered a range of
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scenarios for ocean conditions, salmon productivity, and human-induced changes and found
that distinguishing climate-related effects on salmon productivity from non-climate sources
will be difficult, especially if climatic changes occur rapidly and concurrently with major
anthropogenic disturbances. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
relationship between climate and salmon productivity may be essential to avoid undesirable
management outcomes. Fisheries Research 147:10-23.
12. Publish Research on Sea Surface Temperatures in Pacific _,,. , _, . .
, , , Office of Research and
Northwest: A remote y-sensed dataset was used to focus on ^ .
* , , , Development:
the nearshore environment of the North Pacific to identify and jniqp H
describe broad-scale sea surface temperature (SST) patterns.
Satellite remotely-sensed mean, monthly SST data were used to create a 29-year nearshore
(< 20 km offshore) time series of SST along the North Pacific coastline. The scalable nature
of the methodology is useful to both broader-scale and more focused analyses, and puts an
environmental factor of primary importance (SST) into the hands of researchers studying
nearshore environments by providing web-based access to it. Reference: Payne, M. C.,
Reusser, D., Brown, C. A., and Lee II, H. (2012) "Ecoregional analysis of nearshore sea-
surface temperature in the North Pacific." PLoS ONE, 7(1):12 pages.
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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.
13. Develop Climate Change Extension for the Stormwater Calculator: The Stormwater
Calculator (SWC) is a desktop tool intended to help users at individual sites manage
Stormwater by reducing runoff through infiltration and retention (i.e., green infrastructure).
The SWC was launched in 2013 and uses EPA's Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) as
its computational engine. A climate change extension to the SWC was developed in 2013
and released in final form early in 2014. This extension allows users to apply different future
climate change scenarios that modify the historical precipitation events and evaporation
rates normally used by the calculator. This climate change extension will help site owners,
developers, and planners design more robust Stormwater management solutions in the face
of uncertain future climatic conditions.
14. Develop Improved Monitoring of Water Temperature and Office of Research and
Flow: EPA's Office of Research and Development released an Development'
external review draft report of technical "best practices" 2013 Product
describing sensor deployment for and data collection of
continuous temperature and flow at ungaged sites in wadeable streams. The draft report
addresses questions related to equipment needs; configuration, placement, and installation
of equipment; and data retrieval and processing. (See EPA/600/R-13/170).
(http://cf pub, epa.gov/ncea/globa I/record isplay.cfm?deid=261911).
15. Publish Study of Climate Impacts on Nitrogen in Water: EPA's Office of Research and
Development investigated the effects of projected changes in land cover and climate
(precipitation, temperature and atmospheric C02 concentrations) on simulated N03 and
organic nitrogen discharge for two watersheds within the Neuse River Basin, NC for years
2010 to 2070. Results showed nitrogen discharges were most sensitive to changes in
precipitation and temperature, with sensitivities to C02 and land cover only one-tenth as
much. With nitrogen discharge showing high sensitivity to P+T change, this study suggests
more emphasis should be placed on investigating impacts of climate change on nutrient
transport compared to land cover change in the Neuse River
Basin. (See "Relative Sensitivity of Simulated Nitrogen Discharge Office of Research and
to Projected Changes in Climate and Land Cover for Two Development:
Watersheds in North Carolina, USA," presented at AGU Fall 2013 Product
Meeting 2013, San Francisco, CA, December 09 -13).
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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.
16. Support EPA's Tribal-Focused Environmental Risk and
Sustainability Tool (Tribal-FERST). The EPA Office of Water is office of Research and
working with the Office of Research and Development to Development:
develop and implement Tribal-FERST, which is a web-based 2013 Product
geospatial decision support tool designed to serve as a research
framework to provide tribes with easy access to the best available human health and
ecological science.
Tribes and partners throughout the United States are providing input on the design and
content of Tribal-FERST. The United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) is partnering with EPA
to develop the Tribal-FERST guidance document and connect its water quality exchange
database and data transfer network with Tribal-FERST. The Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy
Tribe of Maine is currently piloting Tribal-FERST as part of its sustainable and healthy
community effort.
In addition, water programs in EPA's regional offices are working with Tribes to assist them in
responding to a range of climate change related issues. These activities, described in greater
detail in the next Part of this report, include:
> Region 2 is maintaining a dialog with the Tribal nations regarding climate change
adaptation and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). A climate change grant to
the Nations was extended through September 2013 to support vulnerability
assessment of nation lands and planning climate adaptation strategies.
> Region 4 initiated collaboration with United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., (USET),
which serves 26 Tribes from Texas to Maine and is located in Nashville, TN. Region 4
is working with USET to build their capacity to provide energy management
assistance to Tribal water utilities.
> Region 6 held a climate change workshop in Albuquerque, NM for Tribal and
Environmental Justice Communities vulnerable to climate change impacts.
^ Region 7 tribes are incorporating climate change science into their CWA 106
programs addressing water quality monitoring.
TIT
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Vision Area 6:
Cross-cutting Program Support
17. Develop Office of Water Draft Climate Change Adaptation
Implementation Plan: The Office of Water worked with EPA
Regional Water Division staff to draft a Climate Change
Adaptation Implementation Plan. The draft Plan was
organized on the template adopted by EPA and is
comparable to each of the 16 other national program office
and Regional office climate change adaptation
implementation plans. The Office of Water draft Plan was
released for public comment in September 2013. A final
Plan will be published in the fall of 2014. More information
is available at: http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange.
18. Co-Chair Climate Change Adaptation and Water Stakeholder Group: In 2013, the Office of
Water staff served as co-chair of a newly established Climate Change Workgroup of the
Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI). The Workgroup includes 40
representatives from federal agencies and stakeholder organizations and provides 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. More
information is available at
www.acwi.org.
UIICP
flCUJ I Advisory Committee on Water Information
19. Contribute to Federal Interagency Climate Adaptation Projects: National Water Program
staff also participated in a range of workgroups within EPA and among other federal
agencies working to adapt to a changing climate including the:
> EPA Cross-Agency Climate Change Adaptation Workgroup;
> Interagency Council on Climate Resilience and Preparedness;
> Water Resources Workgroup of the Interagency Council on Climate Change
Resilience and Preparedness;
> Interagency Joint Working Group implementing the final Fish Wildlife and Plants
Climate Adaptation Strategy;
> National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan workgroup on climate change;
> Interagency Ocean Acidification Working Group; and
> Coral Reef Task Force.
The Office of Water also has an interagency agreement with NOAA in which climate
adaptation is a joint focus.
TJT
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PART II
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
EPA REGIONAL
PROGRAMS
A major highlight of work in each of
the ten EPA Regional offices (see
map of EPA Regions) to implement
the 2012 Strategy is described
below. Additional accomplishments
by EPA Regions are described in the
Compendium in Appendix A.
Region 1
On November 8, 2013, EPA Region 1
convened an invitational "New
England Climate Change Leaders
Summit" in Providence, Rhode Island. A group of 140 leaders from federal, tribal, state, and
local government, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and businesses came
together to discuss what they could do to help local communities be more resilient to climate
change impacts. The summit also was used to promote the President's Climate Action Plan and
Executive Order, "Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change." The summit
culminated with commitments by participants to address six themes developed over the day -
pilot vulnerability assessments; state roundtables with federal partners to coordinate
assessment resources; integrating climate planning into all municipal planning; developing a
common data platform in New England; a communication initiative to make climate impacts
and solutions local and personal; and scoping out smarter spending on resilient infrastructure.
