Grantee Research Project Results
Impact of Climate on the Lower Yakima River Basin
EPA Grant Number: R827454Title: Impact of Climate on the Lower Yakima River Basin
Investigators: Vail, Lance , Stockle, Claudio , Dauble, Dennis , Saxton, Keith , Branch, Kristi , Wigmosta, Mark , Scott, Mike , Leung, Lai-yung Ruby
Current Investigators: Vail, Lance , Stockle, Claudio , Branch, Kristi , Wigmosta, Mark , Scott, Mike , Leung, Lai-yung Ruby , Neitzel, Duane
Institution: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Washington State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: April 15, 2000 through April 14, 2003 (Extended to September 30, 2003)
Project Amount: $869,364
RFA: Integrated Assessment of the Consequences of Climate Change (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Climate Change , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems
Description:
The objective of the proposed project is to develop and demonstrate a framework to assess the localized impact of climate change and climate variability on a diverse set of interdependent interests including agriculture, surface water and groundwater supply, surface water and groundwater quality, air quality, fisheries, and economics. The goal of this project is not to develop any specific new process models, but to adapt existing models to ensure that the linkages between the various models are appropriately represented.
Approach:
A diverse team of experts will develop an integrated assessment framework by using a software system engineering approach. This framework will quantify tradeoffs between different interests while simultaneously considering the generation and propagation of assessment uncertainties. The framework will also assess the efficacy and tradeoffs associated with adaptation alternatives, such as, cropping schemes and reservoir operations. The framework will be demonstrated on the Lower Yakima River Basin in central Washington State. The assessment results and tradeoffs will be made available to the stakeholders via public meetings of the Tri-County Water Resource Agency (TCWRA) and the Internet. The effectiveness of the framework in facilitating communication with the stakeholders will be evaluated cooperatively with the TCWRA.
Expected Results:
The framework and assessment results will be published in the printed literature, as well as on the Internet. This framework will be transferable to other local scale impact assessments throughout the United States. The assessment results and assessment framework will contribute to the U.S. National Assessment. Additionally, all global and regional climate simulations generated for this study will be archived at the appropriate spatial and temporal resolutions that could contribute towards other studies supporting the U.S. National Assessment.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 25 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Region 10, watersheds, hydrology, socio-economic, agriculture, climate models, Washington (WA), aquatic ecology., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, Hydrology, Environmental Chemistry, climate change, State, Ecological Risk Assessment, EPA Region, integrated assessments, environmental monitoring, fish habitat, watershed, Yakima River Basin, economic models, socioeconomic indicators, Washington (WA), climate models, agriculture, environmental stressors, water quality, Region 10, aquatic ecology, climate variability, groundwater, air qualityProgress 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.