Products

Colorado’s wildlife is a public trust – a defining resource that is key to our Western heritage, traditions and place within the Western landscape. Wildlife-based recreation is a multi-billion dollar industry with the potential to grow in importance as resources in other...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The purpose of this technical memorandum is to update the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) Projected 2030 Municipal and Industrial (M&I) and self-supplied industrial (SSI) "gap" analysis to 2050. Having an understanding of what the M&I gap is will help the...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

PowerPoint given by David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior on December 18, 2009 to the Western Governor's Association.

Summary of DOI research, activities, and goals.

"The realities of climate change require us to change how we...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

In the past few years there has been a remarkable increase in the level of awareness of climate change worldwide. Concerns about causes and effects have moved beyond the realm of scientific debate to the offices of legislators and the conference rooms of city planners, and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The Sub-Cabinet formed the Adaptation Advisory Group to focus on areas such as how to address present and future impacts on infrastructure, human health, and ecosystems.

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

It is at the same time essential to begin considering how future international efforts can best be structured. This paper examines underlying issues and lays out an array of possibilities. To set the issue in context, it looks first at the history and evolving nature of human...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

As defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, adaptation includes a set of actions to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities in response to climate change. To date, little research has addressed public policy options to frame the nation’s approach...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

Section I of this paper offers context on the broader risks and opportunities presented by climate change. Sections II and III summarize the case for business action to adapt to the physical effects of climate change, and the pathways by which climate can affect business....
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

This report highlights the important role of the federal government in reducing the vulnerability and strengthening the resiliency of our economy and natural resources in the face of these changes. In addition to managing a significant amount of land and infrastructure that...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Much of the nation's experience to date in managing and protecting its people, resources, and infrastructure is based on the historic record of climate variability during a period of relatively stable climate. This report from the America's Climate Choices suite of studies...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Secretary of the Interior Order No. 3289. issued on March 11, 2009, made production and transmission of renewable energy on public lands a priority for the Department.

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

This Agenda is the Pew Center’s attempt to develop and articulate a responsible course of action for addressing climate change. It identifies fifteen actions that should be started now, including U.S. domestic reductions and engagement in the international negotiation...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

While mitigation measures for the forest sector have been proposed to reduce and offset GHG emissions, adaptation strategies will be needed to cope with impacts that are unavoidable. This report reviews many of the observed and forecasted impacts to California forests and...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

An architecture of government adaptation programs is presented. Components include leadership, institutional organization, stakeholder involvement, climate change information, appropriate use of decision analysis techniques, explicit consideration of barriers to adaptation,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Energy  

The main objective of this project was to understand how climate influences human and natural systems in the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and its gateway community, Estes Park, CO. To do so, we addressed the following specific objectives: (1) assess the potential ...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Resource managers face many challenges in developing management recommendations for wildlife habitat under a changing climate. Our research results offer states a more consistent and holistic approach to analyzing potential threats of climate change to terrestrial wildlife...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The wild and native trout populations in the San Juan and Dolores Basins of southwest Colorado have a high conservation value to Trout Unlimited. Colorado River cutthroat trout are the native trout in these basins while rainbow, brown and brook trout are popular sport...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

On February 2, 2005, Governor Janet Napolitano signed Executive Order 2005-02 establishing the Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG). Appointed by the Governor, the 35-member CCAG comprised a diverse group of stakeholders who brought broad perspective and expertise to the...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The Operational Drought Plan, contained herein, is the key component for responding to the current and future drought conditions in Arizona. The Operational Drought Plan recognizes that drought events are natural disasters that touch all sectors of community, region, and...
Sector(s):

Water  

Since publishing Seasons’ End: Global Warming’s Threat to Hunting and Fishing, the urgency to address the effects of climate change on fish and wildlife has become increasingly evident. Already waterfowl exhibit changes in seasonal distribution. Higher water temperatures...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has taken the lead in developing this adaptation strategy, working through the Climate Action Team (CAT). Seven sector-specific working groups led by 12 state agencies, boards and commissions, and numerous stakeholders were...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

A first-of-its-kind multi-sector strategy to help guide California's efforts in adapting to climate change impacts is available below. In cooperation and partnership with multiple state agencies, the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy  summarizes the best known...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The purpose of this report is to update an earlier Department report on drought published on 2000, with special emphasis on advances in drought-related research. To this end, the report features contributed articles from climate scientists whose research covers a wide range...
Sector(s):

Water  

Powerpoint presentation at the USEPA Adaptation Workshop, January 6, 2009, describing WUCA (Water Utility Climate Alliance), its objectives, the capital planning context, uncertainty, consensus, action items, and conclusions.