Region 2
On May 2, 2013, EPA announced that it would provide grants of $340 million to the State of
New York and $229 million to the State of New Jersey for improvements to wastewater and
drinking water treatment facilities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The funding will help storm-
damaged communities in both states as they continue to recover from the damage caused by
the storm. Projects must be for resiliency purposes and "reduce flood damage risks and
vulnerability or enhance resiliency to rapid hydrologic change or a natural disaster at water or
wastewater facilities. Examples of eligible projects include the hardening of facilities,
correction of infiltration and inflow, separation of combined sewers, green infrastructure, and
backup power.
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Region 3
In May, 2013 Region 3 held an extreme weather events workshop titled Adapt, Mitigate, and
Survive. Eleven drinking water and/or wastewater utilities participated, representing a
population served of 3.95 million people. State agencies, academia, and several EPA offices
attended. A key focus of the workshop was seven case studies presented by impacted utilities
who shared lessons learned on preparedness and recovery. Many have taken advantage of
their experiences with extreme weather events to upgrade facilities with resiliency, efficiency
and energy savings in mind. These case studies can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/pdf/pdf drinking/Region3 %20Climate%20Change%20Mitigati
on%20and%20Adaptation%20Fact%20Sheets Draft 082213.pdf.
Region 4
EPA Region 4 Water Protection Division's (WPD) Flow Work Group (FWG), created in 2010, is
charged with understanding and working with states to address impacts from all types of
hydrologic alteration under which there is Clean Water Act (CWA) authority. During 2013, the
FWG continued to:
> Work with States and Tribes to raise understanding of the need to ensure that water
resource management decisions are consistent with EPA-approved water quality
standards and, where possible, ensure that water resource planning (both ground water
and surface water) does not result in new water quality impairments and removal of
uses;
> Encourage states and tribes to develop and adopt explicit water quality standards for
the flows needed to maintain the designated and existing uses and protect downstream
uses;
> Provide tools for conservation and efficiency consideration in water resource planning
through the use of the Water Efficiency Guidelines (which will be updated in 2014) as
implemented through the Section 404, Section 401 and NEPA programs,
> Conduct a baseline evaluation of how waters are currently being assessed for
hydrologic/flow alterations and work with state monitoring and assessment staff to
ensure that waters impaired by hydrologic alteration are adequately captured in the
state's listing of impaired waters under the CWA;
> Evaluate, where possible, the potential for restoration of hydrologically altered waters;
and
> Improve our understanding of the economic benefits of protecting the ecologic integrity
of intact aquatic ecosystems.
Region 5
In 2013, EPA Region 5 supported several projects in the Great Lakes region related to climate
change:
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> Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) 2013 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) of 2012: In 2013,
established a binational subcommittee to the Great Lakes Executive Committee to
coordinate the implementation of the climate change commitments under Annex 9 the
GLWQA.
Region 6
On June 20, 2013, Region 6 held a climate change workshop in Albuquerque, NM for Tribal
and environmental justice communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. Some potential
climate change impacts for the Region include increasing air temperature and related urban
heat island effects, water scarcity, sea level rise and coastal land loss, increased storm intensity
and related degradation in water quality, and increased frequency and intensity of wildfires.
Climate adaptation measures as well as potential funding sources were discussed with
community members. Earlier in March, Region 6 held a separate climate adaptation workshop
for tribes at a Regional Tribal Operations Committee meeting, discussing the same topics noted
above to a different group of tribal representatives.
Region 7
Region 7 reviewed its states' Intended Use Plans lUPs for State Revolving Loan Funds and the
states incorporated the following climate change considerations into their plans:
> Kansas assigned additional priority points to projects which implement an asset
management program and provided asset management training for public water
systems.
> Iowa adopted a goal to "Promote and identify sustainable practices in projects proposed
for funding". One project example in Osage, Iowa satisfies with the usage of wind
turbines that supply electricity to the city's wastewater treatment facility.
> Missouri adopted a goal to identifying ways to utilize the SRF program to encourage
sustainable infrastructure and capacity development concepts with borrowers in its
2013 IUP.
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> Nebraska's 2013 IUP long-term goals list exploration with stakeholders to find ways the
SRF Program can be used to encourage sustainable infrastructure, capacity
development, and opportunities to use distributed wastewater treatment options, and
encourage the incorporation of green infrastructure concepts and energy recovery,
production, and conservation in funded projects.
Region 8
In 2013, EPA Region 8 celebrated the first WaterSense labeled affordable home in the nation.
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.
WaterSense program staff 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 to various state chapters of the U.S.
Green Building Council that showcased how our programs are a component of LEED.
Region 9
In 2013, EPA Region 9's Sustainable Infrastructure Program completed another one-year
program of monthly energy management webinars with eight water/wastewater utilities. The
2011 effort resulted in ten projects expected to reduce nearly 3,244 MWh/year of electricity,
GHG emissions of nearly 2,300 MTC02e/year, plus nearly $600,000 in annual reduced operating
costs by implementing projects using the Environmental Management Systems approach. To
date, EPA Region 9 has funded or coordinated 38 energy and 4 water audits that have
identified savings of 80,000 MWh, $14 million, and over 10 billion gallons of water per year.
The Region will continue its relationship with DOE's Industrial Assessment Centers to conduct 9-
10 free wastewater treatment facility audits per year. The Region is also working with state SRF
programs to provide regular annual funding to conduct energy and water audits and to develop
Sustainable Infrastructure projects and will continue to coordinate with state agencies and
energy utilities to facilitate the funding of water efficiency projects with energy efficiency
funding.
Region 9 focused on the development and beneficial use of biogas at wastewater treatment
facilities. Primary areas of emphasis in 2013 included working to expand the Region 9 Biogas
Mapping Tool, researching the environmental and economic performance of varying biogas
management strategies, and working with California agencies and other interested entities to
navigate 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 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 2013, work was initiated in Honolulu County from a 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 project has resulted in
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substantial energy efficiency improvements and the installation of a solar array that will save
millions of dollars over the life of the project.
In coordination with EPA Region 9, the DOE Industrial Assessment Centers at San Diego State
University and San Francisco State University completed 18 energy audits in 2012 and 2013.
These audits have resulted the in the implementation of a diverse array of energy
improvement projects at numerous facilities. For example, the Victor Valley Wastewater
Reclamation Authority (CA) was one of the 9 facilities that received an audit in 2012. During
2013, the energy audit recommendations began to be implemented. Through an innovative
public private partnership, Victor Valley will save over $2 million through the life of their
project.
Region 10
With seed money from the EPA Region 10 and additional support from other sponsors,
Washington State University Extension Energy Program led a workshop series focusing on
energy efficiency for water and wastewater utilities in western Washington. Four workshops
and three webinars were conducted during 2012 and 2013 with twelve utilities participating.
Partners include Bonneville Power Administration, Puget Sound Energy, Zero Waste Alliance
and the EPA. The utilities participating in this series learned approaches and techniques leading
to reduced energy consumption.
