Warmer weather is affecting our local water supplies. And the University of Washington is responding with research to predict and minimize the impacts of regional droughts.

Droughts may no longer be the devastating natural disasters that they are today. At the University of Washington , researchers are working to better understand the relationship between droughts and climate, and develop ways for communities to deal with drought conditions.

The Water Center, an interdisciplinary center for water research, education and outreach at the UW, projects that climate changes in the Pacific Northwest will have significant implications for the region’s water resources. Warmer winter temperatures would lead to less winter snow accumulation and lower summer streamflows for the Pacific Northwest ’s snow-dependent rivers. Substantial reductions would negatively affect municipal water systems, the fish population, tourism, farmers who rely on irrigation, and hydropower producers and users.

Most Costly Natural Disaster
Droughts are already the country’s most costly natural disaster, with average annual losses averaging $6 billion to $8 billion a year. Researchers at the UW believe that harnessing climate forecasts to prepare for drought conditions could lead to savings of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The UW’s Climate Impacts Group has projected that annual temperatures are likely to rise by 3 degrees by 2030. Researchers with the group forecast a 59 percent reduction in Oregon and Washington snow pack by 2050.

University of Washington professor Anne C. Steinemann, director of The Water Center, says that advance warning about climate changes can help water managers answer a number of questions that could help them conserve both water and money, such as: Should we pay farmers not to irrigate their crops this year? Should we plan for higher agricultural and residential demands this summer? As part of its mission, The Water Center communicates scientific information to the public to improve understanding of water. The center’s studies have helped the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Environmental Protection Agency establish temperature and habitat criteria for water quality standards across the Pacific Northwest .

Studies Explore Climate Change Impacts
Researchers at the UW also have conducted studies with a number of municipalities, including Seattle and Portland, Ore., to determine the potential effects of climate change on water supply . Seattle Public Utilities is working with researchers from the UW’s Department of Civil Engineering and Climate Impacts Group to explore the potential impacts of climate change on Seattle’s Cedar and Tolt River water supplies.

The University of Washington’s innovative research and collaborations make it a leader in the study of climate change and its effect on water supply, an issue that affects all people and will become increasingly important as we continue to observe and monitor the potential affects of global warming.

More about UW Center for Water and Watershed Studies

Support This Work ...

Return to Economy or Environment