Water Management Strategies in the Face of Climate Change

Annual AWRA-WA State Conference
Seattle Mountaineers Program Center, Seattle WA
October 22, 2015

Photo by Scott Kindred

This year’s conference will focus on the latest understanding of impacts of climate change to water resources in Washington State and potential strategies for adapting to these changes.  The warm winter of 2015, perhaps a typical year in future decades, provides an interesting backdrop for discussing climate change impacts.

Although the rate and magnitude of climate change is uncertain, there is clear scientific evidence that global temperatures will warm considerably during this century, resulting in significant changes to temperature and precipitation patterns across the globe.  Most climate change models predict that Washington State will experience significant reductions in snowpack, dramatically changing the runoff patterns for streams and rivers that drain mountainous basins with snow- and glacier-dominated hydrographs.  In general, runoff is expected to increase in winter months and decrease in summer months. Several Washington State river hydrographs for 2015 so far show this pattern.

The impacts associated with these changes in runoff patterns are substantial and widespread, and the conference will address impacts associated with fisheries, power generation, domestic and industrial water supply, irrigated agriculture, recreation (e.g., skiing, boating, and fishing), and flood control. Most importantly, the conference will focus on discussing various strategies to address these impacts.  As always, we will include speakers with diverse backgrounds and alternative viewpoints and hope to stimulate discussions regarding potential approaches and solutions.

An evening reception will follow the conference with an opportunity to meet and mingle among water resource professionals and students, and the opportunity to enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres and select beverages.

Please contact one of the conference co-chairs with questions: Scott Kindred (scottk@kindredhydro.com) or Steve Nelson (snelson@rh2.com)

This conference is approved for 6 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits by the Washington State Bar Association.

Registration Rates
 

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See the Conference Agenda