CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLANNING:
A UTILITY PERSPECTIVE
January 21, 2015 Watershed Summit
Laurna Kaatz - Climate Scientist, Denver Water
Grand Junction
Aspen
Arkansas River
South Platte River.
Yampa River
Rio Grande
Gunnison River
Colorado River
Continental Divide
South PlatteWatershed
Colorado River Watersheds
Continental Divide
Denver
Transbasin Diversions
2 2
1 ° 2 ° 3 ° 4 ° 5 ° 6 ° 7 ° 8 ° 9 ° 10 °-20 %
-10 %
%
10 %
20 %
30 %
20402070
Temperature Change (Fahrenheit)
Pre
cip
itati
on
Ch
an
ge (
%)
0
3
Projected Changes for North Central Colorado
Climate Adaptation Challenges
• What information should we use?
• How do we use it?
– Conversion tools
– Simple vs sophisticated
– Probabilities or scenarios
– What do we plan for
– Trade-offs
• New science
• Messaging
Denver Water’s Simple Assessments
6
2° F 5° FColorado South
PlatteColorado South
PlatteAdditional precipitation needed to offset warming
5% 5% 8% 12%
5° F% Change
Yield -22%Demand 7%
Water Planning Challenges
7
Colorado River Compact Call
Population Growth
Endangered Species
Climate Change
Drought
Water Quality
Planning Futures
• Traditional future - The future is extrapolated from past trends.
• Water quality rules - Contaminant removal and other drinking water requirements are extremely stringent.
• Hot water - A warmer climate accompanied by more frequent and more severe droughts.
• Economic woes - An ongoing energy crisis and deep economic downturn.
• Green revolution - Environmental values and sustainable living become dominant social norms.
Conclusions
• Increase system reliability, diversity and flexibility
• Plan for multiple futures
• Identify and preserve options
11
Four Adaptation Steps
• Understand climate science and model projections capabilities and limitations
• Assess water system vulnerabilities to potential change
• Plan to incorporate climate change uncertainty into water utility planning
• Implement adaptation strategies
Water Utility Climate AllianceSeattle
Public Utilities (Chair)
San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission
Metropolitan Water District
of So. CaliforniaSan Diego
County Water Authority
Southern NevadaWater Authority
Denver Water
Portland Water Bureau
Tampa Bay Water (Vice Chair)
Central Arizona Project
The Water Utility Climate Alliances provides leadership in assessing and adapting to the potential effects of climate change through collaborative action. We seek to enhance the usefulness of climate science for the adaptation
community and improve water management decision-making in the face of climate uncertainty.
New York Department of Environmental Protection