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“WATER POLICY THROUGH A CARBON LENS” Responding to Climate Change Impacts to California’s Water Resources August 23, 2007 John T. Andrew California Department of Water Resources
“WATER POLICY THROUGH A CARBON LENS”
Responding to Climate Change Impacts to California’s Water Resources
August 23, 2007
John T. Andrew California Department of Water Resources
Climate Change Impacts on Climate Change Impacts on CaliforniaCalifornia’’s Water Resourcess Water Resources
Reduced snowpack
Earlier snowmelt results in increased flood control demand on reservoir space
Higher water temperatures impacts ecosystem
Sea level rise impacts the Delta, threatens levees and increases salinity
Increased demand in all sectors
Watersheds
Changes in Runoff Timing
Sacramento River RunoffApril - July Runoff in Percent of Water Year Runoff
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
1906 1913 1920 1927 1934 1941 1948 1955 1962 1969 1976 1983 1990 1997 2004
Water Year (October 1 - September 30)
Perc
ent o
f Wat
er Y
ear
Run
off
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
Linear Regression (least squares) line showing historical trend
3-year running average
American River Runoff Annual Maximum 1-Day Flow
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Water Year
1,00
0 cf
s
Unimpaired Runoff at Fair Oaks
Changes in Peak FlowsChanges in Peak Flows American RiverAmerican River
Red Line = Construction of Folsom Dam
Range of Snowpack ReductionsRange of Snowpack Reductions Projected by 2050Projected by 2050
Sea Level Rise
Source: Roos 2003
Sea Level Rise
Sea Level Rise
Projections
Source: IPCC, 2001
2 ft.
1 ft.
Water, Energy and Climate ChangeWater, Energy and Climate Change
Future water management activities must carefully consider strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Water Extraction & Conveyance
Water Treatment
End-UseAgriculturalResidentialCommercial
Industrial
WaterDistribution
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater Collection
Wastewater Discharge
Recycled Water Treatment
Recycled Water Distribution
Source
Source
Energy Inputs to Water SystemsEnergy Inputs to Water Systems
Bob Wilkinson, UCSB
California Energy Commission
Water Related Impacts
• Reduce fresh water available to current and future water users (residential, commercial and other users)
• Alter marine and aquatic ecosystems
• Degrade surface and groundwater resources
Water use and wastewater discharge by power plants can:
Common Energy-Water TradeoffsE
nerg
y U
se
Water Use or Environmental Impact
More
More
Less
Less 0
0
Biofuels Production?
Seawater desalting
Water treatmentWastewater reuse
Large dam removal
Shade trees
Evaporative cooling
Water conservationHot water conservation
Fish screens
Wastewater treatmentConjunctive use
ReforestationCrop yield improvements
Solar generation agriculture substitution?
Pumping
Shale oil Production?
Drip irrigation-SW
Jay Lund, UCD
New IPCC FindingsNew IPCC FindingsConfirms impacts we are Confirms impacts we are already witnessingalready witnessingEmphasizes the Emphasizes the importance of adaptationimportance of adaptationImpacts dependent upon Impacts dependent upon both climate change and both climate change and adaptive capacityadaptive capacityRecommends a portfolio Recommends a portfolio approachapproach
FoundationalFoundational Actions forActions for
SustainabilitySustainability
InitiativesInitiatives forfor
ReliabilityReliability
VisionVision
Framework for ActionFramework for Action Sustainable & Reliable Water in 2030Sustainable & Reliable Water in 2030
Climate change is the sole focus of one of the 14 major recommendations
Resource Management StrategiesResource Management Strategies
Reduce Water DemandReduce Water DemandAgricultural Water Use Agricultural Water Use EfficiencyEfficiencyUrban Water Use EfficiencyUrban Water Use Efficiency
Improve Operational Efficiency & Improve Operational Efficiency & TransfersTransfersConveyanceConveyanceSystem ReoperationSystem ReoperationWater TransfersWater Transfers
Increase Water SupplyIncrease Water SupplyConjunctive Management & Conjunctive Management & Groundwater StorageGroundwater StorageDesalination Desalination ––Brackish & Brackish & SeawaterSeawaterPrecipitation EnhancementPrecipitation EnhancementRecycled Municipal WaterRecycled Municipal WaterSurface Storage Surface Storage –– CALFEDCALFEDSurface Storage Surface Storage --Regional/LocalRegional/Local
Improve Water QualityImprove Water QualityDrinking Water Treatment and Drinking Water Treatment and DistributionDistributionGroundwater/Aquifer Groundwater/Aquifer RemediationRemediationMatching Quality to UseMatching Quality to UsePollution PreventionPollution PreventionUrban Runoff ManagementUrban Runoff Management
Practice Resource StewardshipPractice Resource StewardshipAgricultural Lands StewardshipAgricultural Lands StewardshipEconomic Incentives (Loans, Economic Incentives (Loans, Grants, and Water Pricing)Grants, and Water Pricing)Ecosystem RestorationEcosystem RestorationFloodplain ManagementFloodplain ManagementRecharge Areas ProtectionRecharge Areas ProtectionUrban Land Use ManagementUrban Land Use ManagementWaterWater--Dependent RecreationDependent RecreationWatershed ManagementWatershed Management
Climate change is not the only uncertainty…
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100
Year
Popu
latio
n (m
illio
ns)
Source: California Department of Finance, 2005.
???
?? ????
??
California’s PopulationHistorical Data
Projection
• Climate change presents significant challenges for the management of California’s water resources.
• Climate change is occurring incrementally and will likely continue to do so based on historical records over the past 100 years and most projections.
• California’s water management systems already provide a some degree of operational flexibility.
• We should have time to plan for future climate change and adapt to it.
California Water Management and Climate Change
John T. Andrew, P.E.Executive Manager for Climate Change
Department of Water Resources(916) 651-9657
