Case Study: Water and Wastewater Utilities Planning for Climate Change CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA Background The city of Bozeman, Montana provides drinking water services to approximately 38,000 people. Snowpack melt captured in the Sourdough and Hyalite watersheds reaches the 22 million gallons per day (MGD) Sourdough Water Treatment Plant via local creeks and serves as the city's primary water source. In addition, an infiltration gallery and a 3.5 MGD water treatment plant delivers groundwater from the Lyman Creek Spring. Climate Threats Drought and wildfire are the two primary climate threats to the city of Bozeman, both of which have the potential to increase with a changing climate. The city of Bozeman is concerned that future droughts will impact management and allocation of their local water resources. Droughts also have the potential to impact water quality because of their tendency to increase the occurrence of blue-green algae. Wildfires in the Sourdough and Hyalite watersheds have the potential to negatively impact water quality due to erosion that can increase turbidity, sedimentation and metal concentrations. Direct damage to equipment, specifically the Hyalite Reservoir and its intake, is also a concern related to wildfire. Planning Process To better understand the vulnerabilities of its drinking water infrastructure and operations, the city of Bozeman assessed potential climate change impacts using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). The CREAT assessment brought together individuals from EPA and various departments within the city of Bozeman to think critically about potential climate impacts, prioritize assets and consider possible adaptation options. Adaptation Measures The city of Bozeman considered the potential consequences of drought, water quality changes and wildfires on their drinking water assets and operations. To assess each of these potential threats, the city considered how potential adaptive measures would help lower consequences. The table below summarizes how adaptation options were grouped into two packages: those that provided the highest potential return on investment, and those that are included in their Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP). City of Bozeman, Montana Case Study — Page 1 SEPA ------- Case Study: Water and Wastewater Utilities Planning for Climate Change ADAPTATION PACKAGE POTENTIAL ADAPTIVE MEASURES Highest Return on Investment WRP Community outreach related to Sourdough Creek to improve surface water quality Fire management activities surrounding Hyalite Creek to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires Lake water management of Lyman Creek Spring to improve groundwater recharge Demand management of Hyalite Creek to increase water availability Rationing of Hyalite Creek to increase water availability Groundwater models including use of a monthly water balance model Demand management of water resources to increase water availability Hyalite Lake water resource acquisition to increase water production Lyman land acquisition for expansion or relocation of treatment plant Utilize alternate water supplies to improve groundwater recharge Contact Information For more information regarding the city of Bozeman's climate adaptation planning, contact Jill Miller at imiller@bozeman.net or Lain Leoniak at lleoniak@bozeman.net. City of Bozeman, Montana Case Study — Page 2 &EPA Office of Water (4608T) EPA 800-Q-15-012 December 2015 ------- |