Water   Energy  

Climate change provokes intense emotions.  Is climate change occurring?  Not everyone agrees.  We cannot possibly verify what will or won’t happen tomorrow or in 2100.  What we can do is look over the landscape of the past and quantify what has been seen.
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The purpose of the Drought Plan is to provide a guidance document for recognizing droughts that will affect water supply availability for the City of Boulder and for responding suitably to these droughts. The Drought Plan consists of two volumes that complement each other to...
Sector(s):

Water  

This volume of the Drought Plan contains the more detailed background information and analysis behind the development of the drought response actions contained in Volume 1 – Drought Response Plan. The following technical information and analysis will be of interest to those...
Sector(s):

Water  

In May 2002, the Boulder City Council passed Resolution 906, also known as the Kyoto Resolution, setting the goal of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. As a result of this resolution, staff in the Office of Environmental...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The first Climate Action Team (CAT) Assessment Report was produced in March 2006, followed by the release of the 2008 Assessment Report. The 2008 assessment expands on the policy oriented 2006 assessment and provides new information and scientific findings. New information...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Presented by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a consortium of 73 research universities that operates the National Center for Atmospheric Research. UCAR is supported by the National Science Foundation and additional federal agencies.

Welcome:...
Sector(s):

Water  

The Western Governors' Association has published a climate adaptation scoping report that emphasizes the need for coordination between state and federal efforts to identify key science that is Western specific and begins to share and implement smart practices.

This...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Thirty representatives from research, industry, and environmental organizations discussed relationships between climate and Colorado Plateau tourism industries on January 23-24, 2007 in Boulder, Colorado.

Tourism is a major economic driver for the Colorado Plateau...
Sector(s):

Water   Outdoor Recreation  

The Earth’s climate is rapidly changing. In the United States and other nations, people are seeing how the impacts of rising global temperatures affect their communities, their livelihoods, and the natural environment. Substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions is...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

For years, U.S. states and regions have been taking action to address climate change in the absence of federal leadership. A wide range of policies have been adopted at the state and regional levels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop clean energy resources, and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

A few observations about the climate change adaptation and water rights nexus; What does the WGA “Next Steps” report say (and not say) about water rights and climate change adaptation; New Research - Interplay of earlier snowmelt on the functioning of prior appropriation...
Sector(s):

Water  

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) convened a two-day workshop entitled Climate Change Adaptation Workshop for Natural Resource Managers in the Gunnison Basin on December 2-3, 2009 in Gunnison, Colorado. The goal of the workshop was to identify management strategies that will help...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The report content is organized by major Department within the Federal government (e.g., the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, etc.) with the exception of the adaptation efforts led by the Executive Office of the President and related interagency initiatives,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Aspen’s climate is changing.  And greater change is projected with much higher temperatures.  Some future scenarios result in temperatures high enough to end skiing on area mountains.  How much warmer it gets, and the extent of impacts, depends on the global emissions of...
Sector(s):

Water   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Many uncertainties plague the climate change debate. The scientific complexity and political sensitivity of the issue(s) only begin to touch upon the difficulty of dealing with the uncertainties associated with climate change. The potential impacts of climate change, however,...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

In this backgrounder, we look at the impacts these changes are likely to have on recreation resources in the United States. We focus our attention on freshwater resources, coastal areas, and public lands. Specifically, we assess the likely changes in snowmelt and the...
Sector(s):

Outdoor Recreation  

The Colorado Climate Report is a synthesis of climate change science important for Colorado’s water supply. It focuses on observed trends, modeling, and projections of temperature, precipita- tion, snowmelt, and runoff. The report summarizes Colorado-specific findings from...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

This report is a synthesis of climate change science important for Colorado's water supply. It focuses on observed trends, modeling, and projections of temperature, precipitation, snowmelt, and runoff. Climate projections are reported out to the mid-21st century, because this...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Climate research papers, review papers, and other reports published since mid‐2008 that support and/or complement the technical literature synthesized in the CWCB/WWA Climate Change in Colorado (2008) report.

