The document discusses the challenges of integrated water resource planning amid changing climate conditions and the limited availability of freshwater. It highlights the significant impacts of climate change on water cycles, forests, and urban infrastructure, emphasizing the need for adaptation and informed management choices. It also outlines priorities for U.S. water policy to effectively address these issues and support sustainable water usage and management.

1. Integrated Water
Resource Planning –
Water, Forests, People & Policy
Idaho Foresters Forum
February 4, 2014
Wayne S. Wright, CFP, PWS
Senior Principal

2. Some “Water Basics”…
The earth is a closed system. The same water that existed on the earth
millions of years ago is still present today.
Of all the water on the earth, humans can use only about three tenths of a
percent of this water.
The United States uses nearly 80 percent of its water for irrigation and power
production.
The United States uses about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water every
day.

3. A Matter of Scale and Availability…
All water on Earth
All freshwater on Earth
All water in rivers
and lakes on Earth
Source USGS: http://water.usgs.gov/edu/gallery/global-water-volume.html

5. As the Climate Changes – So Does Our Water
About 97% of climate scientists agree humans are changing the climate.
As global temperatures rise, there is a real risk, that one or more critical
parts of the Earth’s climate system will experience abrupt, unpredictable,
and potentially irreversible changes.
By making informed choices now, we can reduce risks for future
generations and ourselves, and help communities adapt to climate
change.

6. Forestry and the Carbon Cycle

7. Climate Change Effects Forests & Forestry

8. As the Climate Changes – So Does Our Forests
Warmer temps lead to longer growing seasons – risk of early bud
break/loss of cold hardening as well as frost damage in spring
Decreased snowpack leads to increased soil frost risk and root damage;
warmer temps alter soil/plant processes
Altered hydrographs = earlier peak flow, increased flashiness, and
decreased summer base flow
Summer drought potential
Changed habitat – plants, animals, people
Pests, Invasives, and diseases
Forest vulnerability

9. How does this affect people?
• Food production
• Ocean acidification
• Ecological impacts
• Sea level rise
• Floods, heat waves &
droughts
• Wildfires
• Health & well-being effects

10. Altered Economics
Photo credit: University of Utah

11. Ecological Change
Wild animal abundance is shifting. These
shifts have food supply and related
industry implications.
Extinctions of sensitive and less mobile
species are expected.
Ocean acidification is resulting from the oceans absorbing much of the
atmospheric CO2. Early affects are observed on shelled organisms such
as oysters.
California Red Hills Roach
(US Fish & Wildlife Service)

12. Ecological Change
Wild animal abundance is shifting. These shifts
have food supply and related industry implications.
Extinctions of sensitive and less mobile species are
expected.
Ocean acidification is resulting from the oceans absorbing much of the
atmospheric CO2. Early affects are observed on shelled organisms such
as oysters.

13. A skipjack tuna caught off the Copper River in Alaska. There
had been one confirmed documentation of such a fish in
Alaska in the 1980s. (Courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish
and Game) September 16, 2014

14. Courtesy NOAA PMEL

15. Photo credit: KOMO News 2014
Infrastructure Impact – Wildfires
Coastline highways, utilities, bridges are vulnerable to increased storm
surge, sea level rise, and extreme climatic events. Cost of replacement
will increase and designs must accommodate expected changes.

16. Photo Credit: Mike Bonnickson
Watershed Impact – Wildfires
Soil damage and loss are significant issues that impact forest
regeneration, watershed processes of soil cycling, river process impacts
and aquatic species impacts.

17. Photo credit: NBC 2014
Infrastructure Impact – Floods
Wildfire alters soil characteristics which often leads to
flooding. Devastating impact to roads, bridges,
communities, and fisheries habitat.

18. Infrastructure Impact – Floods
Existing roads and bridges are insufficient to withstand increased
flooding and river responses such as channel migration.

