January to April 2026 Edition
Session 4: From Drought to Deluge
Guillaume Mauger, Julie Padowski, Greg McLaughlin, and John Chandler
Session 4 focused on how climate change is altering water availability in the Pacific Northwest and how agencies and researchers are assessing future conditions. Presentations highlighted recent trends, climate projections, and tools being used to support planning and adaptation across watersheds and infrastructure systems.
Guillaume Mauger summarized observed and projected climate impacts on water availability, including declining snowpack, changing precipitation patterns, and increased variability in seasonal water supply. He also reviewed available resources that support agencies and practitioners in using and interpreting climate data for water planning.
Julie Padowski presented research on projected water supply and demand vulnerabilities across the Columbia River Basin. Using an integrated modeling framework developed with the Washington Department of Ecology, her team assessed future surface water supply, groundwater trends, agricultural and residential demand, and instream flow limitations through 2040 to support basin‑wide planning.
Greg McLaughlin provided an overview of the legal basis for environmental flows in Washington and ongoing efforts to restore streamflows through voluntary transactions and related projects. He described how changing climate conditions are creating new challenges for maintaining instream flows and how practitioners are adapting their approaches to support ecological needs.
John Chandler concluded the session with a discussion of hydrologic changes observed at the Baker Project and the operational adjustments made in response. He also highlighted broader water management challenges in the state and the tradeoffs involved in balancing multiple water management objectives.
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