Water  

The report “Climate Change in Colorado: A Synthesis to Support Water Resources Management and Adaptation” summarizes Colorado-specific findings from peer-reviewed regional studies, and presents new analyses derived from existing datasets and model projections. This...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

On November 13th and 14th, 2007, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)
convened a two-day workshop on the ecological implications of climate
change for the park. With the help of the Center of the American West,
University of Colorado, RMNP brought together...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Climate change poses a variety of challenges for water management, and there is a need to develop methods for understanding and managing risk. While much has been written about the projected impacts of climate change at the continental or regional scale, scientists are quick...
Sector(s):

Water  

Climate change will have a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. A new analysis, performed by consulting firm Tetra Tech for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), examined the effects of global warming on water supply and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

Washington's economy and natural resources are sensitive to changes in climate. Management of hydroelectric power production, water supply systems, flood and storm management, forests, fisheries, and agriculture is predicated on observed patterns and extremes in temperature...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

With ClimateWizard you can:

• view historic temperature and rainfall maps for anywhere in the world
• view state-of-the-art future predictions of temperature and rainfall around the world
Sector(s):
Wildlife/Forestry  


Keywords: Climate Change, Modeling, Projections

The Colorado Climate Action Plan... sets out measures that we in our state can adopt to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 percent by 2020, and makes a shared commitment with other states and nations to even deeper emissions cuts by 2050.

For Colorado,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Bills of Primary Interest: Passage of these bills have the effect of either implementing or preventing implementation of major provisions of either Governor Ritter’s Colorado Climate Action Plan announced in November 2007 or the recommendations made in October 2007 by the...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Energy  

The Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) undertook the Colorado Climate Project to bring Coloradans together to reduce the state’s contribution and vulnerability to climate change. The project was inspired by and patterned after similar efforts undertaken by state...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources strategic plan (p. 67) provides that the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) "helps water providers take climate change into account during water resource planning" and will coordinate and provide climate change data that...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Beginning in March 2009, the Colorado Wildlife Commission initiated a process to review and update the Division of Wildlife’s Strategic Plan. After several months of review and discussion, the Commission unanimously approved the...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The Colorado Drought and Water Supply Update 2007 (CDWSU) was conducted to obtain new information on the current status of drought planning and preparedness, water conservation planning and programs, and water supply.  This study was conducted for the Colorado Water...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

The Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan was developed to provide an effective and systematic means for the State of Colorado to reduce the impacts of water shortages over the short or long term. The Plan outlines a mechanism for coordinated drought monitoring,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

Presentation by Ken Knox to the CPUC. Overview of Colorado water resources, allocation and law. Overview of climate projections out to 2060. Alternatives to current approaches to water supply security.

Water   Energy  

The intent of this publication is to provide readers with an overview of hydroclimate-related information for the Colorado River Basin. The following articles describe the basin’s climate, its variability, and factors influencing it over varied timescales. Background is...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The purpose of this study, which should be viewed from more of a technical perspective than a legal perspective, is to: 1) identify issues associated with the administration of state water rights in the Colorado River Basin under the terms of the Colorado River Compact and...
Sector(s):

Water  

Presentation by Ben Harding, AMEC Earth and Environmental.

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

Colorado faces increasing demands on its water supply for both traditional consumptive (agriculture, municipal, industrial, commercial and other) uses and for non-consumptive (recreational and environmental) uses. Population growth, recent drought, energy development, and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Presentation by Ray Alvarado CWCB Project Manager to the Colorado Water Workshop in Gunnison, Colorado, July 21, 2010.

Consulting Team: AECOM, AMEC Earth & Environmental, Canyon Water Resources, Leonard Rice Engineers, Stratus Consulting

PRELIMINARY...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The Statewide Forest Resource Assessment is the first geospatial assessment
completed by the Colorado State Forest Service. This report contains the
complete set of data used to inform the assessment, as well as the process
we followed and a list of the...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The Colorado Statewide Forest Resource Strategy (strategy) is the plan that builds on and accompanies the Colorado Statewide Forest Resource Assessment (assessment). The assessment and strategy identify important forest lands and provide strategic direction for the...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The objectives of this study were to develop a reconnaissance-level water use forecast that employs consistency in data collection and forecast methodology across the state and maximizes available data. The methods utilized in this approach are for the purpose of general...
Sector(s):

