Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template

Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Version 1.0 March 2011 Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template Using the ITEP Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) designed this template to assist tribal governments draft a climate change adaptation plan The template is intended to be used for organizing and presenting information but is not meant to create a “one-size-fits-all” plan Each tribe will have unique needs and approaches to planning for climate change and may want to modify this template It is assumed that the tribe has already gone through the climate change planning process and is now ready to write the plan Before using this template and writing the adaptation plan, you should have: • Received the tribal council’s support of this climate change planning effort This might be in the form of a tribal proclamation, resolution or declaration • Created a climate change planning team that is leading this planning effort • Engaged the tribal community in the planning process • Conducted a climate change impact assessment • Conducted a climate change vulnerability and risk assessment • Identified and evaluated goals and actions to prepare for climate change impacts As you write the plan, keep in mind: The plan should be clear and concise It should be easy to read and understandable by tribal council members, tribal government staff, and community members The length of the plan may vary depending on the needs, resources, etc of the tribe The plan might focus on just a few key planning areas, or it may be much more comprehensive You should get the tribal council’s approval of the final plan before implementing the proposed actions Guidelines and Suggestions The YELLOW boxes of this template provide Guidelines and Suggestions for writing the plan The BLUE boxes provide Key Terms and Additional Resources that may be helpful and pertinent to the section You should DELETE these boxes when you generate the final version of your plan The [bracketed, red] text indicates places where you should enter text or other information You may, of course, modify, delete or add to any provided text as appropriate If you haven’t started the planning process: A number of guidebooks and tools have been developed by different organizations and agencies that provide frameworks for planning and guidance for the adaptation planning process A guidebook that we have found easy to understand is Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments, written by the Climate Impacts Group and King County, WA The guidebook provides a framework for adaptation planning and outlines and explains the steps to follow You may want to modify the process to meet the objectives and needs of your project Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments Climate Impacts Group and King County, WA, September 2007 http://cses.washington.edu/cig/fpt/guidebook.shtml National Wildlife Federation’s Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is designed to help conservation professionals and natural resource managers craft effective strategies to prepare for the impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, and natural habitats The guide provides an overview of the general principles of climate change vulnerability as it relates to species, habitats, and ecosystems; a description of the scientific methods currently available for assessing vulnerability and its components, and for tailoring these approaches to particular situations and needs; and examples of vulnerability assessments carried out by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment National Wildlife Federation, January 2011 www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/News-by-Topic/Wildlife/2011/01-1119-Vulnerability-Assessment-Guide-Helps-Natural-Resource-Managers.aspx We recommend that you review different guidebooks and tools before embarking on a climate change planning project with your tribe There are similarities and differences, and you may find a different guidebook that is a better fit for your tribe See Additional Resources below for websites that provide links to other guidebooks and planning resources Acknowledgements ITEP gives special thanks to the people who reviewed drafts of this template and provided valuable feedback and suggestions, including Lara Whitely Binder of the Climate Impacts Group, Center for Science in the Earth System, University of Washington; Kathy Lynn of the University of Oregon Environmental Studies Program; Steve Crawford, Environmental Director for the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point; Ed Knight, Senior Planner for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community; and Bill Perkins, Climate Change Analyst with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency; among others The development of this template was made possible through financial support from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency Feedback We encourage users of this template to provide feedback to ITEP We want to make this template as useful to tribes as possible and welcome suggestions for improvements Please send comments and suggestions to: Sue Wotkyns Climate Change Program Manager Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Northern Arizona University Email: Susan.Wotkyns@nau.edu Phone: 928-523-1488 ITEP website: www4.nau.edu/itep/index.asp License and Copyright By requesting these materials, you have in essence requested a non-exclusive, nontransferrable license to use the materials solely for the purpose(s) intended by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals at Northern Arizona University, and that all materials so received are and remain the intellectual property of the Arizona Board