DWR Signs Agreement With NOAA for Climate Research

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Programs Office have signed a memorandum of agreement to establish a process for coordination of climate research applicable to water management. Improving the understanding of climate variability and change is vital to management of California’s water resources.

NOAA will be represented in the work through centers established under its Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program — the California Applications Program (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Western Water Assessment (University of Colorado), and Climate Assessment for the Southwest (University of Arizona). The RISA program is designed to support integrated research among the physical, natural, and social sciences to analyze how climate science, forecasts, and impacts can be used to improve resource management and public policy decisions.

Subjects anticipated to be included in the research workplan include paleoclimate analysis of drought, climate and runoff forecasting, assessment of climate change impacts on flood risks, use of remote sensing technologies, and climate vulnerability assessment. Focused climate research in areas such as these is part of the Department’s strategy for adapting to climate change.

To learn more about water management adaptation to climate change, plan on attending the Climate Change Water Adaptation Summit being sponsored by DWR and the Water Education Foundation on October 3rd in Santa Monica. More information on the summit can be found at http://www.water-ed.org/events.asp?date=10%2F01%2F2007.

The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.