watervulnerability

to information affected the assessments and share
additional lessons learned by the pilots.
Data Gaps and Uncertainty
Assessing the sensitivity and vulnerability of watersheds
to climate change is complex. At each step of the
assessment process, pilot Forests encountered data gaps
and uncertainty. Uncertainty was prevalent in estimates
of exposure, but each analytical step contained some
uncertainty (for instance, the expected response
of hydrologic processes to climate change, and the
response of aquatic resources to the hydrologic change).
Lack of information also contributes to uncertainty; at
the least, it limits the detail of the assessment. Every
pilot Forest identified data needs, and each made
assumptions about system responses and interactions.
These were captured in the pilot reports as monitoring
needs and included validating assumptions made in the
assessment, tracking trends in key resource values, and
providing data to inform key adaptive responses.
Acquiring and applying data to improve the analysis
would produce assessments with a higher level of
confidence, but lack of data should not be used as a
reason for not conducting an assessment. Some pilot
Forests were data-rich, in terms of water resource,
watershed sensitivity, and exposure information, and
some were data-poor. In spite of these differences,
all were able to apply the available information and
complete a vulnerability assessment. Again, the
objective of producing a relative rating of vulnerability
(rather than a more rigorous, quantitative description of
vulnerability) explains the favorable outcome.
Other Lessons Learned
The pilot assessment effort was successful in that it
demonstrated that vulnerability assessments could
be completed by National Forest staff using existing
information and tools. Some of the primary reasons for
this success have already been discussed; a few others
are worth noting.
While we have discussed how availability of data
influenced the results, we have not articulated the
importance of the format of the data. National Forests
with digital data progressed much faster than those
that had to convert paper summaries to digital formats.
In some cases, lack of useable data caused elements of
the assessment (for example, sensitivity factors) to be
deferred. Ideally, necessary data would be gathered
and prepared in anticipation of assessments. A credible
24 | ASSESSING THE VULNERABILITY OF WATERSHEDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
The Forest Service Climate Change Resource Center
The Climate Change Resource Center (www.fs.fed.us/
ccrc) provides land managers with an online portal
to science-based information and tools concerning
climate change and ecosystem management options.
The CCRC’s objectives are to:
(1) Synthesize scientific literature on ecosystem
response, adaptation, and mitigation;
(2) Highlight recent scientific research that has
practical applications for practitioners on public and
private lands;
(3) Support communication of information through
a user-friendly interface and appropriate use of
multimedia; and
(4) Work with scientists to develop educational
resources.
expectation that watershed vulnerability assessments
will occur could help make this happen.
Connection of the pilot Forests with ongoing climate
change research and experienced scientists resulted in
a more detailed analysis. The partnership between the
Sawtooth NF and the Rocky Mountain Research Station
yielded the most detailed pilot assessment. Collaborative
work in downscaling climate change projections to
assess potential changes in stream temperature was
underway, and was well-utilized by the Sawtooth NF.
Connection to sources of exposure data (especially CIG)
also aided pilot Forests.
As with most endeavors, the resulting products were
strongly influenced by the experience and expertise of
those participating. Those participants with the greatest
localized knowledge of forest resources and interactions
tended to have the easiest time with the process. Use of
the pilot participants as trainers or facilitators for future
assessments would streamline and focus those efforts.
At the outset of the pilot project, several National
Forests declined to participate, due to other priorities.
The reality is that all participating National Forests
managed to work on the WVA despite heavy workloads.
Agreement to participate in the WVA process reflected
recognition of the potential value of conducting
WVAs. Pilot Forests where line and staff were more
engaged with the assessments made resources (ID team
members and GIS expertise) available to project leads,
generally completed assessments sooner, and produced
assessments of greater depth and detail.
Recently-available electronic communication tools that
facilitate information exchange proved extremely useful