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CLIMATE IMPACTS ON REGIONAL WATER. A REPORT OF THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSESSMENT GROUP FOR THE US GLOBAL CHANGE RESEACH PROGRAM
Citation:
Rock, B. N., L. Carter, H A. Walker, J. A. Bradbury, S. L. Dingman, AND C. A. Federer. CLIMATE IMPACTS ON REGIONAL WATER. A REPORT OF THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSESSMENT GROUP FOR THE US GLOBAL CHANGE RESEACH PROGRAM. University of New Hampshire, Institute for Earth, Oceans, and Space, Durham, NH, EPA/600/A-01/122, 2001.
Description:
The New England Region is not considered limited by water availability. While the region was impacted by a serious drought during the mid-1960s, overall, images of a vast network of lush green forests and inviting waterways, extensive shorelines, and a landscape of mountain streams and lakes teeming with fish characterize our region. Water recreation, including fishing, boating, and swimming along with regional seafood, such as lobster, define the New England Region for many. This view assumes that in the future, water will be plentiful and of the highest quality. The Canadian model projects only a modest increase (approximately 10%) in precipitation for the region over the next century, accompanied by periods of potential drought. The Hadley model projects a significant increase (approximately 30%). How would either of these projections, coupled with the warming projected by both models, impact the New England Region?
This chapter investigates some of the documented impacts (current stresses) of recent climate trends for the region, and the impacts of potential climate changes over the next 100 years projected by the Climate Models, including potential benefits. It also considers reasonable coping strategies to address the impact of these changes, and identifies with significant information gaps and "missing pieces" that are needed to more fully understand just how climate change could affect regional water resources. Finally, illustrative Case Studies are included to provide more details on how current climate variability has impacted the Water Sector.