of Regents Copyright 2011, Arizona Board of Regents These materials were created through funding from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency under Assistance Agreements No T-83243801 and XA83487701 It has not been formally reviewed by EPA The views expressed in this document are solely of the grantee and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication Additional Resources Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments Climate Impacts Group and King County, WA, September 2007 We recommend that you use this as a framework to guide you through the climate change adaptation planning process http://cses.washington.edu/cig/fpt/guidebook.shtml Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment National Wildlife Federation, January 2011 This guidebook provides an overview of the general principles of climate change vulnerability as it relates to species, habitats, and ecosystems; a description of the scientific methods currently available for assessing vulnerability and its components, and for tailoring these approaches to particular situations and needs; and examples of vulnerability assessments carried out by government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/News-by-Topic/Wildlife/2011/01-11-19Vulnerability-Assessment-Guide-Helps-Natural-Resource-Managers.aspx Swinomish Tribe’s Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Plan We recommend that you review the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s climate change impacts assessment and adaptation plan for examples as you write your plan www.swinomish-nsn.gov/climate_change/climate_main.html City of Keene, NH, Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan The community of Keene, NH, developed a climate change adaptation action plan, as well as a greenhouse gas inventory and a climate change action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions The adaptation plan describes the planning process they followed and can be used as an example www.ci.keene.nh.us/sustainability/climate-change CASES Database and Adaptation Library (Climate Impacts Group, Univ of Washington) The CASES (Climate Adaptation caSE Studies) database was created to support climate change adaptation efforts at the state, regional, and local level CASES is a user-driven, searchable database that provides basic information on state and local level adaptation planning efforts The CASES Adaptation Library was created to provide more general information on planning for climate change The library provides links to a variety of reports, studies, and other general information on adaptation planning that are not specific to any one community http://cses.washington.edu/cig/cases Several examples of communities engaged in adaptation planning, from the CASES Database, are: • Kimberley, B.C., Canada: Adapting to Climate Change in Kimberley, BC: Report and Recommendations, June 2009 • Elkford, B.C., Canada: District of Elkford Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Additional Resources (continued) CAKE – Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange Case Study Database provides numerous case studies of governments and organizations engaged in adaptation planning www.cakex.org/ ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability USA ICLEI created a Climate Resilient Communities Program to assist local governments in planning for climate change The website provides a variety of resources, including case studies, factsheets, guidebooks, toolkits, reports and studies on adaptation, as well as an online adaptation planning tool that will guide you through the planning process (available to ICLEI members; membership fee is on a sliding scale based on population size) www.icleiusa.org/adaptation/ Tribes & Climate Change website The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) developed this website as resource for tribes on climate change issues The website provides links to many more resources on climate change adaptation and adaptation planning as well as profiles of tribes engaged in adaptation planning www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/index.asp Tribal Climate Change Newsletter This monthly electronic newsletter provided by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) includes news items, resources, announcements about funding opportunities and upcoming events, and other information relevant to tribal climate change issues, including climate change adaptation planning Send an email to Susan.Wotkyns@nau.edu to be added to the distribution list [Insert Tribe’s name] [Insert Tribe’s logo] Climate Change Adaptation Plan [Insert month and year] Tribal Council Commitment Guidelines and Suggestions This section should be a statement of the tribal council’s approval and support of this climate change adaptation plan It should be clear and concise and highlight the plan’s relevance to the tribe and the importance of implementing the actions outlined in the plan The statement should include how the plan will be used, and it should give the tribal council’s commitment that planning for climate change will be an ongoing process If the tribal council passed declarations, proclamations or resolutions in support of the climate change initiative and this adaptation plan, you might include these here or in the Appendix [Insert text] Additional Resources EXAMPLE proclamation in support of a climate change initiative: Proclamation of the Swinomish Indian Senate on a Swinomish Climate Change Initiative www.swinomish-nsn.gov/climate_change/Docs/Swinomish%20Climate%20Change %20Proclamation.pdf Table of Contents Guidelines and Suggestions Create the Table of Contents AFTER you have written the plan You can generate a Table of Content using your word processing program Delete the example Table of Contents below The following directions are for Microsoft Word 2007 The program will create the Table of Contents and include items based on the style of heading used The sections of the plan template are in style Heading and the subsections are in style Heading 1) Position cursor where you want to have the Table of Contents 2) In References tab, click on “Table of Contents.” 