Floodplains By Design: Technical Guidance and Resources for the Integration of Climate Information in Floodplain Management
Presentation Abstract
Decision-relevant climate science is critical to increasing the efficacy of climate-resilient floodplain management. While there is currently a plethora of climate science resources for the Puget Sound region, not all data sources are useful, usable, or actionable by floodplain practitioners and decision-making entities. In addition, many potential users of climate science lack the technical expertise, and clarity to interpret existing data and operationalize this into their current planning and management practices. This is a significant barrier for the inclusion of climate change in current integrated floodplain management. This talk will present two resources that aim to help the navigation and usage of the plethora of climate information for floodplain managers on the Snohomish and Stillaguamish watersheds: a document on technical guidance for quantifying climate sensitivity and exposure, and an online repository of current, relevant climate impacts information. The technical guidance document provides recommendations on the usage of observational, global climate model, and “downscaled” climate model data for quantifying a region’s sensitivity and exposure to climate change, and the circumstances in which each type of data are effective. The easily navigable online repository centralizes relevant studies and reports that are relevant to floodplain practitioners and decision-making entities in the region, making them easier to locate and use. Rather than restructuring ongoing integrated floodplain management processes, the resources presented here are meant to complement them as part of a series of foundational documents that frame ongoing collaborative discussion around identifying climate resilience and capacity-building needs for adaptive floodplain management on the Snohomish and Stillaguamish watersheds.
Session Title
Integrating Climate Science into Flood Plain Management
Conference Track
SSE8: Climate Change
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-338
Start Date
27-4-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Floodplain management--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Watershed management--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Floodplains By Design: Technical Guidance and Resources for the Integration of Climate Information in Floodplain Management
Decision-relevant climate science is critical to increasing the efficacy of climate-resilient floodplain management. While there is currently a plethora of climate science resources for the Puget Sound region, not all data sources are useful, usable, or actionable by floodplain practitioners and decision-making entities. In addition, many potential users of climate science lack the technical expertise, and clarity to interpret existing data and operationalize this into their current planning and management practices. This is a significant barrier for the inclusion of climate change in current integrated floodplain management. This talk will present two resources that aim to help the navigation and usage of the plethora of climate information for floodplain managers on the Snohomish and Stillaguamish watersheds: a document on technical guidance for quantifying climate sensitivity and exposure, and an online repository of current, relevant climate impacts information. The technical guidance document provides recommendations on the usage of observational, global climate model, and “downscaled” climate model data for quantifying a region’s sensitivity and exposure to climate change, and the circumstances in which each type of data are effective. The easily navigable online repository centralizes relevant studies and reports that are relevant to floodplain practitioners and decision-making entities in the region, making them easier to locate and use. Rather than restructuring ongoing integrated floodplain management processes, the resources presented here are meant to complement them as part of a series of foundational documents that frame ongoing collaborative discussion around identifying climate resilience and capacity-building needs for adaptive floodplain management on the Snohomish and Stillaguamish watersheds.
