Grantee Research Project Results
Identifying, Assessing and Adapting to Climate Change Impacts to Yurok Water and Aquatic Resources, Food Security and Tribal Health
EPA Grant Number: R835604Title: Identifying, Assessing and Adapting to Climate Change Impacts to Yurok Water and Aquatic Resources, Food Security and Tribal Health
Investigators: Fluharty, Suzanne , Cozzetto, Karen
Institution: Yurok Tribe Environmental Program , Northern Arizona University
Current Institution: Yurok Tribe Environmental Program , Northern Arizona University , Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium , Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017 (Extended to June 30, 2018)
Project Amount: $908,965
RFA: Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Tribal Environmental Health Research , Human Health
Objective:
The Yurok Tribe is extremely vulnerable to hydrologic changes resulting from climate change due to their geographic location and continued reliance on surface waters and aquatic resources by tribal members. The study will identify areas of water resource vulnerability and resiliency, assess impacts on Yurok food security and tribal health, and will increase the Tribe’s adaptive capacity to prepare and respond to climate change.
Approach:
The proposed project will conduct a baseline assessment (temperature and flows) of Yurok Reservation surface waters, develop GIS models to identify probable scenarios of future hydrological change impacts in Yurok Ancestral Territory, monitor for climate-related water-borne pathogens and toxins in surface water sources and shellfish, assess impacts on key subsistence resources, food security and tribal member health, develop of a Yurok Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Water and Aquatic Resources, and create a web-based climate change monitoring network design to inform and engage the tribal community in tracking climate-related events that could impact tribal and community health.
Expected Results:
Expected outputs include: an expanded YTEP water quality and public health monitoring network, GIS layers and maps modeling a range of climate change impact scenarios for Yurok Ancestral Territory, a Yurok Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Water and Aquatic Resources, and a web-based Yurok Environmental Observer Network. Expected Outcomes include: improved understanding of current and future climate change impacts on water resources, increased awareness of climate change impacts key subsistence foods, vulnerable sub-populations and tribal member health, improved tribal capacity to monitor, communicate, and prepare for climate change impacts.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 16 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Harmful Algal Blooms, HABs, microcystin, blue green algae, Paralytic Shellfish Poison, PSP, domoic acid, salmon, sturgeon, Pacific lamprey, mussels, cyanobacteria, Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, LegionellaProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.