19. Photo credit: Simon Dixon 2014
Altered Hydrograph
Precipitation is shifting to faster runoff resulting in higher rates of
erosion, forest disturbance, and increased watershed stress.

20. Altered Hydrograph
Precipitation is shifting to faster runoff resulting in less snow pack with
profound impact on agriculture, hydropower production, fisheries
production, and potable water supply.
Photo credit: WDFW 2013Photo credit: NY Times 2014

21. Influences on Management Choices
Forest management responses to climate change will be influenced by
the changing nature of private forestland ownership, globalization of
forestry markets, emerging markets for bioenergy, and U.S. climate
change policy.

22. Effects on Communities and Ecosystems
Choices about land-use and land-cover patterns have affected and will
continue to affect how vulnerable or resilient human communities and
ecosystems are to the effects of climate change.

23. Deadly Once-in-1,000-Years Rains Wipe
Out Roads in Arizona, Nevada Image:
John Locher/Associated Press
Land Use
Flooding, drought, and water supply are driving
decisions about community location, growth potential,
and rebuilding after storm damage, etc.

24. Sinks and Cycles
In total, land in the United States absorbs and stores an amount
of carbon equivalent to about 17% of annual U.S. fossil fuel
emissions. U.S. forests and associated wood products account
for most of this land sink. The effect of this carbon storage is to
partially offset warming from emissions of CO2 and other
greenhouse gases.

25. Impacts and Options
Altered biogeochemical cycles together with climate change increase
the vulnerability of biodiversity, food security, human health, and water
quality to changing climate. However, natural and managed shifts in
major biogeochemical cycles can help limit rates of climate change.

26. Adaptation
Whole system management is often more effective than focusing on
one species at a time, and can help reduce the harm to wildlife, natural
assets, and human well-being that climate disruption might cause.

27. Balance
Water demands for:
• Power
• Consumption
• Agriculture
• Watershed health
• Industry
• Fish & Wildlife

28. New Directions for U.S. Water Policy
Nine Economic Facts about Water in the United States
1. The US is experiencing serious, but not unprecedented, drought conditions.
2. Many of America’s Western states are consistently vulnerable to drought.
3. Population growth is highest in America’s driest states
4. Half of water withdrawals in the United States are used for power generation.
5. 80% of California’s freshwater withdrawals go to agriculture.
6. Water is a crucial input for a wide variety of American industries, not just agriculture.
7. Domestic use of water per capita is highest in the driest states.
8. Household water prices vary tremendously across states.
9. There are more water systems in the US than there are schools.

29. Water Resources Utility of the Future
The Clean Water Act is 40 years old. Public agency leaders are
transforming clean water delivery services. Emerging new technologies
and innovations are driving this transformation – stretching taxpayer
dollars, improving the environment, creating jobs, and stimulating the
economy. The most progressive of today’s clean water agencies are
defining the Water Resources Utility of the Future (UTOF).

30. Priority Actions for Congress
and the Federal Government
1. Refocus federal grant programs to support new technologies.
2. Create an early stage technology and innovation investment program similar to the energy
sector.
3. Support statutory changes to the CWA
4. Embrace Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) programs and promote IWRM
methods.
5. Support an Executive Order on water reuse/recycling
6. Develop an intergovernmental partnership for water sector adaptation and resiliency.
7. Create and support market-based approaches to efficiently and more equitably address
watershed-scale water quality challenges.
8. Consider a 21st Century Watershed Act to drive the water sector.

31. Potable Supply Changes
Many places in America cannot support the local
communities with local water supplies. Water is
piped long distances to serve population zones.
Water reuse/recycling is becoming more common
and accepted.
Desalinization of coastal water is becoming more
common.
Water management has significant cost relative to
environmental and economic conditions.

32. What can (or should) we do?
Plan and act with adaptation in mind.
Make positive policy changes.
Think “water first”.
Promote water cycle education.
Clean up our act.
Rethink land use.
Continue the discussion…

33. THANK YOU
Wayne S. Wright, CFP, PWS
Senior Principal