Conrad authors report analyzing how California’s water agencies incorporate climate change into drought planning
Working with the John Andrew (1995) at the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Esther Conrad (2012) recently completed a report analyzing how water supply agencies have considered climate change in their 2010 Urban Water Management Plans. Her research shows that most large water suppliers discuss climate change in their plans, but out of the 21 large agencies studied, only one adjusted its water supply projections as a result. Furthermore, the vast majority of suppliers in California are relatively small, and have limited capacity to analyze climate change impacts or implement adaptation strategies. Esther’s report provides recommendations for how DWR can best support water agencies, particularly small ones, in preparing future Urban Water Management Plans that account for the new risks that climate change brings.