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Part
Assessment of Progress: 2013 Assessment
The 2012 Highlights of Progress report included the initial step in tracking progress in
implementing climate change response programs based on assessing the stage or phase of
development of efforts to implement the 19 Goals and each of the 54 specific "Supporting
Actions" identified in the 2012 Strategy.
The seven developmental phases for climate change related work identified in the 2012 report
are:
> Initiation; conduct a screening assessment of potential implications of climate change to
mission, programs, and operations;
> Assessment; conduct a broader review to understand how climate change affects the
resources in question;
> Response Development; identify changes necessary to continue to reach program
mission and goals and develop initial action plan;
> Initial Implementation; initiate actions in selected priority programs or projects
> Robust Implementation; programs are underway and lessons learned are being applied
to additional programs and projects;
> Mainstreaming; climate is an embedded, component of the program; and
> Monitor Outcomes and Adaptive Management; continue to monitor and integrate
performance, new information, and lessons learned into programs and plans.
More detailed descriptions of each of these phases of assessment are 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 Goals in
Table II below. The 2012 baseline assessment has a total numeric value of 42 out of a total
possible score of 133 (i.e., 19 Goals times a score of 7 for each goal equates to a score of 133).
This combined score indicates that many actions are in the early stages of implementation.
This 2013 Highlights of Progress report includes a 2013 update of the initial 2012 assessment.
The 2013 scores are provided in Table II after the 2012 scores. Collectively, the total score
increases from 42 to 51 between 2012 and 2013. This indicates that some progress in
strengthening implementation of the program has been made but that more work is needed.
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Table I - Description of Implementation Phases
Program
Implementation
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 more in-depth assessments
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
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4. Initial
Implementation
Initiate actions in selected
priority programs or
projects
o Make it clear within the organization that
incorporating climate change into programs is
critical
o Initiate actions and plans identified in Step 3
o Initiate projects with partners
o Develop needed information and tools
o Initial implementation of measures capable of
documenting the extent of implementation of
needed actions by partners/stakeholders
o 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
support 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 - Climate Goals with 2012 Baseline Assessment Scores and 2014
Assessment Scores
Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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.
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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
SA5: Understand and promote through
technical assistance the use of water supply
management strategies.
Goal 2:
Support IWRM to
sustainably manage
water resources.
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
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 2
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Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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.
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 NWP core
programs.
SA11: Increase public awareness of the role
and importance of healthy watersheds in
reducing the impacts of climate change.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
Goal 4:
Incorporate climate
resilience into
watershed
restoration and
floodplain
management.
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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
GoalS:
Watershed
protection practices
incorporate Source
Water Protection to
protect drinking
water supplies.
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
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 2
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Visions and Goals
Goal 6:
Incorporate climate
change
considerations into
the CWA 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.
Strategic Actions
SA16: Consider the effects of climate change,
as appropriate, when making significant
degradation determinations in the CWA 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.
Assessment
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline:!
2014 Assessment: 1
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline:!
2014 Assessment: 2
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.
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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
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Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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.
SA23: Work with the NWP'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
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 2
Goal 10:
Address climate
driven
environmental
changes in coastal
areas and ensure
that mitigation and
adaptation are
conducted in an
environmentally
responsible manner.
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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 3
SA28: Support preparation and response
planning for diverse impacts to coastal aquatic
environments.
IsT
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Visions and Goals
Goal 11:
Ocean
environments are
protected by EPA
programs that
incorporate shifting
environmental
conditions, and
other emerging
threats.
Strategic Actions
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 NOC and the NOC Strategic Action
Plans.
Assessment
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 3
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 National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System 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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 3
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Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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.
Goal 13:
As the nation makes
decisions to reduce
its greenhouse gas
emissions and
develop alternative
sources of energy
and fuel, the NWP
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 CCh 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 Total Maximum Daily
Loads (TMDLs) for those waters.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 1
2014 Assessment: 2
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 hydropoweron flows, water
temperature, and water quality.
SA44: Monitor climate change impacts to
surface waters and ground water.
Goal 14:
Collaborate to make
hydrological and
climate data and
projections
available.
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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
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Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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.
SA47: Through formal consultation and other
mechanisms, incorporate climate change as a
key consideration in the revised NWP Tribal
Strategy and subsequent implementation of
CWA, SDWA, 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.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 3
Goal 16:
Tribes have access
to information on
climate change for
decision making.
SA49: Collaborate to explore and develop
climate change science, information, and tools
for tribes, and incorporate local knowledge.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 3
SA50: Collaborate to develop communication
materials relevant for tribal uses and tribal
audiences.
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
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment: 4
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Visions and Goals
Strategic Actions
Assessment
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
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 3
2014 Assessment^
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 to provide the decision
support tools needed by water resource
managers.
Phase Response
Assessment:
2012 Baseline: 2
2014 Assessment: 3
TOTAL Implementation Phase Assessment Score - 2012 = 42
TOTAL Implementation Phase Assessment Score - 2013 = 51
Total Possible = 133
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Appendix A:
Compendium of Additional 2013 Accomplishments for
Climate Change Adaptation
In addition to the accomplishments highlighted for each of the vision areas and EPA 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.
I) National Water Program Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) Program published its second lessons-learned document;
this one focused on the experience of National Estuary Programs in New England. CRE also
published the "Adaptation to Attain Clean Water Goals and Sustainable Coasts" pamphlet.
CRE worked with the communications' teams in OW and OWOW to raise public
awareness about sea level rise through king tide photography. Activities included:
> Greenversation blogs by EPA officials;
> a series of posts on EPA's State of the Environment Photography Project;
> a NPR radio interview with a senior EPA official; and
> multiple tweets and Facebook posts that helped spread the word about king
tides and how they can help communities understand the effects of sea level
rise.
In 2013, EPA continued to support climate ready projects within the National Estuary
Program funded in prior years. Some 37 projects have been supported with 23 National
Estuary Programs (NEPs). The Climate Ready Estuaries Program website was also updated
to better serve the coastal management community.
The NARS team researched the potential for a parameter that could be used as an
indicator of climate change in the next National Coastal Condition Assessment. They
concluded that there is insufficient information available to incorporate an indicator of
climate change as a core parameter in the NCCA. However the team will continue to work
with EPA scientists to determine if a research indicator could be added for the 2015
sampling period.
EPA's Healthy Watersheds Program (HWP: www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds) works with
states to build the capacity to identify and protect our nation's remaining healthy
watersheds. In November 2013, HWP released the California Integrated Assessment of
Watershed Health, a statewide report on the status and vulnerability of watershed health
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(http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/ca.cfm). The assessment is framed around
the recognition that the biological, chemical, and physical health of water bodies are
fundamentally connected to one another and to the maintenance of natural watershed
processes. The California assessment incorporates projections of future climate to
characterize watershed vulnerability to altered precipitation, temperature, and hydrologic
regimes. Assessment results are intended to help inform state clean water and natural
resource programs in their efforts to protect healthy watersheds so that the public can
continue to enjoy the many benefits and services they provide.
The Office of Water supported a national conference focused on the linkages between
healthy forests and healthy waters, including 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 was held June 27 and 28th in
Hartford Connecticut under the sponsorship of the American Water Resources Association
U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Pinchot Institute and EPA among others.
