Abstract: To effectively plan for the future, water planners and managers want their decisions to be based on the best available information which adequately evaluates vulnerabilities and risks posed by both our natural and human systems. This requires careful consideration of how to effectively move research into applications, recognizing the importance, and complementary capacities, of both the research and applications communities. Too often, however, there is a lack of two-way dialogue between the suppliers of scientific information (e.g., researchers) and the potential users of scientific information (e.g., water utilities). In addition, the wide array of climate information available can create a barrier to its use, while non-curated use of the information can lead to inappropriate uses and erroneous outcomes and interpretations.

This presentation promotes a conversation on how we might overcome these barriers. It highlights several recent efforts. I share details about newly released guidance on Dos and Don’ts for using climate information for water resources planning and management. These Dos and Don’ts are a two-way communication tool, built on past guidance documents and experiences, that provide common principles and general guidelines on how to design a climate change assessment study and how to select models (global climate models, downscaling approaches, hydrologic models) and navigate, and better embrace, uncertainties. I also share an overview of several efforts I have been working on with water utilities and others in the applications community to collect and share best practices in climate change adaptation.

Bio: Julie Vano is a project scientist in the Hydrometeorological Applications Program at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Julie’s research interests include hydrology, water resource management, science policy, climate change impacts, and system dynamics. Her current work aims to better connect climate science and the applications community and use these connections to develop innovative ways to address climate impacts on local water resources. She holds an M.S. in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin and a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington.

Fees

$30 for current AWRA-WA members

$35 for guests

Free for students (Reserved for student members enrolled full-time, as outlined on the AWRA-WA website, waawra.org)

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