3) Click on “Insert Table of Contents.” 4) Click on “Options.” 5) Check marks should be next to Heading and Heading 6) Make Heading TOC Level =1 7) Make Heading TOC Level = 8) Heading should have no TOC level and should not be checked 9) Click OK, and OK again in next box 10) The Table of Contents should appear [delete example Table of Contents below; insert Table of Contents following directions for your word processing program.] Tribal Council Commitment Table of Contents Acknowledgments 11 List of Figures .12 List of Tables 13 Executive Summary 14 Key Terms .16 Introduction .18 1.1 General Characteristics and History of the [insert Tribe’s name] 18 1.2 Why [insert Tribe’s name] is Planning for Climate Change 19 Climate Impacts .21 2.1 Climate Impacts in [insert geographic region where tribe is located, such as the Southwest] .21 2.2 Climate Change Impacts on Tribe 22 Vulnerability and Risk .24 Recommended Goals and Actions 25 Implementation of Plan 26 References 27 Appendices 29 Climate Impacts by Region—EXAMPLE write-ups for Regional Impacts section of plan 30 10 Climate Impacts by Region—EXAMPLE write-ups for Regional Impacts section of plan Guidelines and Suggestions We have provided text that you may want to insert and/or modify for the regional “Climate Impacts in…” section of your adaptation plan Find the write-up for your region below and copy and paste it into the “Climate Impacts in…” section of the plan After you have copied and pasted the text for your region, delete these example write-ups We have provided sections on: • Alaska • Great Plains • Midwest • Northeast • Northwest • Southeast • Southwest The information for these regional write-ups comes mostly from the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States report: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts References listed at the end of the regional write-up that you are using should be entered as sources and included in your list of References (see References section of this template) 30 Climate Change Impacts in Alaska Alaska is the largest state in the United States with a land area of more than 570,000 square miles It is the home to 229 federally recognized Alaska Native tribes, many of which partially rely on the state’s natural resources for their continued existence According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the state encompasses 12 major rivers and important mountain ranges, and 2/3 of the landmass contains permafrost The state consists of a variety of different climates and ecosystems ranging from the coastal rainforests of southeastern Alaska to the desert-like tundra above the Arctic Circle Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale Alaska has been warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the continental United States over the last 50 years (Karl et al., 2009), and this change is impacting all environments, and consequently all living organisms The relatively rapid changes in the northern regions of the world are particularly disconcerting for the rural population of Alaska who continues to depend on the land for its nutritional, cultural and economic livelihoods For the state’s residents, adaptation is not a concept for future survival; for many Alaskan Native villages it is an immediate need Alaska has already experienced many climate-related changes including earlier spring snow melt, a decrease in sea ice, thawing permafrost, glacier retreat, changes in precipitation levels, and an increase in drought and wild fires (Karl et al., 2009) The annual average temperature has increased by 3.4°F, while winter temperatures have increased by 6.3°F during the last half century The snow-free season lengthened by an average of 10 days throughout the state between 1970 and 2000; this continues to impact Alaska’s soil moisture and consequently vegetation that is not accustomed to drought-like conditions Rising temperatures are creating a more hospitable habitat for spruce beetles resulting in a severe infestation in the south-central portion of Alaska; there has also been an increase in catastrophic wildfires throughout the state due to the warmer and drier conditions Additionally Alaska is beginning to witness a thaw in permafrost which is affecting not only human-made infrastructure, but also forest health and lake area in wetland ecosystems (Karl et al., 2009) Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to increase anywhere between 5°F and 13°F by the end of the century, depending on different emission scenarios These increasing temperatures are expected to have major consequences on the different ecosystems in Alaska This includes the warming of sea surface temperatures, further reductions in sea ice (impacting not only marine mammals but also eliminating a natural buffer to coastal 31 storms), increased coastal erosion and flooding, an increase in catastrophic wildfires (models suggest that the yearly average area that burns may double by the middle of the century), and the warming and thawing of permafrost (Karl et al., 2009) The changes that are already occurring in Alaska, and that will continue to occur, have the potential to alter the landscape considerably and may have immeasurable implications for Alaska’s plants, animals and people References: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts U.S Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs website accessed on January 20, 2011 at: