OW-climate-change-adaptation-plan

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II. Vulnerability of Water Resources to Climate Change The many impacts that a changing climate is likely to have on water resources, both freshwater and coastal resources, include: 1. Increases in water pollution problems as air and water warm; 2. More extreme weather events; 3. Changes to water availability (rain and snow level and distribution); 4. Sea level rise/storm surge and waterbody boundary movement and displacement; 5. Collective impacts on coastal areas; and 6. Indirect impacts resulting from changes in energy and fuel production. The nature and extent of these impacts is described in greater detail below, together with the relationship of these impacts to clean water and drinking water program components. The association of climate change impacts on water with clean water and drinking water programs is illustrated using a chart of the full range of programs (see sample chart below). For each of the six climate change impacts identified above, the specific programs identified in the chart affected by the impacts are highlighted. This chart format illustrates both the programs expected to be affected by the specific type of climate change impacts and the programs expected to be less affected. Clean Water and Drinking Water Program Template Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based Emergency Planning Standards Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Underground Injection Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits Control Permits Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF (State Revolving Funds) Clean Water SRF (State Revolving Funds) Ocean Protection Combined Sewer Overflow Plans A table illustrating the collective climate change impacts on clean water and drinking water program components is provided in Appendix 4. Page 3
1) Increases in Water Pollution Problems as Air and Water Warm: Warmer air temperatures will result in warmer water. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen making instances of low oxygen levels or “hypoxia” more likely (which is detrimental to the aquatic ecosystem); foster harmful algal blooms; and alter the toxicity of some pollutants. For further details on these impacts see pages 41-51, 56, 81, 87, 96, 122, 150, 151 in Karl et al., 2009. As air and water warm, water resource managers will likely face significant challenges: increased pollutant concentrations and lower dissolved oxygen levels will result in higher incidences of impaired water quality; (Karl et al.; p. 46) increased growth of algae and microbes will affect drinking water quality; (Ibid; p. 46, 96) some aquatic taxa will be replaced by other taxa better adapted to warmer water (i.e., cold water fish will be replaced by cool water fish), and this process will likely occur at an uneven pace disrupting aquatic system health and allowing non-native and/or invasive species to become established; (Ibid; p. 81, 87, 122) warmer air temperatures will increase demand for cooling and for power production, resulting in increased discharges of warm water from power plants; (Ibid; p. 49, 56) increased water use will put stress on water infrastructure and demands on the clean water and drinking water State Revolving Funds; (Ibid; p. 48, 49) and increased evapotranspiration rates resulting from temperature increases may result in water losses for which drinking water and wetlands managers will need to account (Ibid; p. 49). Pollution Problems Related to Warmer Air and Water: Effects on Water Programs (Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by air and water temperature increases) Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based Emergency Planning Standards Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ TMDLs Underground Injection Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits Control Permits Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution Control Coastal Zone National Estuaries Program Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer Overflow Plans 2) More Extreme Weather Events: Vulnerability Citations: Descriptions of vulnerabilities provided in this section are drawn from: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, and Thomas C. Peterson, (eds.) Cambridge University Press, 2009 (Karl et al 2009). Connections of climate impacts to water programs are the assessment of water program managers. Page 4
Page 1 and 2: Office of Water Climate Change Adap
Page 3 and 4: Disclaimer To the extent this docum
Page 5 and 6: Because EPA’s Programs and Region
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Page 9: The 2012 Strategy identifies five l
Page 13 and 14: 3) Changes to Water Availability (R
Page 15 and 16: 5) Collective Impacts on Coastal Ar
Page 17 and 18: III. Priority Actions Recognizing t
Page 19 and 20: It is important to note that a key
Page 21 and 22: National Estuary Program partners t
Page 23 and 24: VI. Training and Outreach The Offic
Page 25 and 26: ‣ Work with EPA Region 10, the Na
Page 27 and 28: Some key actions that the Office of
Page 29 and 30: Puget Sound Grant partners include:
Page 31 and 32: In the future, the Office of Water
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Page 37 and 38: Visions and Goals Strategic Actions
Page 43 and 44: Visions and Goals Cross-Cutting Pro
Page 45 and 46: Appendix 3: National Water Program
Page 47: Prepared by: Office of Water U.S. E

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