Water  

The risk of wildfire in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface poses a daunting challenge to public safety, fiscal responsibility and natural resource integrity in the state. 
A century of aggressive fire suppression, combined with cycles of drought and changing land...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Colorado’s CWCS has assembled for the first time a catalog on the status of our knowledge about native wildlife, most of which are not commonly hunted or fished, the threats to the habitats upon which they depend, and an articulation of strategies that can be employed to...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

As we move forward over the next decade we will have important decisions to make which will have a tremendous impact on the vision for Colorado's future. At the center of these decisions will be one of our most precious natural resources-- water. As we chart our path and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

In the coming decades, a changing climate could impact Colorado’s economy. The most recent climate modeling predicts a warmer and drier environment for much of Colorado.    These changes could be more pronounced if global emissions of greenhouse gases are not reduced....
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Building on the success of Colorado’s 2003 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), the 2008 SCORP provides a critical five-year plan for addressing key outdoor recreation needs through 2013. Developed in collaboration with a diverse 33-member Steering...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

This paper recommends a new federal adjustment program for communities as part of global climate change policy. Specifically, the United States should do the following: (1) commit to address the problem by designating a single agency, the Economic Development Administration...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

NRCS conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain...
Sector(s):

Agriculture  

For many countries and nongovernmental organizations attending Copenhagen, a primary objective was to secure funds for adaptation and a system for managing them. As hopes for deep cuts in emissions receded, concern about coping with the impacts of climate change increased,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

Adaptation and Global Climate Change discusses how the United States might cope with anticipated climate change impacts in the coming decades. This report provides a review of the role of adaptation in addressing climate change, the options available for increasing our...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Presentation by Jennifer Gimbel, Executive Director Colorado Water Conservation Board, to the Governor’s Conference on Managing Drought and Climate Risk held in Denver, October 8 -11, 2008. The comprehensive and diverse 2 1/2 day water conference helped water providers,...
Sector(s):

Water  

Colorado state level drought planning has been developed through the preparation and implementation of the Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan (DMRP). The plan was first developed in 1981, making Colorado was the first state in the nation to create a formal...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

The Western Water Assessment (WWA), in conjunction with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), presented the 'Dealing with Drought-Adapting to a Changing Climate" workshop series during October 2009 in three locations around Colorado: Castle Rock, Gelnwood Springs, and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

PowerPoint given by Roger Pielke, Jr., University of Colorado, to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission in Denver, CO on February 18, 2010.

Outline:
- Understanding the mitigation challenge
- Where do emissions come from?
- Decarbonization – UK...
Sector(s):

Energy  

Climate change is challenging the way water utilities plan for the future. Observed warming and climate model projections now call into question the stability of future water quantity and quality. As water utilities grapple with preparing for the large range of possible...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

Droughts, a natural phenomenon, occur with unpredictable frequency and variable intensity. During drought, flows into Denver Water’s reservoirs may be below normal, causing customers to have to reduce their typical water use. In addition, weather conditions in Denver...
Sector(s):

Water  

The staff at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) are committed to making Colorado the healthiest state in the Nation and the state with the cleanest air and water. Over the past several years under the leadership of Governor Bill Ritter, the...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Memorandum of Understanding to Coordinate and Cooperate in Climate-Related Activities Involving Science, Services, Mitigation, Adaptation, Education and Communication

Talking Points

Ahsha Tribble, NOAA Senior Policy Advisor to the Under Secretary,...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The Colorado Smart Grid Task Force was created by Colorado Senate Bill 10-180 (SB 10-180) to offer recommendations on the “feasibility, cost, and timing of transitioning to a secure, resilient, and technologically advanced electric grid,” also referred to in this report...
Sector(s):

Energy  

This report summarizes the science of climate change and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. It is largely based on results of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), and integrates those results with related research from...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Overview of Colorado hydrology, water use, and water law. Pros, cons, and alternatives discussed. Elegant design. Magazine article.