www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/Alaska/index.htm U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 20, 2011 at: http://alaska.fws.gov/climate/index.htm 32 Climate Change Impacts in the Great Plains The Great Plains of the continental United States is the region west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains and is home to 65 Native American tribes The area encompasses five full states and five partial states that stretch from the most northwestern state of Montana to the most southeastern state of Texas This region of the United States is characterized by dry winters and wet summers and includes strong seasonal climatic variations Seventy percent of the land mass in the Great Plains is utilized for agriculture, rangeland, and cropland; thus the area has a particular sensitivity to future climate change impacts Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale The Great Plains region is no exception Changes, including a warming climate most drastic during the winter months and in the northern regions, are impacting all environments and consequently all living organisms The Great Plains region has already observed climate-related changes including an average temperature increase of 1.5°F relative to a 1960s to 1970s baseline The average temperature increase has included greater changes in the winter and summer seasons with less frequent relatively cold days and more frequent relatively hot days Moreover, most of this area has seen an increase in precipitation levels, yet due to population growth factors (including irrigation practices) aquifer water levels have decreased considerably since 1950; trends such as increasing evaporation rates from a warming climate in this area will only add stress to the region’s water supply (Karl et al., 2009) Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to rise throughout this century with larger increases in the summer in the southern and central Great Plains Further projected changes include wetter conditions in the north and drier conditions in the south It is not anticipated that increased precipitation levels will preserve water availability in this area; higher temperatures that increase evaporation rates and the continuous depletion of the aquifer level both contribute towards the persistent depletion of this region’s water supply Additional climate change impacts projected for this region include heat waves, droughts, increasing numbers and earlier emergence of insects, an increase in invasive species, a loss of native species, and habitat fragmentation for different prairie wetland species (Karl et al., 2009) The temperature increase that has already occurred, and that will continue to occur, has the potential to alter the landscape and may have immeasurable implications not only for 33 agriculture, ranching and the economy in this region, but also for many plants, animals and people in the Great Plains References: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts 34 Climate Change Impacts in the Midwest The Midwest of the continental United States consists of eight states that stretch from the most northwestern state of Minnesota, south to Missouri and east to Ohio; the region is home to approximately 35 different tribal governments and reservations This area of the United States has a relatively flat topography, eroded by glaciers during the last Ice Age The winter months can be extremely cold, and the summer months are generally hot and humid and are the rainiest season Weather conditions fluctuate tremendously throughout the year in this region; it is not uncommon for this area to experience sudden shifts in weather conditions that can include large daily temperature ranges and unpredictable precipitation patterns (Hayhoe et al., 2009) This section of the United States is home to the Great Lakes, the largest group of fresh water lakes on Earth that, according to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, holds 95% of the country’s surface fresh water Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale The average temperatures of the Midwest have been increasing in recent decades with the largest increases occurring in winter, lengthening the regional growing season by one week These changes, along with precipitation levels and heat waves, are impacting Midwestern ecosystems and consequently all living organisms (Karl et al., 2009) The summer and winter precipitation levels in the Midwest have increased during the last 30 years, resulting in flooding events that continually cause damage to infrastructure in the region Further changes have included more frequent heat waves and a decrease in lake ice (Karl et al., 2009) The changes that are occurring, and that are projected to occur, have the potential to significantly alter life in the Midwest Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), average temperatures are projected to continue to rise The rising temperatures are expected to have a significant impact on the Great Lakes, including receding water levels caused by an increase of evaporation, a decrease in lake ice, and lake stratification affecting oxygen levels which in turn can negatively impact the area’s freshwater species In addition, the projected warmer temperatures are expected to create more severe, frequent, and longer lasting heat waves in the region which may also adversely affect air quality It is predicted that droughts will occur more often in the summertime and an increase in the winter and springtime precipitation levels may result in more frequent flooding events Further projected changes from warming temperatures include an increase in disease-carrying insect populations 35 (such as ticks and mosquitoes), an increase in waterborne diseases, a more hospitable environment for pests and weeds, as well as migrating species competing