Transcript Climate Change and Water Resources Presentation to the West Palm Beach Green Task Force May 6, 2010 Nancy J.

Climate Change and Water
Resources
Presentation to the West Palm Beach Green Task Force
May 6, 2010
Nancy J. Gassman, Ph.D.
Natural Resources Administrator
Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth
Management Department
www.broward.org/climatechange
Our past...
100 years ago Clematis Avenue
looked like this.
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looked different than our present...
Clematis Avenue
today
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and our future.
West Palm
Beach in 2100?
Planning today
shapes our
tomorrow.
www.broward.org/climatechange
Looking Forward
• Climate Change and its impacts will be a
dominant agent of change in SE Florida.
• Action including careful coordinated planning
is needed to sustain our economy and to
ensure a climate-resilient SE FL community.
• Adaptation to water resource issues are
central to sustainability…and are already being
impacted.
www.broward.org/climatechange
Critical Water Resource Concerns
a) Drinking water
a) Demand
b) Availability of existing and future water
supply
c) Treatment requirements
b) Predictability of Rainfall/Storm events
c) Drainage
d) Utility carbon footprint
www.broward.org/climatechange
Development, even in high risk areas, is
expected to continue
www.broward.org/climatechange
Sea Level Rise Implications
• Drainage and flood
control compromised
• Saltwater
intrusion into the
aquifer
www.broward.org/climatechange
Critical Water Resource Concerns
a) Drinking water
a) Demand
b) Availability of existing and future water
supply
c) Treatment requirements
b) Predictability of Rainfall/Storm events
c) Drainage
d) Utility carbon footprint
www.broward.org/climatechange
Extreme Weather
(12/17-19/09)
8-16 inches rainfall
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Extreme Rain Event
Hollywood/Hallandale
Photo: Sun Sentinel
(12/17-19/09)
8-16 inches rainfall
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Tropical cyclones and climate change
• Hurricane Intensity ↑
• Storm Frequency ↓
• Storm-related Rainfall ↑
www.broward.org/climatechange
•http://geology.com/hurricanes/named-hurricane-fran.gif
Tidal Flooding 9/18/09 – Las Olas
(8 inches above average high tide)
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Tidal Flooding 9/18/09 – Las Olas
(8 inches above average high tide)
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Tidal Flooding 9/18/09 – Riverwalk
(8 inches above average high tide)
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www.broward.org/climatechange
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Drainage in the Face of Sea Level Rise
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Drainage Challenge with Sea Level Rise
Stormwater
CURRENT CONDITION
Saltwater
Drainage
Capacity
Flood
Control
Structure
Stormwater
FUTURE CONDITION
Drainage
Capacity
Saltwater
Flood
Control
Structure
www.broward.org/climatechange
Defining Adaptation
Preparing for climate change impacts
that are inevitable.
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Broward County Climate Change Action Plan
WATER RESOURCES
Goal 1
Ensure protection of water resources while
minimizing flood damage
Action 1.1
Include climate change in updates of
Lower East Coast Plan
Action 1.2
Conduct studies for large-scale Advanced Water and
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Action 1.3
Monitor and protect wellfields
Action 1.4
Re-evaluate reuse due to sea level rise
www.broward.org/climatechange
Climate Change Action Plan
Water Resources
www.broward.org/climatechange
Broward County Climate Change Action Plan
WATER RESOURCES
Goal 1 (cont)
Action 1.5
Development, by utilities, of adaptive management
strategies for water resources
Action 1.6
Reduce utility carbon footprint
Action 1.7
Provide resources to implement water conservation
Action 1.8
Develop alternative water supply strategies
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Water Resources
www.broward.org/climatechange
Broward County Climate Change Action Plan
WATER RESOURCES
Goal 1 (cont)
Action 1.9
Protect Wastewater Treatment System from
Infiltration and Inflow
Action 1.10
Convene a regional workshop to enhance resilience of
water resources to Climate Change
Action 1.11
Require construction to include a percentage of
pervious areas to enhance water resources
www.broward.org/climatechange
Broward County Climate Change Action Plan
MODELING, MONITORING, AND MAPPING
Goal 8
Ensure the use of current modeling information in
developing adaptation and mitigation strategies
Goal 9
Develop and maintain monitoring for environmental
benchmarks that indicate impacts of climate change
Goal 10
Ensure the use of current mapping information in
developing adaptation and mitigation strategies
www.broward.org/climatechange
Broward County Climate Change Action Plan
MODELING, MONITORING, AND MAPPING
Goal 10
Ensure the use of current mapping information in
developing adaptation and mitigation strategies
Action 10.1
Improve inundation mapping capabilities
Action 10.2
Develop new 100 year storm maps
Action 10.3
Incorporate sea level rise/storm surge impacts into
maps of hazard areas
Action 10.4
Encourage FEMA to consider Sea Level Rise in flood
map updates
www.broward.org/climatechange
At Risk in Broward:
1 ft rise
1934 households
182 business
Property worth ~ $469M
Critical Infrastructure:
Library/park/natural area
4 major roads including:
Hollywood Blvd
Ocean Dr / A1A
Dania Beach Blvd
Sheridan St
LEGEND
0
4
Miles
8
#
Broward County Salinity Control Structures
General area directly affected by tides
www.broward.org/climatechange
Area at Risk
Municipal Considerations
a) Future water supply source planning
b) Future water supply treatment planning
c) Contingency planning for extreme drought
and rainfall
d) Coordinated retrofit of drainage
infrastructure
b) Investigation into reducing utility carbon
footprint
www.broward.org/climatechange