Water   Agriculture   Energy  

Policymakers across the country are now seeking solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to help us adapt to the impending impacts triggered by past emissions. The debate to date has primarily focused on the perceived costs of alternative solutions, yet there can also...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

This report summarizes what is currently known about effects of climate change on energy production and use in the United States. It focuses on three questions, which are listed below along with general short answers to each. Generally, it is important to be careful about...
Sector(s):

Energy  

This report fills a gap left by the first U.S. National Assessment of Climate Variability and Change (NACC), carried out from 1997-2000. NACC commissioned studies of five sectors; but energy was not one of them, at least in part because NACC was focused on impacts and it was...
Sector(s):

Energy  

Climate change will impact water supplies, exacerbating existing pressures on water resources caused by population and economic growth. Given the combination of these stressors, the sustainability of water resources in future decades is a concern in many parts of the world....
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Energy  

This paper looks at important issues related to the production and application of biochar and how a protocol can be developed that can account for carbon sequestration from its production and use for the purpose of offsetting GHG emissions.

Energy  

This Action Plan presents the results of meetings, workshops, and detailed deliberations under headings for background information, goals and recommendations from the Sporting Conservation Council, and Actions. Note that the goals and recommendations from the Council are not...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

This stand-alone document, The Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan for Colorado, describes in detail the process for flood planning in the state as well as long-term flood mitigation opportunities.  Information on agency responsibilities and existing flood mitigation programs,...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forest and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Sustainability is a guiding principle for all parts of the agency and the work of all...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

Risk projections of the Colorado River Basin.

Water  

This report summarizes the science of climate change and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. It is largely based on results of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP),a and integrates those results with related research from...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Gov. Bill Ritter's Climate Change Advisory Panel, a diverse 30-member committee with representatives from industry, academia, government, law and other sectors, is beginning its work to identify the critical steps needed to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals set forth in the...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The 2010 Colorado Utilities Report is a compendium of data that provides insight into the current operational state of Colorado’s electric and gas utilities. Power supply mix, sales, and winter / summer peak demand data are all for calendar year 2009. The remainder of the...
Sector(s):

Energy  

Trout and salmon are especially vulnerable to climate change and global warming because they are dependent on an abundance of clear, cold water. As coldwater habitats warm, rising temperatures will have negative impacts on a variety of life history phases—from eggs to...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Thorough investigation of the water supply needs, infrastructure, and future of Douglas County. The study identifies two water management techniques that, particularly when paired together, offer an overlooked renewable water supply alternative for Colorado: precipitation...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

This report shows that the West is being affected by a changed climate more than any other part of the United States outside Alaska. Comparing average temperatures in the last five years to 20th century averages, the West has experienced 70 percent more warming than the world...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

ABSTRACT: The paper reviews the potential for administrative problems/disputes associated with western prior appropriation water rights in those sub-regions experiencing increasingly early spring snowmelt and the lengthening of growing seasons. In those areas, potential...
Sector(s):

Water  

A Preliminary Assessment of Risks and Opportunities

In early 2006, Washington’s Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and Department of Ecology commissioned the Climate Leadership Initiative (CLI) at the University of Oregon to analyze the current...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The Joint Front Range Climate Change Vulnerability Study - Metropolitan water providers along Colorado’s Front Range are concerned about the impact that climate change may have on their future water supply availability. To better understand the possible impacts of climate...
Sector(s):

Water  

In the face of accelerating climate change, a conservation effort of unprecedented magnitude and scope will be necessary to maintain viable populations of our fish and wildlife and the functioning ecosystems upon which they depend. The effects of climate change on ecosystems...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

In the American West, no other effect of climate disruption is as significant as how it endangers the region’s already scarce snow- packs and water supply. With the inherent vulnerability of the dry West to even small changes in the snow-water cycle, these risks alone...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

Presentation by Nolan Doesken Colorado State Climatologist. Presented December 12, 2008.

Colorado Mean Annual Precipitation (1971-2000)

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The National Weather Service‟s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) currently provides forecast information related to flooding on rivers throughout the United States (see [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/ahps/] and click on “National River Conditions”). A database...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

This regional assessment examines the impacts of temperature change from 1951-2006 on natural resources in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. It documents that warming has already affected habitats, watersheds, and species in the Southwest, by influencing the timing of...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

Supporting information for the 2011 report: Managing Changing Landscapes in the Southwestern U.S.

Wildlife/Forestry  

October 7‐9 2010

Adaptation planning, tools & strategies for forest resiliency, climate vulnerability assessments, wildfire management, wildlife corridor conservation plans, & regional climate outlook.