with native species of plants and animals (Karl et al., 2009) The changes that have already occurred in the Midwest, and that will continue to occur, have the potential to alter the region considerably and may have immeasurable implications not only for the regional and national economy, but also for many plants, animals and people in the Midwest References: Hayhoe, K., VanDorn, J., Naik, V., Wuebbles, D (2009) Climate change in the Midwest: projections of future temperature and precipitation A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists: Cambridge, MA www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/climate-change-midwest.html Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts U.S Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs website accessed on January 20, 2011 at: www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/Midwest/index.htm U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 10, 2011 at: www.fws.gov/glri/ 36 Climate Change Impacts in the Northeast The northeastern portion of the continental United States consists of eleven eastern states that stretch from the most northeastern state of Maine and south to Maryland, from Pennsylvania and east to the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to 18 federally recognized tribes This area of the country is the most densely populated area in the United States and is known for its extreme climatic variability According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, this area houses several key habitats and ecosystems from Atlantic northern forest and Appalachian Mountains to freshwater and salt marshes to coastal islands Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale The Northeast is beginning to witness changes that are impacting all environments, and consequently all living organisms The Northeast has already observed climate-related changes on a broad spectrum In general, the temperature in this region has increased by 2°F since 1970, with winter months having seen a even greater increase in temperatures (Karl et al., 2009) Temperature changes are having an effect on all aspects of life in the Northeast, and sea-surface temperatures and sea level are rising According to Frumhoff et al (2007), summer variability is beginning to include more frequent days with temperatures above 90°F, and the growing season is lengthening Winter changes include less precipitation falling as snow and more as rain, a reduced snowpack, and increased snow density Spring is seeing an earlier breakup of winter ice on lakes and rivers and an earlier spring snowmelt that is ultimately resulting in earlier peak river flows Living organisms in the Northeast are beginning to adjust to these changes It has been observed that plants are experiencing earlier first-leaf and first-bloom dates, while the migration dates for Atlantic salmon and the mating season for frogs are shifting (Frumhoff et al., 2007) Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to rise anywhere between 2.5°F to 4°F in winter and 1.5°F to 3.5°F in the summer Further projected changes include shorter winters with fewer cold days and more precipitation, a shorter snow season, more summer days with temperatures above 100°F, short-term drought in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains as well as in the New England states, extended hot summer conditions (arriving earlier in the spring and lasting later into the fall), and sea level rise The significant temperature increase that has already occurred in the Northeast, and that will continue to occur, has the potential to alter the landscape considerably and may have immeasurable implications not only for the economy, but also for many plants, animals and people in the Northeast 37 References: Frumhoff, P C., McCarthy, J J., Melillo, J M., Moser, S C., and Wuebbles, D J (2007) Confronting Climate Change in the U.S Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions Synthesis report of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) www.northeastclimateimpacts.org/ Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts National Conference of State Legislatures website accessed on January 19, 2011 at: http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13278#ca U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 5, 2011 at: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/nereg.html 38 Climate Change Impacts in the Northwest The northwestern region of the continental United States consists of the Pacific states of Washington and Oregon and also includes Idaho and a portion of Montana; according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs this area is home to roughly 45 Native American tribes This region of the country is an ecologically diverse area that contains ecosystems from old-growth rainforests in the Cascade mountain range to the arid shrub-steppe habitat of southern Idaho (U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website, 2011) Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale The growing population of the Northwest is beginning to witness profound changes that are impacting forest, mountain, river and coastline environments and consequently all living organisms (Karl et al., 2009) The Northwest has already observed climate-related changes including an average increase in temperature of 1.5°F over the past century (Karl et al., 2009); however, some areas have witnessed as much as a 4°F temperature increase Warmer temperatures experienced during the winter months have been contributing to earlier snowmelt; in turn, this is affecting the region’s water supply during the summer season Earlier snowmelt has been impacting streamflow, increasing runoff in the winter and early spring and decreasing it in the late spring, summer and fall Over the past 50 years, runoff has