agenda city of watsonville city council/redevelopment agency meeting

The IRWMP update must address both adaptation to the effects of climate change and mitigation of
Green House Gas (GHG) emissions for the region. The IRWMP must include the following items:
A discussion of the potential effects of climate change on the IRWM region, including
an evaluation of the IRWM region’s vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change
and potential adaptation responses to those vulnerabilities; and
A process that discloses and considers GHG emissions when choosing between
project alternatives.
The updated Pajaro IRWMP is scheduled to be completed in 2013 at which time the climate change
analysis for the region can be incorporated into the City of Watsonville UWMP. However, there are
opportunities for the City to develop a flexible water resources planning strategy in advance of the
IRWMP regional climate change strategy. This section describes the City of Watsonville planning
approach for a “no-regrets” strategy.
Background
Regional water supplies are expected to decline due to climate change. The City residents depend on an
already overdrafted groundwater basin and could be vulnerable to changes that exacerbate those
overdraft conditions. While the actual conditions of future climate change on the City are uncertain and
vary based on the global climate models used, it is generally accepted that impacts have already
occurred in the region and that these impacts are very likely to intensify in the future.
Most models predict drier conditions, on average, along the Central Coast of California. Future climate
change evaluations for the region will include an assessment of the following environmental conditions:
Temperature
Precipitation
Sea Level
Vegetation
Wildfires
Storm Events
Each of these factors can affect the City’s water supply conditions. Most critically, increased
temperatures can lead to increased water use for both agricultural and urban water users, decreased
precipitation can reduce groundwater infiltration, and increased sea levels can exacerbate seawater
intrusion.
Exactly predicting these future conditions is not necessary for implementing responsible water
management strategies that reduce vulnerabilities for the residents of the City. Planning for more
frequent and/or severe drought is considered a “no-regrets” strategy. The region is already at risk from
extended drought, seawater intrusion into coastal wells, and over pumping of groundwater. More
frequent or severe drought conditions and potential increased water use would exacerbate these
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