The audience consisted 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's Healthy Watersheds Program supported the Green Infrastructure Center (gicinc.org)
in two county-level landscape green infrastructure planning and implementation projects:
> Nelson County, Virginia: The Nelson County green
infrastructure planning guide provided the county with
the information needed to best manage local land
resources and to maintain, protect, and restore local
water quality and healthy watersheds. More
information on the Nelson County green infrastructure
planning project can be found here:
http://gicinc.org/proiectsnelson.htm.
> Ulster County, New York: EPA's Healthy Watersheds
Program supported a pilot project in Ulster County,
New York, to develop a methodology that can be used to inventory green assets
and connections, identify opportunities for protection and/or restoration, and
plan a coordinated strategy to direct development and redevelopment to the
most appropriate locations. The study serves as a template that local
governments can use to protect the natural resources upon which they rely to
support healthy watersheds, economies, and communities. More information on
the Ulster County green infrastructure planning case study can be found here:
http://gicinc.org/PDFs/GIC%20NY-Practitioners%20Guide-Chapter%205-
reduced.pdf.
IT]
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In 2013, EPA continued work to develop the first National Assessment of Wetland
condition (NCAA). The NWCA will provide an assessment of the overall ecological integrity
of the resource and the relative status of wetland processes, such as the ability of a wetland
to absorb nutrients and floodwaters. The NWCA will also identify the stressors most
associated with degraded wetlands, providing insights into the causes of declining wetland
quality. Baseline information on the location, extent, and quality of wetlands and aquatic
resources will help to assess changes associated with climate change and other stressors.
The NWCA will be repeated at the national scale every five years and will incorporate those
indicators, among others, that EPA identifies as most meaningful for detecting and
predicting the impacts of climate change on the condition of the nation's wetlands.
Ongoing monitoring will inform the development of predictive models and management
strategies, including climate change adaptation. A report detailing the results of the
survey will be released for public comment in 2014.
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 2013 RFP Wetland Program Development Grants have supported National
Wetlands Inventory mapping, including:
> Vermont Agency of Natural Resources: Vermont Wetland Program Planning,
Monitoring and Assessment and Enhancing Wetland Protection;
> Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management's grant Wetland Monitoring and
Assessment Demonstration: Identifying at-Risk Coastal Wetland Resources and
Supporting Climate Change Responses;
> Adirondack Park Agency's Detecting Climate Change in Wetlands in the
Adirondack Park;
> New Mexico Environment Department's FY2013/14 New Mexico Wetland
Program Development Grants;
> Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe grant to further development of Wetland Program
Plan, focused on monitoring and assessment core element, including: 1) develop
protocol for monitoring and assessing wetland habitats of cultural importance, 2)
establishing baseline survey, 3) map wetlands, prioritize future restoration.; and
> Idaho's Department of Fish and Game's grant to Building "Idaho's Wetlands"
website for delivering maps, data, analyses, and tools for mitigation and
restoration planning.
The Office of Water, in cooperation with Army Corps of Engineers, completed the Section
404 Program Assessment. Part of the Program Assessment included looking for positive,
proactive areas of work that EPA and the Corps could start that would be of value to both
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agencies. Report-out on the Assessment was conducted in September, 2013 and will feed
into the upcoming year's analysis phase (with an aspiration to evaluate whether it makes
sense to propose one or more of our climate change strategy action items as an area of
joint work).
National Water Program staff within the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
participated in a range of workgroups within EPA and among other federal agencies
working to adapt to a changing climate including the:
> the Climate Change and Ocean Acidification (CC&OA) Subcommittee of the
National Ocean Council;
> the Coral Reef Task Force; and
> the Interagency Ocean Acidification Working Group.
As a co-leader of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force's Climate Change Working Group, EPA
actively participates in efforts to address and adapt to climate change through the
development of best practices, improved planning, and implementation of projects that
promote resiliency of coral reefs and local communities. In 2013, EPA and the Climate
Change Working Group designed a case study in West Maui, HI to test local adaptation
strategies and coral bleaching response implementation plans. The final result of this study
will be released in 2014.
Through the Interagency Ocean Acidification Working Group, EPA continues to coordinate
ocean acidification activities with other federal agencies and is working on developing a
"Strategic Plan for Federal Research and Monitoring on Ocean Acidification." In 2013, EPA
and NOAA held an information exchange to promote better understanding of local, non-
atmospheric sources leading to coastal acidification. This meeting provided a forum for the
two agencies to examine the role that the Clean Water Act (CWA) and existing voluntary
programs could play in addressing acidification-related pollution in U.S. coastal waters.
Equally important was to see how lessons learned from efforts to address ocean
acidification might be transferable amongst regions of the United States encountering
ocean and coastal acidification. EPA and NOAA have an ongoing collaborative research
program to examine coastal acidification in Narragansett Bay that will enable scientists to
better understand the role of land-based pollution sources in contributing to coastal
acidification and the impact of coastal acidification on the health of economically important
shellfish species.
EPA serves on the U.S. government delegation to meetings of the London Convention and
London Protocol (international treaties on ocean dumping) and has supported several
actions related to climate change, including development of guidance for the disposal of
carbon dioxide streams into sub-seabed geological formations. In November 2013, the
Parties to the London Convention and London Protocol adopted international guidance
related to the export of Carbon Dioxide Streams for Disposal into Sub-Seabed Geological
Formations. (Note: In 2009, Contracting Parties to the London Protocol adopted an
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amendment to allow for the export for carbon dioxide streams for sub-seabed
sequestration; this amendment is not yet in force).
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
The Adaptation Strategies Guide serves as an introduction for water sector utilities to
explore climate change impacts and relevant adaptation options. The information
presented can help jump-start utility discussions, and provide examples of how real utilities
are managing threats and planning for the future. Users can browse information based on
their location or utility type. In 2013, the Guide was updated to include sustainability briefs,
and it is currently being updated to include information on water conservation.
Integrating Source Water Protection into state implementation of CWA programs: OGWDW
and the other Office of Water (OW) program offices engaged with the Association of Clean
Water Agencies (ACWA), the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA),
the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) and several of their member states
throughout 2013 to draft a framework for integrating source water protection (SWP) into
state implementation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) programs.
To ensure protection of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs), OGWDW worked
with co-regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to develop draft technical guidance
clarifying Underground Injection Control Class II permitting requirements for hydraulic
fracturing with diesel fuels (DFHF). The draft guidance explains the Agency's interpretation
of the SDWA term "diesel fuels" for permitting purposes and provides guidance
recommendations for EPA's permit writers to consider when establishing permitting
requirements for DFHF activities. NOTE: EPA released the draft guidance on February 12,
2014.
OGWDW published, and is continuing to publish, draft technical guidance documents for
public comment (e.g., March, April and December, 2013) and final technical guidance
documents (e.g., March and May, 2013) to support Class VI geologic sequestration
regulatory implementation.
OGWDW advanced Class VI geologic sequestration permitting by working closely with
current permit applicants and permitees and potential future permit applicants to:
> Provide clarity regarding the Class VI requirements and develop permit conditions
> Work through project-specific issues to ensure regulatory compliance and protection
of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs)
> Develop a tool to receive Class VI permit application, reporting and other required
information electronically
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OGWDW also worked with states interested in Class VI Primary Enforcement Responsibility
(Primacy) including but not limited to North Dakota, Tennessee, Delaware and Kansas.