begun to shift between and days earlier in some places to as much as 25 to 30 days earlier in other places Stream flow timing is extremely important for the already declining populations of salmon in the Northwest; earlier runoff from a warming climate can contribute to the devastation of incubating eggs and the premature migration of young salmon to estuaries Furthermore, warming water temperatures are known to stress salmon who favor colder temperatures while also creating a more hospitable habitat for disease and parasites The warming temperatures are affecting not only water resources, but also northwestern forests, which are beginning to have an increased risk of wildfire (Karl et al., 2009) Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to increase anywhere between 3°F to 10°F during this century (depending on different emission scenarios) It is expected that snowpack in the Cascades might decline by as much as 40% by the 2040s, further impacting stream discharge that could potentially shift runoff between 20 and 40 days earlier by the end of this century Water storage for the Columbia Basin is highly dependent on current winter snowpack in addition to stream flow; the decrease in snowpack would affect not only water available for human use, but also the region’s hydropower operations Models suggest winter precipitation will increase and summer precipitation will decrease in the future; heavier 39 winter rainfall could increase the number of landslides in the Northwest and also cause more winter flooding Furthermore, it is projected that the wildfire risk in this area will increase due to warmer temperatures that contribute to lower humidity levels as well as more favorable conditions for the mountain pine beetle and other insect infestations Other climate change impacts on forests include the migration of species to new environments; it is speculated that this may ultimately cause a loss of biodiversity as a result of species extinction The coastal areas of the region may also be impacted by climate change; increased erosion and the loss of beaches are expected as a result of sea level rise It is estimated that the sea level in this area of the country may increase anywhere between 13 and 50 inches by 2100 (Karl et al., 2009) The changes that are already occurring in the Northwest, and that will continue to occur, have the potential to alter the region’s water supply considerably and may have immeasurable implications not only for municipalities and industries, agricultural irrigation, hydropower production, navigation, and recreation, but also for many plants, animals and people in the Northwest (Karl et al., 2009) References: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts U.S Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs accessed on January 19, 2011 at: www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/index.htm U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 18, 2011 at: www.fws.gov/pacific/aboutus/ 40 Climate Change Impacts in the Southeast The southeastern portion of the continental United States consists of thirteen eastern and southern states that stretch from the most southern state of Florida, to West Virginia in the north, east to the Atlantic Ocean, and west to Arkansas and the Gulf Coast portion of Texas The Southeast is home to 10 federally recognized tribes This area of the country is rich in biodiversity and is, on average, warm and wet with mild and humid winters According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, this area contains a variety of different ecosystems ranging from coastal marshes, wetlands, and coral reefs to the Appalachian and Ozark Mountain environments Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale One apparent impact of climate change in the Southeast is the droughts that have been occurring in the area Water is a basic necessity for living organisms and the lack of it is having extreme consequences to life in the Southeast Furthermore, Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms are weather events of concern The destructive power that is released through these storms has increased since the 1970s and has been correlated to an increase in sea surface temperature (Karl et al., 2009) The Southeast has observed climate-related changes in the form of increased temperatures and precipitation, rising sea level and a higher severity of storms due to increased sea surface temperatures The climate in this region has increased by 2°F since 1970, with winter months seeing greater increases than the other seasons (Karl et al., 2009) Furthermore, fall precipitation levels have increased by 30% (with the exception of southern Florida where precipitation has decreased); correspondingly there has been an increase in heavy downpours in many parts of the region In spite of fall precipitation levels, the Southeast has continued to experience an increase of moderate to severe spring and summer droughts in the last three decades All of these changes will begin to have an adverse affect on the natural world, thereby impacting the social and economic wellbeing of the region’s residents Continued warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today Although past and current observed temperature increases have been largest during winter months, the projected temperature increases are expected to be greatest during summer months with ‘very hot days’ increasing at a greater rate than the average temperature; however, temperatures are expected to increase throughout all seasons According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to rise anywhere between 4.5°F to 9°F by the 2080s 41 depending on different emission scenarios As a result of the continued warming, it is projected that droughts will increase in frequency, duration and intensity in the