In July 2007, the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group (CIG) launched an unprecedented assessment of climate change impacts on Washington State. Funded by the Washington State
legislature, the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment (WACCIA) evaluated the impacts of climate change on eight sectors:
A one-day conference on the results of the
Washington assessment will be held on February 12, 2009 at the Washington State Convention Center. The conference will provide an opportunity to learn more about the results of the assessment and to discuss implications
for Washington's communities and ecosystems. Updates on global climate change science, resources for building adaptive capacity for climate change, and state-level actions to address climate
change will also be discussed. For more details on the day's events, see the conference agenda.
Who Should Attend
The WACCIA Conference is open to the public. The following individuals are particularly encouraged to attend:
Resource managers
Policymakers
Business leaders
Non-profit organizations
Tribal governments
Researchers
Students, and
Concerned citizens
Registration
Registration is now closed. The registration fee for the conference is $100 until January 30, 2009. Late registration ($135) is January 31-February 6, 2009. Those eligible for registrationtravel reimbursement can continue to registerat the $100 through February 6 (see details on the registration page). No registrations will be accepted after February 6,
2009. A limited number of reduced registrations ($75) are also available for eligible participants.
Conference Goals
Goals for the WACCIA conference include:
Increasing participants' understanding of how climate change may affect Washington's communities and ecosystems;
Increasing participants' understanding of the need to prepare for the impacts of climate change;
Increasing participants' familiarity with technical resources available to support planning for climate change; and
Identifying additional information and policy needs to help guide future adaptation work.
Conference Support
The Climate Impacts Group would like to thank the following organizations for their support of the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment conference:
Streaming audio files (streaming with the presentation files) are provided for each presentation from the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment conference, including breakout sessions (see end of agenda page; click on breakout session title to open the breakout session agenda). Power Point or PDF copies of the presentations without the audio are also provided.
Sector Breakouts - Agriculture, coasts, energy, forests, human health, hydrology/water resources, salmon, and urban stormwater infrastructure (see individual session agendas and Power Point presentations below)
1:00
Break / Reconvene in plenary
3:30
Tools and Resources for Building Adaptive Capacity - Lara Whitely Binder, UW Climate Impacts Group
Panel Discussion Moderator: Dennis Lettenmaier, UW Climate Impacts Group Panelists:
2:20
Ken Brettman, Hydraulic Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Joan Kersnar, Water System Planning Supervisor, Seattle Public
Utilities
Tom Laurie, Governmental Liaison, Washington Dept. of Ecology
Pat McGrane, Program Manager, River and Reservoir Operations Group, U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation
Phil Pasteris, Principal Technologist, CH2M Hill
Lorna Stickel, Water Resources Planning Manager, Portland Water
Bureau
Research/Policy Needs (facilitated discussion) Facilitator:Dennis Lettenmaier, UW Climate Impacts Group
3:10
Break/End of Breakout Session (return to plenary at 3:45)
3:30
Salmon (Room 602/603)
Introduction/Overview - Nate Mantua, UW Climate Impacts Group
1:00
Presentations
1:05
Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Freshwater Temperatures and Why This Is Significant for
Washington's Salmon -
Ingrid Tohver, UW Climate Impacts Group
Presentation with audio (.wmv) -- Note: includes introduction from Nate Mantua (will need to increase volume for Nate's introduction)
Direct and Indirect Impacts of Climate Change on WA Salmon In Freshwater; Adaptation Options and Strategies - Pete Bisson, U.S. Forest Service PNW
Station
Panel Discussion Moderator: Derek Booth, University of Washington and Stillwater Sciences, Inc. Panelists:
2:20
Bill Leif, Snohomish County
Gary Schimek, Seattle Public Utilities
Ed O'Brien, Washington Dept. of
Ecology
Paula Vanhaagen, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research/Policy Needs (facilitated discussion) Facilitator:Derek Booth, University of Washington and Stillwater Sciences, Inc.
3:10
Break/End of Breakout Session (return to plenary at 3:45)
3:30
On-line registration is now closed.
Washington state, county, local, and tribal government employees - please see the important announcement below about registration and travel reimbursement. Pre-approval from the Climate Impacts Group on reimbursement estimates is required.
The registration fee includes lunch, refreshment breaks, and conference materials. A limited number of reduced registrations are available for students, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations. Payment by credit card (Visa and
Mastercard) is requested.
Registration Fees
$100 – Early registration (by January 30)*
$135 – Late registration (January 31-February 6)*
$ 75 – Limited reduced registration** (available until reserved spaces are taken)
* Those eligible forregistration/travel reimbursement (Washington state, county, local, and tribal government employees) can continue toregister at the $100 rate through February 6. Please select the "Government Rate - Reimbursement Approved" button when registering between January 31 and February 6.
** Eligible categories for the reduced registration include students, tribal governments, and non-profit organizations. Space is limited for reduced registration.
Cancellations / Refunds
Cancellations and refund requests received by January 30, 2009 will be subject to a $25 administrative processing fee. Cancellations received after January 30 but before February 6, 2009 will be charged $50. No refunds are available after
February 6, 2009. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute in your place. Please submit your cancellation in writing to debryant@u.washington.edu or 206-616-1902.