Office of Science and Technology
The Office of Water continued work in 2013 to draft a flow white paper addressing
measures and policies to protect aquatic life. The paper will provide technical non-
prescriptive approaches for considering hydrologic flow to support aquatic life designated
uses, which will contribute to increasing aquatic ecosystem resilience to climate change
impacts. The paper will also include information to incorporate climate change risk
considerations into the framework for improved risk management. Completion of the white
paper is expected in FY 2014.
The Office of Water is coordinating technical discussions with NOAA, EPA Program Offices,
States, Regions, and external research organizations focused on advancing the knowledge
of aquatic life impacts from effects of ocean acidification in nearshore ecosystems.
The Office of Water released a fact sheet on Harmful Algal Blooms in 2013 to provide
information regarding how climate change impacts on rainfall, temperature, sea level rise,
coastal upwelling, atmospheric C02, and salinity can impact the growth and occurrence of
harmful algal blooms, or HABs. More information is available at:
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/climatehabs.pdf.
The Office of Water continues to present a climate change module during the Water
Quality Standards Academy during the spring and the winter sessions. This module
presents climate change vulnerability considerations in a water quality context. In 2013,
over 40 WQS Academy students participated from various sectors including: state, tribal,
industry, non-profit, private consultant, and federal.
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 adapting the USGS gridded Water Balance
Model to the NHDPIus waterbody network and calibrating the Water Balance Model.
Interim products for are expected to be ready for peer review in FY 2013, pending
budgetary decisions.
Office of Wastewater Management
The Office of Wastewater Management completed an Energy Management Progress
Report documenting national and Regional efforts to assist utilities in developing energy
management plans based on EPA's Energy Management Guidebook. Three webinars on
energy management for utilities were conducted.
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The Office of Water hosted a workshop with leading utilities and states to discuss
challenges and opportunities to collaborate on actions to help water sector utilities move
toward sustainability. As a result of the workshop, the Office of Wastewater Management
(OWM) developed in FY13 Moving Toward Sustainability: Effective Practices for Creating a
Water Utility Roadmap. This document provides utilities of various sizes a range of
practices to ensure that their operations and infrastructure are sustainable over time. More
information can be found at: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain.
In 2013, the Office of Wastewater Management and the EPA Office of Policy completed a
handbook and hosted a national webinar to help water sector utilities use "Lean
Management" techniques to achieve outcomes associated with the Attributes of Effectively
Managed Utilities. The Guide, called Effective Utility Management and Lean: A Handbook
for Water Sector Utilities, describes a number of various Lean Management techniques,
how they relate to the Attributes, and provides case examples on ways in which utilities
have used Lean tools in their operations. The national webinar attracted over 300
participants from around the country. The Guide can be found at:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/upload/EUM-and-Lean-Resource-Guide.pdf
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.cfmffpermittingseries.
In July 2012, the Office of Water began a series of green infrastructure 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 were completed by December 2013. In 2013 the Office of
Water began working with an additional 5 communities to provide green infrastructure
technical assistance to a total of 23 communities. The projects include design guidance for
particular sites/contexts, strategies for setting green infrastructure targets, and strategies
for conducting outreach/education. These projects will be completed by December 2014.
In 2013 the Office of Water continued the Campus RainWorks Challenge for college and
university students - a design competition to engage students in green infrastructure
design. Some 84 teams are participating from 29 states. The competition closes at the end
of the fall semester and winners will be announced in March or April 2014.
EPA worked with Syracuse, NY to host a national green infrastructure summit in October
2013 in which approximately 100 representatives from communities seeking to integrate
green infrastructure into their operations gathered to discuss opportunities and barriers.
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II) Climate Change Adaptation Accomplishments
Related to Water in EPA Regions
Region 10
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. A technical report and assessment of implementation
prioritization under future climate scenarios will be completed in the spring of 2014. The
TMDL will be completed at the end of FY2014
Consistent with the Puget Sound Action Agenda, EPA Region 10 funded:
> Low impact development demonstration projects to improve the ability to mitigate
and manage stormwater;
> Restoration of floodplain connectivity to improve watershed habitat resiliency; and
> Development of riparian buffer standards that could help maintain cool water
refuge for salmon and other endangered species.
EPA Region 10 increased its WaterSense presence, sharing information with a regional
medical provider, other Federal agencies, businesses and non-profits. Puget Sound Energy,
a regional energy provider, joined as a WaterSense partner.
Region 10 launched In the Loop on Climate andSustainability, a newsletter that will
provide Region 10 staff and managers information on the latest developments, events and
resources in climate change and sustainability. The goal is to incorporate climate change
and sustainability in the day-to-day work and decisions of the Regional Office.
Region 9
EPA Region 9 released its final Coral Reef Strategy for Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Territories
of Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and American Samoa in 2013.
Corals in these regions are threatened by climate changes including warming air and water,
increased storm intensity, rising sea levels, and acidification. Other key threats include
water pollution and overfishing. NOAA evaluated 83 species of coral for risk of extinction
and has proposed listing 59 coral species in the Pacific Ocean as threatened or endangered
under the Endangered Species Act. Region 9's Coral Reef Strategy 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 identifies a range of EPA actions needed to protect coral reefs
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including reducing sources of land based pollution and increasing the resilience of coral
reefs to climate change stressors.
Region 8
EPA Region 8's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 404 programs have
been working with other federal agencies to have climate change analyses included in
water supply project Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). 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. Key partners include the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, States, and local water providers.
Region 8 Nonpoint Source Program, Colorado has set aside $400,000 of FY 13 funding for
Nonpoint Source-eligible activities related to recovery from the Waldo Canyon and High
Park fires. The money will be competed jointly with the Colorado Water Conservation
Board, which is providing match. The grant is awarded but the sub-award to the Colorado
Water Conservation Board is not yet final. Region 8 expects a final sub-award workplan
(aka Project Implementation Plan) and competition for local projects this fall or winter.
Over the past several years, ten Region 8 water/wastewater utilities participated in the
effort to improve sustainability, implementing various energy savings upgrades and best
practices. These resulted in 16,975,161 kWh of annual operational energy savings, equal to
11,977 MTC02e. This work will be phased out in FY14.
Region 7
Three Region 7 States held WARN Tabletop exercises during FY 2013. Participation included
a mix of water/wastewater operators, law enforcement, firefighters, power generators,
industry representatives and emergency response workers at local, county and state levels.
The exercise emphasized the roles, responsibilities, and relationships with WARN member
utilities and governments during a response to drinking water and wastewater-related
disasters. The training identified challenges and potential solutions for climate-ready
resilient utilities to employ in assisting the industry in meeting health based drinking and
wastewater standards.
Region 7 provided outreach materials to encourage new WaterSense partnerships. In FY
2013, Region 7 gained five new partners to WaterSense: - 3 promotional and 2 irrigation
partners. To access a full list of all partners, visit: www.epa.gov/watersense.
Beginning in 2011, Region 7 invited 10 Kansas communities to participate in an Energy
Management Initiative for Water and Wastewater Utilities led by the Kansas Water and
Energy Efficiency Partners (KANWE). Five communities chose to participate in the pilot
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program which included a series of workshops where participants developed an Energy
Management Plan for their water utilities. Case studies for the 5 communities were
completed in 2013. Collectively, the cities improved efficiency by 15% and saved over
$50,000 annually. By saving energy, these communities are reducing green house gas
emissions by lowering demand from coal fired electric utilities.