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Presentation by Levi Brekke, US Department of the Interior. Front Range Group meeting, Denver Water, Denver, CO, 20 March 2009

Water  

Final Report of the Governor’s Climate Change Advisory Committee

Recognizing the profound consequences that global warming could have on the economy, environment, and quality of life in Montana, Governor Brian Schweitzer issued a letter on December 13, 2005,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Appendix A Letter From Governor Schweitzer; Appendix B Description of Climate Change Advisory Committee Process; Appendix C Members of Technical Work Groups; Appendix D Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory and Reference Case Projections; Appendix E Methods for...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The following statement is adapted from a policy statement developed and approved by the Southern Group of State Foresters. This statement was endorsed by the NASF Forest Resource Management Committee on 1/14/09 and endorsed by the NASF Executive Committee on 03/10/09. It...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

The National Fish and Wildlife Climate Adaptation Strategy will provide a unified approach—reflecting shared principles and science-based practices—for reducing the impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, habitats, and associated ecological processes across...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin its second century of preserving the Nation’s natural and cultural heritage, a stewardship that now includes protection of more than 84 million acres within the National Park System. Global climate change threatens the...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

On April 10, 2007, Governor Jim Gibbons signed an executive order that created the Nevada Climate Change Advisory Committee (NCCAC). The executive order directed the Committee to propose recommendations by which Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions can be further reduced in...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Over the course of a year, through a process that engaged over 125 stakeholders and received input from over 200 citizens, the 29 members of Governor John Lynch’s Climate Change Policy Task Force developed this Climate Action Plan which is aimed at achieving the greatest...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Recognizing the profound implications that global warming and climate variation could have on the economy, environment and quality of life in the Southwest, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed Executive Order 05-33 on June 5th, 2005, establishing the New Mexico Climate...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The North Weld County Water District has completed a Water Conservation Plan.  The goal of the plan is for NWCWD to develop programs for efficient and sustainable water use.  The water conservation measures NWCWD has...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

This report, which was commissioned by the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA), concerns how investments in the science of climate change, and in particular climate modeling, can best be directed to help improve the quality of science so that it may be more useful to water...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

In 2007, the Oregon State Legislature charged the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, via HB 3543, with assessing the state of climate change science including biological, physical and social science as it relates to Oregon and the likely effects of climate change on...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

In October 2009, Governor Kulongoski asked the directors of several state agencies, universities, research institutions and extension services to develop a climate change adaptation plan. Among other things, the plan would provide a framework for state agencies to identify...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Governor’s Advisory Group On Global Warming

The Advisory Group distinguishes between “mitigation” of greenhouse gas emissions (actions that will reduce emissions and their warming effects) and “adaptation” to global warming (those actions necessary to cope...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The challenges we face today are very different from those of the 1970s, but they are no less critical. Our population will grow to over nine million by 2030. Much of our physical infrastructure is a century old and showing its age. Even as we have revitalized the five...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

Over the past three years, we’ve completed 19 rezonings that direct development to areas well-served by transit. We’ve created over 200 miles of bicycle lanes and enacted a bike access law to make cycling in the city easier. We’ve enacted a clean air law for school...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

This study combines the potential impacts of climate change with long-term climate variability
to examine their effects on the water supply of one community. The study team examined
outputs from general circulation models (GCMs; supplied by the National Center for...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Warmer water, changes in stream flow, and the increasing frequency and intensity of other disturbances are among the factors associated with climate change that are likely to impact native trout populations in the western USA. We examined how three of these...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

Powerpoint Presentation by Marni Koopman, Ph.D., National Center for Conservation Science and Policy. In collaboration with; Linda Joyce and Curt Flather, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Outline How does climate change threaten wildlife? How is wildlife expected to respond...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

The U.S. Government’s Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is responsible for providing the best science-based knowledge possible to inform management of the risks and opportunities associated with changes in the climate and related environmental systems. To support its...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The U.S. Government’s Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is responsible for providing the best science-based knowledge possible to inform management of the risks and opportunities associated with changes in the climate and related environmental systems. To support its...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The purpose of Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments is to help you as a decision-maker in a local, regional, or state government prepare for climate change by recommending a detailed, easy-to-understand process for climate...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

In 2009, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiated the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, which includes representatives...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

