Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan - Yukon College

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Environment Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan Community Consequences Associated with Infrastructure, continued. Community vulnerability from climate-induced environmental stresses in the Whitehorse region stems from an increasing presence of damaging invasive species, changes to the quality/ productivity of the environment, and increasing pressure on local wildlife. The resulting risk to the community is characterized by declining water quality, shifting landscape conditions, and a changing community relationship to the environment. Community Consequences of Environmental Decline Impact Likelihood Adaptive Capacity of Level I.6 Consequences Integrity of spillways and dams declines. H L L High I.7 Stormwater requires treatment; levels exceed current capacity. M M M Med I.8 Climate change (freeze-thaw, erosion, etc.) affects road safety and infrastructure. L H M Med I.9 Highway washouts related to increased storms and flooding (threatens food security). M L M Med I.10 Variable/increasing snow load impacts roofs, roads and other linear structures. M H H Med I.11 Sewage lagoon system may be stressed due to population and precipitation increases. M M M Med I.12 Growth of green infrastructure not possible. M L L Med I.13 Structural strain on bridge abutments as glacial flow increases river levels. H L M Med I.14 Changes in energy type and use will likely require new and/or upgraded infrastructure. L M M Med I.15 Increased stress on culverts due to precipitation. L M H Low Impact Likelihood Adaptive Capacity of Level EV.1 Consequences Evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge are critical and still uncertain. H H L High EV.2 Introduction of pests/invasive species. M H L High EV.3 Concern about change to water quality and increasing demand. H M M High EV.4 Warming water combined with decreased groundwater leads to loss of fish habitat. M M M Med EV.5 Wildlife pressures from climate change, fragmentation, hunting and competing land use. M H H Med Priority Priority 67
68 Community Adaptation Project Community Consequences of Environmental Decline, continued. Food Security Food security refers to a community’s access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy lifestyle (Paci et al., 2004). While food security encompasses economic access, the risks associated with food security in Whitehorse are tied to a reduction in the physical presence of sufficient healthy food within the community due to negative climate-induced impacts along the supply chain and in food producing areas. Community Consequences of Decreased Food Security Impact Likelihood Adaptive Capacity of Level EV.6 Consequences Ecosystem stability declines; habitat shift occurs. M L L Med EV.7 Watersheds, forests, wetlands will experience change as we grow at the same time. Information cannot be generated/communicated fast enough M M L Med EV.8 to keep pace with changes – compounded by the pace of policy generation and implementation. L H L Med EV.9 Increased nutrification of water with warming - affecting water quality (pressure from agriculture). L L M Low EV.10 Increased commodification and increase in the value of water. L L H Low EV.11 Increased population stresses river and lakes from increased recreation pressure and development. L M H Low EV.12 Concern about air quality if we increase industry, wood fires, and if inversions should occur. L L H Low Impact Likelihood Adaptive Capacity of Level F.1 Consequences Increased incidence of drought places more reliance on groundwater; problems with irrigation arise. H H M High F.2 Decrease in First Nations’ ability to harvest traditional foods, leading to loss of culture and health issues. M M M Med F.3 The cultivation of food leads to introduction of invasive species and disease. M M L Med F.4 Endemic pest and diseases affects food security and health. M M H Med F.5 External food supply is diminished as transportation becomes less reliable. H L H Med F.6 Conflict emerges over the balance of land use, water use, water availability and soil suitability. L H M Med Priority Priority
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COMMUNITY ADAPTATION PROJECT WHITEH
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Printed in Whitehorse, Yukon, 2011
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Acknowledgements The project team w
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TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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over the next 40 years. Mean annual
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LIST OF ACRONYMS CASM Council and S
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throughout the planning process and
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hazards, food security, health, and
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The broader community was engaged t
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Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptatio
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Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptatio
Page 24 and 25: Whitehorse is located in the zone o
Page 26 and 27: difficult to discern. Furthermore,
Page 28 and 29: Frost-free period Whitehorse Climat
Page 30 and 31: Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptatio
Page 32 and 33: Table 7. Identified opportunities b
Page 34 and 35: Table 8. Identified high-priority a
Page 36 and 37: must be balanced against the potent
Page 38 and 39: Immediate steps for future planning
Page 40 and 41: WHITECAP PROJECTS As noted in the I
Page 42 and 43: REFERENCES Whitehorse Climate Chang
Page 50 and 51: INTRODUCTION The term climate chang
Page 54 and 55: to shifting seasonal conditions bec
Page 56 and 57: disappear through sublimation and n
Page 58 and 59: Historically, Whitehorse has respon
Page 60 and 61: dust and debris several thousand fe
Page 62 and 63: Snow: Adaptive Capacity and Climate
Page 64 and 65: REFERENCES Whitehorse Climate Chang
Page 72 and 73: APPENDIX E - COMMUNITY OF WHITEHORS
Page 76 and 77: Community Consequences of Decreased
Page 78 and 79: APPENDIX F - COMMUNITY OF WHITEHORS
Page 80 and 81: INFRASTRUCTURE Whitehorse Climate C
Page 82 and 83: Suggested Adaptations for Environme
Page 84 and 85: Suggested Adaptations for Energy Se
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Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan - Yukon College

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