Region 7 included climate change impacts in the review of draft EIS documents when
applicable. As an example, climate change impacts were included in the review of the St.
Johns Bayou/New Madrid Floodway draft EIS which is a nationally significant project.
Region 7 tribes are incorporating climate change science into their CWA 106 programs.
Two tribes have "emergency monitoring QAPPs" in place, intended to cover monitoring
situations during extreme weather events (e.g. drought or flood, both of which are more
frequent/common) and water-related emergency response situations. Two additional tribes
are in the process of developing a similar QAPP. As it is more fully implemented, these
QAPPs will give R7 tribes an opportunity to monitor when they otherwise would miss
monitoring dates (due to weather/stream conditions), and ultimately allow them to more
fully assess the impacts of climate change on the water quality of their tribal waters under
various weather conditions.
Region 7 coordinated with FEMA on incorporating green infrastructure approaches into
rebuilding efforts following natural disasters such as the May 2011 tornado in Joplin,
Missouri. EPA and FEMA combined funding to develop a Complete Green Street design for
the 20th St. corridor that was destroyed by the tornado.
Region 6
Working through the Clean Energy and Climate Change workgroup, Region 6 developed its
first Draft Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan. The Plan addresses projected climate
change impacts that may affect the Region, vulnerabilities to these impacts, response
actions, measuring and evaluating performance, and working with tribes and other sensitive
populations. The workgroup received the EPA Region 6 2013 Cross Divisional Award for
multi-media and program collaboration on a topic impacting the entire region. Plans are
underway to address public comments and produce a final plan in 2014.
In March 2013, EPA's Office of Water, EPA Region 6, and NOAA in conjunction with the
Environmental Research Foundation and Water Research Foundation convened a workshop
on Adaptation Strategies and Information Needs in Response to Extreme Events in Austin,
TX. This workshop focused on extreme weather and climate events in the Central Texas
region. Meeting attendees discussed lessons learned by communities facing extreme events
such as drought, heat waves, and wildfires related to climate change and explored ways
government agencies and national organizations can help local communities with
adaptation and preparedness planning. This workshop was one in a series of six held across
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the country with a focus on communities that have already experienced extreme events,
including drought, flooding, wildfires, sea level rises, and heat waves. Fact sheets are
available at:
http://cpo.noaa.gov/ClimatePrograms/ClimateandSocietallnteractions/SARPProgram/Extre
meEventsCaseStudies.aspx.
To improve energy efficiency of water and wastewater plants along the U.S.-Mexico Border,
EPA Region 6 has been leading an outreach effort by partnering with the El Paso Water
Utilities and others aimed at educating utility management and staff on reducing energy
use. Region 6 co-facilitated an Energy Management Workshop with the Border
Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) in El Paso, Texas, on December 3rd and 4th.
Managers from water and wastewater utilities near El Paso, TX, and Las Cruces, NM, and
their consulting firms, were invited to the workshop. Presentations included topics such as:
adopting an energy management system, implementing an energy program, benchmarking
energy use and energy costs, and performance contracting with an energy service
company. Staff from the El Paso Electric company discussed electric rates and peak demand
charges. Staff from the Texas Water Development Board and the New Mexico Finance
Authority discussed how the Green Reserve Fund from the Drinking Water and Wastewater
State Revolving Fund can fund energy related projects and how to apply for funding.
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program,
and the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program worked with numerous partners
contributing to the protection, enhancement, or restoration of over 1,566 acres of coastal
habitat in 2013, thereby reducing vulnerability to the effects of sea level rise and
increasing coastal sustainability.
The Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program played a pivotal role in a project designed to
characterize various sea level rise and storm surge scenarios and the associated impacts
on coastal habitats in the vicinity of Corpus Christ! Bay, Texas. This work will support the
development of adaptation strategies for managing the impacts of sea level rise and storm
surge.
On March 23, 2013, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center - Dallas, in
partnership with the EPA Region 6, and the City of Dallas Water Utilities hosted the grand
opening of the first WaterSense labeled home in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This renovated
home serves as a working model that demonstrates to visitors just how easy water
conservation can be. It provides hands-on learning opportunities in areas such as hot water
on-demand systems, WaterSense labeled fixtures, water-efficient landscaping, rainwater
harvesting, and rain garden design. The home also includes upgrades to renewable and
energy efficient products for the flooring, counter tops, lighting, and appliances. A
WaterSense labeled home can save a family of four 50,000 gallons of water a year or more.
In 2013 the Region's Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division rolled out a customized
pilot program to encourage voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reductions among
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various sources and source-types. Many such reduction efforts reduce other air pollutants,
conserve energy, and reduce water use, and thus may be very cost-effective. The 2013 pilot
will identify the best opportunities among sources for "win-wins" and bring technical
expertise to bear to identify and help participating entities make improvements. It consists
of two major projects: seeking voluntary GHG reductions from stationary/area sources and
encouraging green power purchases/onsite renewables.
Region 5
In 2013, Region 5 continued to engage with the Midwest Natural Resources Group of
federal agency senior managers to promote cooperation on climate change adaptation
through the adoption and implementation of the "Guiding Principles for Adapting to Climate
Change for the Midwest Natural Resources Group."
Under the 319 program, Region 5 staff is reviewing all in-process watershed plans being
developed by the states. This will provide the Region the opportunity to give thoughtful
review and comments to promote climate change resiliency at a point where the scope
and direction of the watershed plan can still be impacted. The review concentrates on the
plan's ability to fulfill programmatic requirements as well as the potential to address cross-
programmatic issues such as green infrastructure and climate change.
Region 5 worked with states to adopt and implement EPA's Nutrient Management
Framework. During FY13, OH and Wl finalized nutrient reduction strategies to implement
the Hypoxia Action Plan and/or the Nutrient Management Framework memo. Minnesota
and Indiana have developed draft strategies. As appropriate, strategies incorporate and
promote agricultural drainage management in their state nutrient management plans to
accomplish both water quality and climate resiliency benefits.
Region 5 worked with WIDNR on reissuance of the NPDES permit for Milwaukee
Metropolitan Sewer District and with Michigan DEQ on the reissuance of the NPDES permit
for the Detroit Water and Sewerage District. The permits include requirements for green
infrastructure planning and implementation.
Region 5 worked with Region 6 to recruit panelists and develop discussion points for a 90-
minute WEFTEC 2013 session, "Creating Meaningful Dialogue to Support Green
Infrastructure." The diverse panel was comprised of representatives from a water utility,
non-profit advocacy group, city government, and consulting engineer.
Region 5 added 9 new WaterSense Partners in FY 2013.
