Federal Agencies Publish Updated Plan on Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate
The Federal Interagency Water Resources and Climate Change Workgroup (Workgroup) has published its updated National Action Plan (NAP) entitled, “Looking Forward: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate“. The NAP was originally published in 2011 as a product of the Workgroup. In this report, the participating Federal agencies reaffirm the importance of continuing to improve the nation’s resilience to extreme weather events and other climate impacts for managing freshwater resources. The report focuses on three areas and includes the following priority action recommendations:
Data and Research:
- Sustain and expand existing monitoring networks and data collection on hydrologic and meteorological conditions and water demand.
- Modernize statistical analyses of observational data sets so that climate changes that have already occurred are recognized in water resources decision-making.
- Improve reliability and accessibility of water-related projections of future conditions.
- Enhance water supply and reduce water use through innovative technologies
Planning and Decision Support:
- Advance regional coordination among Federal water resource management agencies to support climate change adaptation and resilience efforts.
- Develop guidance and provide assistance to communities and water resource managers on use of climate change information and tools for assessing vulnerability and facility resilience.
Training and Outreach:
- Increase involvement in the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit Water Theme.
- Sustain and build upon the existing Professional Development Series for Water Resource Professionals on Climate Change Principles and Practices.
- Engage State Water Resource Research Institutes on Building Climate Resilience.
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