South Further projections indicate that southern Florida will witness less rainfall in the spring and summer seasons through the century, while the Gulf Coast states will see less rainfall in the winter and spring The exception to less rainfall would be during Atlantic hurricanes when the intensity of storms would increase not only rainfall intensity but also storm surge height and strength, and peak wind speeds Furthermore, coastal inundation and shoreline retreat is expected to increase as sea-level rise continues (Karl et al., 2009) Changes that are occurring in the Southeast have the potential to result in a range of problems such as an increased number of heat-related illnesses, declines in forest growth and agricultural crop production (a consequence of the combination of heat stress and declining soil moisture), livestock decline, infrastructure problems, and declines in aquatic species diversity References: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts National Conference of State Legislatures website accessed on January 20, 2011 at: http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13278#ca U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 7, 2011 at: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/director/ 42 Climate Change Impacts in the Southwest The southwestern portion of the continental United States consists of states from the Pacific Ocean to the southern Rocky Mountains, including California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona, and portions of Colorado and New Mexico The Southwest is home to approximately 172 federally recognized tribes This area has an enormous range of landscapes from some of the highest elevations in the country to the lowest, and from some of the wettest climates to the driest (Karl et al., 2009) According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, this region is rich in biodiversity and includes ecosystems that range from the Sonoran and High Country Desert to Pacific coast wetlands and estuaries Climate change caused from greenhouse gas emissions is having an impact on a global to local scale The Southwest is witnessing rapidly warming temperatures, and these changes are impacting all environments, and consequently all living organisms The warming climate and changes in the Southwest’s water cycle are leading to a trend of water scarcity Water supply in the Southwest is of grave concern not only because of controversies surrounding water policy, but also because this area has the most rapidly growing population in the country, which is increasing the demand for the already limited resource The Southwest has had an average temperature increase of 1.5°F from a 1960-1979 baseline Furthermore, spring snowpack and Colorado River flow has been declining The reductions in spring snowpack and soil moisture combined with warming temperatures are exacerbating the severity of droughts and wildfires in this region Further observed changes include the increase of invasive exotic plant species and higher variability in winter precipitation (Karl et al., 2009) Continued future warming in this region is inevitable, even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today According to Karl et al (2009), temperatures are projected to increase anywhere from 4°F to 10°F above the historic baseline before the end of the century, depending on the emission scenario The most pronounced increases are expected to occur during the summer months These increasing temperatures are expected to have major impacts on the different ecosystems of the Southwest For instance, some forests in the area are expected to begin migrating northward and into higher elevations displacing other plant and animal species; however, the ecosystems that are at the highest elevations not have any place to migrate, thus potentially resulting in extinction Alpine forests and tundra in the Southwest are projected to decline between 60% to 90% before the end of the century Other projected changes include a greater risk of flooding due to higher variability in precipitation, an increase in invasive plant species and more severe droughts (Karl et al., 2009) 43 The changes that are already occurring in the Southwest, and that will continue to occur, have the potential to alter the landscape considerably and may have immeasurable implications by threatening biodiversity, protected areas, ranching and agricultural lands and by improving conditions for invasive species, pests, catastrophic wildfires and drought conditions These anticipated climate change impacts, coupled with human-caused fragmentation of the landscape due to an ever increasing human population, have the potential to affect many plants, animals and people in the Southwest References: Karl, T R., Melillo, J M., & Peterson, T (2009) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States New York, NY: Cambridge University Press www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts National Conference of State Legislatures website accessed on January 19, 2011 at: www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13278#ca U.S Fish and Wildlife Service website accessed on January 12, 2011 at: www.fws.gov/cno/ 44 .. .Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template Using the ITEP Tribal Climate Change Adaptation Plan Template The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) designed this template. .. resources on climate change adaptation and adaptation planning as well as profiles of tribes engaged in adaptation planning www4.nau.edu/tribalclimatechange/index.asp Tribal Climate Change Newsletter... plan www.swinomish-nsn.gov /climate_ change /climate_ main.html City of Keene, NH, Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan The community of Keene, NH, developed a climate change adaptation action plan,