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Region 4
EPA Region 4 previously developed and implemented an Energy Management Initiative
(EMI) with the collaboration of the Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation (TDEC) to work with a group of seven water and wastewater public utilities in
Tennessee to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint. The documented energy
savings of 5 million kWh/year is projected to increase to 7 million kWh/year - over 7,100
tons/year carbon dioxide equivalent reduction. 2013 actions expanded the EMI to a second
round led by TDEC that focused on a new group of utilities. The site visits to those utilities
are underway and will be followed by a series of energy management workshops. The
second round EMI is projected to produce an additional 4 to 8 million kWh/year savings
with an additional 3800 to 7600 tons/year CCh equivalent reduction.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management partnered with Region 4 in 2013
to conduct an Energy Management Initiative with selected utilities in Alabama. The utility
selection process is underway and site visits and workshops are planned. Region 4 has
developed an Energy Assessment Tool (R4 EAT) that helps both the utilities and the EMI
team in assessing the present energy utilization and identification of the processes/
equipment with the largest energy usage. The R4 EAT is being used in Alabama and will be
made available for other states and utilities to help identify energy saving opportunities.
Region 4 initiated collaboration with United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., (USET), who
provides assistance to Tribal governments to enhance their capability to meet the needs of
Indian people. USET serves 26 Tribes from Texas to Maine and is located in Nashville, TN.
Region 4 is working with USET to build their capacity to provide energy management
assistance to Tribal utilities, and Region 4 will serve as a resource to provide onsite Tribal
assistance with USET as needed.
EPA Region 4 worked with the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to incorporate sea
level rise in the development of the Three Mile Creek Watershed Management Plan. The
National Estuary Program funded two analyses for the Plan that simulated the impacts of
sea level rise on the watershed's existing habitat types and land uses. The assessment will
help facilitate the determination of best management practices that address habitat loss or
changes while also improving Creek water quality.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program prepared and published a "Gulf Coast Community
Handbook" which contains case studies from Gulf of Mexico communities for
incorporating climate change resiliency into habitat planning and protection. This
document illustrates how climate change aspects can be incorporated into habitat projects
in order to enhance their long-term resiliency and the benefits they provide.
Region 4 continues to monitor and receive updates from the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management UIC Program on the Class V Carbon Dioxide UIC experimental
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well being operated by Denbury Offshore. Region 4 continues to complete review of the
monitoring reports associated with the two Class V DIG CCh experimental wells issued by
EPA Region 4 in Kentucky.
The Region provided technical assistance to two North Carolina communitiesNew Bern
and Wilmingtonthat were selected in 2012 as pilot locations to implement a
Memorandum of Agreement between EPA and FEMA. The assistance 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 occur 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 projected to occur
more frequently in the future.
Researchers from the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Program (CREMP) of the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program published an
article in the August 2013, Marine Ecology Progress Series, "Temporal changes in benthic
assemblages on Florida Keys reefs 11 years after the 1997/1998 El Nino/' documenting and
describing the transition of the benthic community from stony coral species to octocorals as
the predominate benthic taxa in the Florida Keys since 1999. Although the transition may
have started earlier, octocorals apparent resilience to present-day stressors will likely allow
this shift to continue into the foreseeable future.
Region 3
Through funding from the Climate Ready Estuaries Program, the Partnership for the
Delaware Estuary (located in Regions 2 and 3) developed "Weathering Change" in which
the Partnership works with the community to help them understand the weather-related
changes that are beginning to happen in their community and adapt to those changes.
In 2013 the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary hosted two Climate Outreach Roundtable
meetings to discuss managing climate change impacts and barriers to sustainable
ordinances in municipalities as well as information/assistance that would be useful and
meaningful to municipalities within the Delaware Estuary. These meetings were held in
January 2013 and October 2013. The next meeting is planned for March 2014. The group is
comprised of state agencies, environmental groups, municipalities, EPA and interstate
agencies.
The Delaware Inland Bays National Estuary Program continues to work with state and local
partners on sea level rise education and outreach. In partnership with the state, the
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, other federal agencies, and local organizations, a
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living shoreline committee was formed to explore the science and implementation of living
shorelines (which can help with adaptation to sea level rise).
The Region 3 had a very active Energy Team. Some of their activities related to climate
change and water are:
> Partnered with PADEP's Wastewater Operator Outreach staff and conducted
continuing education credit courses throughout the State titled, "e2 - Energy
Efficiency for Water and Wastewater Operators and Managers;"
> An article on energy audits for water utilities was published in 2 local water
association journals and one national journal (Water Efficiency);
> Encouraging State Capacity Development coordinators to incorporate energy
efficiency in their Capacity Development Program; and
> Crafted wastewater energy efficiency case studies for posting to the regional
internet page.
Region 3's Chesapeake Bay Program is:
> researching implications of climate change for bioassessment programs;
> considering monitoring approaches to account for climate change;
> designing sentinel reference site network in headwater streams to monitor for
climate change and acidification effects.
Efforts to date include a project kickoff webinar, two webinars on data infrastructure,
and one webinar on classification results with states and other partners.
Region 2
In response to Hurricane Sandy that hit New York and New Jersey on October 29, 2012, EPA
has been supporting FEMA and working closely with federal agencies and the states of New
Jersey and New York to protect public health and the environment through multiple
activities. EPA worked to assess damage and respond to environmental concerns. EPA
Region 2 participated in National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) activities in New
York and New Jersey following the Hurricane Sandy response.
EPA initiated water infrastructure planning with an Interagency Funding Coordination
Meeting with FEMA, HUD and other Federal and state partners in March, 2013. EPA led
discussions on how to most effectively use EPA and partner funding to develop more
resilient drinking water and wastewater facilities.
In the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, with HQ support, Region 2 sponsored water-specific
Incident Command System (ICS) courses in NY, NJ and PR. Region 2 staff attended all
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courses. Region 2 has also developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and
assessment forms for emergency response to wastewater and drinking water incidents.
EPA HQ held Water and Energy Nexus in Disasters Workshops in New Jersey and New York
in November, 2013. The workshops included presentations from water utilities, electric
utilities, state agencies, and federal agencies as well as facilitated discussions. The
workshops' aim was to increase coordination and communication between water utilities
and electric utilities and provide information on the various options available to secure
back-up power and/or increase water utilities' resiliency to power outages.
EPA Region 2 has been conducting water quality monitoring in the aftermath of Hurricane
Sandy; Congress allocated $570,000 for this purpose in February 2013. This is a two year
effort to determine the longer-term effects of Sandy on levels of contaminants in sediments
and receiving waters of specific coastal waters of New Jersey and New York. The focus is on
areas impacted by combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, bypassing of
wastewater treatment plants, and runoff or discharge from hazardous waste sites.
Information will be compared to pre-Sandy monitoring results or monitoring from
immediately after Sandy to determine whether additional action or monitoring may be
needed. Other federal agencies, such as USGS, NOAA and ACOE, also received funding.
Region 2, through the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program, has been working
with FEMA, NYC Office of Emergency Management, Department of Interior, Army Corps,
and others to address abandoned boats and other marine debris, much of which resulted
from Sandy. EPA has undertaken 3 surveys of the Shellbank Creek area in Jamaica Bay, New
York to assess and document debris as part of a pilot removal project.
Region 2 staff is participating in the US Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Coast
Comprehensive Study, which includes attending technical and policy workshops, providing
documentation for their study, and reviewing drafts of their report starting around March
2014. Of particular interest is the use of what is being termed Natural and Nature-Based
Features (NNBF) that could be used in conjunction with traditional shoreline protection
strategies and could include wetlands, coastal forests, reefs and other features that would
enhance resiliency and risk reduction for coastal communities.