A key theme emerges from these four case studies: pre-existing problems caused by human activities are exacerbated by climate change, itself mostly a human-induced phenomenon. Fortunately, manmade problems are amenable to manmade solutions. Climate change cannot be stopped...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The Plan includes an integrated climate impact assessment prepared by the Commission’s Scientific and Technical Working Group (STWG). The STWG’s assessment recognizes how human activities such as coastal development, burning fossil fuels, and increasing greenhouse gas...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Overview of the Initial Report from the Preparation and Adaptation Working Groups:
- Expected Impacts of Climate Change in Washington
- Identifying and Selecting Strategies
- Specific Initial Preparation and Adaptation Strategies

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is an agency born of ecological crisis and raised on the nation’s will to respond. The Service’s genesis was the Federal response in 1871 to the collapse in the nation’s food fishes from over harvesting, and its mandate was to find ways...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

This book contains a compilation and synthesis of information generated by some of the leading conservation organizations in the nation. Its companion Web site, www.seasonsend.org, keeps readers up to date by posting ongoing studies of climate change, publishing current...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

The modernization of our nation’s electrical grid has the potential to make a significant impact on the way Americans use and conserve energy. Simply put, the smart grid is an upgrade of our century-old power grid to a new system which incorporates innovative technologies...
Sector(s):

Energy  

Abstract Inter-annual snow reliability is a key short-term concern for Arizona’s high elevation, low latitude ski resorts. Variability is linked to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)–warm phase conditions typically portend a good ski season and vice-versa. To...
Sector(s):

Outdoor Recreation  

The purpose of this technical memorandum is to update the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) Projected 2030 Agricultural Demands. In SWSI, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) estimated agricultural demands for the years 2000 and 2030. SWSI also summarized...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

Effective emergency management planning lays its foundation on hazard identification and risk assessment. Risk from natural hazards is the result of a combination of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. Risk assessment is the process of measuring potential loss of life,...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The objective of this report is to illustrate insights into alternative policy options and the potential impact nationally and explicitly at the state level associated with a modest GHG control policy.    Differences in the structure of the economy across the United States...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Presentation by Ben Harding, AMEC Earth & Environmental, 35th Annual Colorado Water Workshop, July 21, 2010.

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The scientific literature contains numerous descriptions and predictions of the effects of climate change on wildlife populations and ecosystems. Recently, resource managers and planners have proposed “adaptation strategies” to help wildlife and ecosystems adjust to the...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

The paper reviews the potential for administrative problems/disputes associated with western prior appropriation water rights in those sub-regions experiencing increasingly early spring snowmelt and the lengthening of growing seasons. In those areas, potential problems of two...
Sector(s):

Water  

This paper aims to further a constructive dialogue on the appropriate roles for state and federal government in meeting the challenge of climate change in the United States. Section II includes a brief overview of the climate change actions taken by states, a review of the...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education advises NSF on its support for research and education in the environmental sciences, which figure prominently in NSF's Strategic Plan 2006-2011. A short 3 years into that plan, we conclude that fundamental...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

Tribal Nations will likely be one of the most heavily impacted populations in North America by Climate Change due to several factors including an intimate, long-standing relationship with the land, limited and relatively non-diverse economies, poor energy security and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Trout Unlimited developed the Conservation Success Index (CSI) in order to become more strategic and effective in our conservation efforts. Using the CSI, we can quantify and map the conservation status of all native coldwater fishes so that comparisons of existing...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

We in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) have committed ourselves to ensuring the sustainability of our nation’s wildlife resources and habitats, recognizing both their intrinsic value and their contribution to our economic prosperity and our quality of life. To...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Over its 138-year history, the Service has faced every challenge to the future of the nation’s fish and wildlife heritage head-on. As an agency, we have attracted to our ranks those individuals whose personal commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing America’s...
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Abstract This study simulates the impacts of higher temperatures resulting from anthropogenic climate change on residential electricity consumption for California. Flexible temperature response functions are estimated by climate zone, which allow for differential effects of...
Sector(s):

Energy  

This brochure highlights findings and recommendations from National Academies’ reports on climate change. These reports are the products of the National Academies’ consensus study process, which brings together leading scientists, engineers, public health officials, and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

The U.S. Drought Portal is part of the interactive system to: Provide early warning about emerging and anticipated droughts, Assimilate and quality control data about droughts and models, Provide information about risk and impact of droughts to different agencies and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