EPA HQ through the Healthy Watersheds Program, in coordination with Region 2, provided
funding to release a New York edition of a green infrastructure planning guide that will
help communities protect and restore vital green infrastructure from the Green
Infrastructure Center Inc. (GIC) and NYSDEC. The guide shows communities how to map
their most significant natural resources and make plans to conserve or restore them. A
presentation on the project is at:
http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademv/upload/ny-green-01142014 v5.pdf.
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Region 2 worked on including green infrastructure in the permitting process. This involved
ensuring that New Jersey's draft CSO permits contain a requirement to include green
infrastructure as part of Long-term Control Plan (LTCP) alternative analyses and providing
technical assistance to New York on the draft New York City MS4 permit by sharing
examples from other states where green infrastructure was included in MS4 permits.
With EPA Region 2's support, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
(NYSEFC) Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) has focused on funding Green
Infrastructure projects since 2010. Through the New York State Clean Water State
Revolving Fund's Green Innovation Grant Program, Region 2's SRF program has supported
121 green infrastructure projects valued at over $50 million since 2009.
EPA Region 2 finalized a Coral Reef Protection Plan for implementing activities to reduce
pollution impacts to coral reefs. Creating this plan involved interdivisional collaboration to
identify specific activities and identify and track critical milestones and project leads. The
keystone of this plan is increased communications with local communities to identify
emerging threats and priorities.
Region 2 initiated the Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Group (CCRPG). This is a partnership
of 14 federal and local agencies in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with authority and
jurisdiction to respond to identified local threats to coral reef ecosystems. The CCRPG is a
leadership forum to foster collaboration in implementing solutions to coral reef threats.
The Long Island Sound Study Sentinel Monitoring Work Group selected a contractor for a
second round of funding related to climate change monitoring. This supports a pilot
monitoring program designed to detect and quantify early signals of climate change in the
Long Island Sound Ecosystem (located in Regions 1 and 2) and supports a Boston University
proposal entitled "Sentinels of Change - Are Salt Marshes in LIS Keeping Pace with Sea Level
Rise?"
The Long Island Sound Research Grant Program (located in Regions 1 and 2) funded jointly
through the Connecticut and New York Sea Grant programs, supported researchers who
are developing a computer model to analyze historical trends back to the 1970s to project
the environmental conditions of Long Island Sound into the future. The Stevens Institute
of Technology will synthesize physical data collected for LIS and global climate change
indices. The computer model will then look forward to simulate the effects of climate on
Long Island Sound's physical environment and living marine resources up to the year 2100.
EPA Region 2 provided non-point source grant funding to NJDEP to design shoreline
restoration in Camden, NJ, with incorporation of freshwater mussel beds, and to evaluate
water quality contributions of freshwater mussels in the system. This includes an outreach
component for coordination with local participation.
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Ocean County College and the Barnegat Bay Partnership in New Jersey received a grant to
examine the relationship between shoreline and marsh conditions. With this additional
information, these organizations will identify wetland protection and restoration efforts to
adapt to rising sea levels and the potential influences of climate change.
The Meadowlands Commission received an EPA grant to examine several wetland areas
within the Meadowlands identified for restoration. The Commission and its research arm,
the Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute, will examine wetland heights, tidal
flows and plant communities in these areas. It will use this information to develop criteria
needed for successful long-term wetland restoration and to prioritize its current and future
restoration efforts in the Meadowlands.
Region 1
The Region hosted the New England Hurricane Summit in June 2013 for 100
representatives of water utilities, water associations, and state and federal agencies. The
summit focused on key issues and lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane
Sandy, and included discussions about forming an interstate WARN for New England. EPA
Deputy Regional Administrator and FEMA Regional Administrator gave opening remarks.
The Regional State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program has added general discussion points to its
annual SRF reviews to encourage the states to consider resiliency projects in their SRF
funding decisions each year.
Over 35 municipal water/wastewater facilities participated in roundtable discussions and
were trained on energy management plans in 2013. Three wastewater facilities are near
Zero Net Energy and at least six others are working on plans to reach Zero Net Energy.
Completion dates for proposed Zero Net Energy facilities are mostly unknown, while others
have completion dates of 2018 and 2026.
Four roundtables were conducted in FY13 with 16 wastewater and drinking water utility
operators to help them reduce energy use in Massachusetts (October, February, June and
September). Three roundtables were conducted in Vermont with approximately 20
wastewater utilities.
The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, initiated the Berwick (Maine) Water
System Resilience Pilot Project to assess the water system's flooding vulnerability, identify
adaptation measures, and produce outreach materials.
Region 1 provided ten (10) water emergency response preparedness trainings, including
resilience training, for Connecticut communities. Associated tool development included
Irene/Sandy Lessons Learned Report; CIS maps of water assets at risk (e.g. MA, Rl, CT, ME);
and a "Climate Change-Water Impacts" power point presentation.
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EPA Region 1 and ORD developed quantitative methods for projecting the pollutant
(phosphorus and sediment) loading consequences of climate change on Lake Champlain.
Subsequently, the Region completed several modeling reports as part of the Lake
Champlain TMDL revision process, including an analysis of potential effects of climate
change on phosphorous loads to the lake.
The Region helped initiate development of an Integrated Sentinel Monitoring for Climate
Change in Northeastern Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems "science and implementation
plan" by co-chairing the steering committee that was formed in February 2013 and
providing staff for the estuarine working group. This is a joint effort by the Ocean and
Coastal Ecosystem Health Committees of the Northeast Regional Ocean Council and
Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal and Ocean Observing Systems.
Three of sixteen grants funded by the Region 1 Wetlands Program in 2013 were to
address climate change impacts to wetlands, and adaptation. Details can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/regionl/topics/ecosystems/wpdg.html.
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program completed a Climate Ready Estuaries project in
April 2013 that involved working with local stakeholders in the Lower Pawtuxet River
watershed to identify and prioritize habitat restoration and other projects that will reduce
the vulnerability and increase resiliency of the watershed to future climate change impacts.
The Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership and the
University of New Hampshire worked 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 concluded in 2013 with the release and distribution of the final report, "Coast in
Action: 2012 Projects from New Hampshire and Maine." Details can be found at:
http://www.cascobay.usm.maine.edu/pdfs/cre coast final report.pdf.
Region 1 conducted a nonpoint source training workshop for New England Tribes in April
2013 to improve Tribal program capacity and better prepare the Tribes to protect against
NPS erosion and resultant deteriorating water quality that are expected to increase as a
result of increases in storm intensity resulting from climate change.
EPA Region 1 continued to be an active member of the New England Federal Partners,
including co-chairing the climate change committee to coordinate and share information
about cross-agency climate change concerns and actions.
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Region 1 continued to work with R2, R3 and NOAA, to develop and populate the
NECIimateUS.org website- a website where regional climate change related documents,
tools, reports and identified regional needs will be made available to the public.
Region 1 established an internal climate adaptation mapping workgroup in 2013 to
support implementation of the Region's climate strategies, and to discuss mapping needs,
data sources, and methodologies that will inform decisions in EPAs programs. CIS staff
continued to provide technical assistance to program staff, states, and communities.
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v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Office of Water (4101M)
Washington, D.C. 20460
EPA-850-R-14-002
April 2014
http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange
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