US EPA’s First National Expert and Stakeholder Workshop on Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Adaptation to Climate Change was held on January 6-7, 2009, in Arlington, Virginia. Sponsored by the US EPA Office of Water & Office of Research and Development, the...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

Most of the urgent forest and grassland management challenges of the past 20 years, such as wildfires, changing water regimes, and expanding forest insect infestations, have been driven, in part, by a changing climate. Future impacts are projected to be even more severe....
Sector(s):

Water   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation  

This report provides a summary of the work the Blue Ribbon Advisory Council on Climate Change (BRAC) and Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) have conducted to date.    The BRAC has completed a number of significant tasks as charged by the Governor.  The Science Report is...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Regional Collaboration and Workshops, Building Internal Capacity and Supporting Department/Agency/Provincial Efforts, Information Sharing, Budget and Funding Challenges, Opportunities for collaboration.

Water   Wildlife/Forestry  

Climate change will impact natural resources on a global scale but response efforts will be more effective at a smaller scale. How state fish and wildlife agencies (states) choose to address sea level rise, precipitation changes, and other impacts will vary based on the...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Outdoor Recreation   Energy  

Energy and water are inextricably linked: Colorado’s water utilities use energy to pump, treat, and distribute potable water; customers use energy to heat, cool, and/or pressurize water; and wastewater utilities use energy to treat and discharge wastewater. By conserving...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

The Aurora Water system serves the population and water needs within the municipal boundaries of Aurora spanning Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. As of 2007, Aurora Water serves approximately 306,908 people with 73,000 connections. Aurora is 144 square miles in area....
Sector(s):

Water  

The purpose of this Water Conservation Plan is to provide guidance in updating and implementing the city’s Water Conservation Program in a way that is compatible with the city’s water supply system, existing conservation programs, water resources management strategy, and...
Sector(s):

Water  

In May 2005, the CWCB introduced the Water Conservation Plan Development Guidance
Document and Model Plan for water providers interested in developing water conservation
plans.  Springs Utilities followed the general principles of the guidance document in...
Sector(s):

Water  

Tap-Smart: Denver Water's Conservation Master Plan
The Tap-Smart Plan is a key strategic undertaking.  Only through fostering a conservation culture in this semi-arid region can we truly ensure a sustainable water resource.  The Tap-Smart Plan asks all of Denver’s...
Sector(s):

Water   Energy  

A Water Conservation Plan (WCP) is a plan for the development and utilization of a set of strategies. The WCP will provide both water suppliers and the local communities a means of using their water resources in a wise and prudent manner thus managing this precious...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

While water resources are available for growth in the aggregate, they are essentially fully “appropriated” under regimes that have vested private property rights in water right holders. New uses to accommodate growth must largely rely on water obtained from changes to...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

County Risk Level from "Evaluating Sustainability of Projected Water Demands Under Future Climate Change Scenarios," Tetra Tech Inc. 2010.

Water   Agriculture  

Climate change in the Western United States is not only tremendously important to the Alliance, it also is immediately relevant to farmers, ranchers and small communities all over the West. We are increasingly hearing reports that predict dire long-term hydrologic forecasts...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture  

Adaptation to climate change continues to rise on the agendas of researchers, practitioners, and decision- makers, driven by growing evidence that climate change is real, already observable, and threatening to undermine development. Any effective development and planning...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) Partners have recommended a comprehensive regional effort to reduce emissions of global warming pollution, combining a broad cap-and-trade program with complementary policies to achieve the WCI 2020 regional emissions goal. Complementary...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Stakeholder Presentation - December 7, 2009

Water   Agriculture   Energy  

Western Governors believe that planning for climate change adaptation should be undertaken in a coordinated fashion at all levels of government with state expertise being fully utilized. Such planning must be in cooperation and consultation with the private sector and...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry  

Western Governors urge Congress and the President to act decisively to create a national policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Such a policy should be developed in a manner that: (1) is consistent with the findings of scientific research; (2) encourages job growth,...
Sector(s):

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

In June, 2010, the Governors adopted a policy resolution that committed their state agencies to complete their decisionsupport systems within three years. Through the Wildlife Council, established in 2008, each participating state is coordinating its wildlife data with...
Sector(s):

Wildlife/Forestry  

Water   Agriculture   Wildlife/Forestry   Energy  

Climate Change: pp 10, 35, 36, 38, 39 and 52.

Energy  

Climate Change: pp 18

Energy