NEW! Registration and Travel Reimbursement Now Available for a Limited Number of Washington State, County, Local, and Tribal Government Employees
Thanks to a reallocation of funds originally provided by the Washington State Legislature, the Climate Impacts Group is now able to offer reimbursement for expenses incurred to attend the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment conference for an estimated 300 Washington state, county, local, and tribal government employees. This benefit applies to current registrants as well as new registrants. Eligible expenses for reimbursement include:
the conference registration fee;
transportation to/from the conference;
meals needed while on travel status (at the government per diem rate, excluding lunch on 2/12, which is included as part of the conference registration);
lodging (up to two nights hotel at the government per diem rate); and
parking ($14 for all day parking at the Convention Center)
To help ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from this reimbursement offer, we ask that you please limit your reimbursement request to $250/person if possible. We will reimburse above this threshold assuming funding is available (we currently expect no problems reimbursing above the $250 limit).
To claim reimbursement, you will need to do the following:
Estimate your total expenses and email your estimate to the Climate Impacts Group. We will send you an email as soon as possible confirming that we have funds available to cover your anticipated expenses. As of 1.25.09, we anticipate having enough funds to handle requests through the end of early registration (1.30.09) and possibly through the end of registration on 2.6.09. Note: Those eligible forregistration/travel reimbursement can continue toregister at the $100 through February 6. Please select the "Government Rate - Reimbursement Approved" button when registering between January 31 and February 6.
Pay for the conference and travel expenses up front. Employees must follow their respective agency travel guidelines for obtaining permission and travel reimbursement for the conference.
Have your agency invoice the Climate Impacts Group (see invoicing information below). The Climate Impacts Group will reimburse the agency for the expenses based on the invoice sent by the agency.
We will keep this offer open as long as possible depending on how quickly anticipated expenses approach our budget limit. As noted above, we currently anticipate having enough funds to handle requests through the end of early registration (1.30.09) and possibly through the end of registration on 2.6.09. We will update this page when we are no longer able to accept any new reimbursable registrations. Please note that the conference cancellation policies still apply,
Invoicing the Climate Impacts Group. The following information can be used by state, county, and local government agencies to invoice the Climate Impacts Group:
Organization name:
University of Washington Climate Impacts Group
Address:
Box 355672
Seattle, WA 98195-5672
Attention:
Adrienne Karpov
Phone:
206-616-5350
Event Name:
The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment Conference
Event Date:
February 12, 2009
Event Location:
Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington
Invoices can be sent per individual or for groups of people within a single agency, department, or other sub-group. If an invoice is sent for multiple people, please list each individual's name, the total expenses per individual, and dates of travel.
Questions on Reimbursement?
If you have questions about the reimbursement benefit, please contact Adrienne Karpov at 206-616-5350 or Lara Whitely Binder at 206-616-5349.
Questions on Registration in General? (excluding reimbursement)
If you have questions specifically related to conference registration, please contact:
The Washington State Climate Change Impacts Assessment Conference will be held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle.
The Convention Center operates two public parking facilities. The Center's main parking garage is located within the facility and provides spaces for 1035 vehicles. The main entrance to the garage is on 8th Avenue between Seneca and Pike Streets. There is a 6'5" maximum vehicle height restriction. The garage is open seven days a week, from 5:00 a.m. until midnight.
The Freeway Park Garage is located next to the Convention Center and provides space for an additional 655 vehicles. The main entrance to the garage is at 1300 Hubbell Place (between Seneca and Pike Streets). A convenient pedestrian walkway connects the garage directly to the Convention Center. The Freeway Park Garage is normally open weekdays from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The garage is normally closed on the weekends. Parking in downtown Seattle can be expensive. Some parking lots a few blocks from the Seattle Convention Center may be less costly.
You are encouraged to use Metro. Metro's Convention Place Station is a convenient hub for many bus routes and is located just one block north of the Convention Center on 9th Avenue at Pine Street. It is one of five stops along the electric bus tunnel that serves downtown Seattle. Metro bus rides are FREE within a designated downtown area.
If you chose to take public transportation, the following site will be offering you assistance in finding the appropriate information: Metro Trip Planner
Driving Directions
Getting to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (WSCTC)
(A) From I-5 Southbound:
Union Street Exit (Exit 165B under the Convention Center)
Right on 6th Avenue
Right on Pike Street
Right on 8th Avenue
Left into garage
(B) From I-5 Northbound:
Seneca Street Exit (Exit 165 on the left)
Right on 6th Avenue
Right on Pike Street
Right on 8th Avenue
Left into garage
(C) From I-90 Westbound:
I-5 Northbound
Madison Street Exit
Right on Seneca
Left on 8th Avenue
Right into garage
The following materials were given to conference participants:
Individual chapters from the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment are available here.
Related on-air news stories/features:
KUOW (94.9 FM) "Weekday" segment (1 hour) on the Washington Assessment - aired Wed, February 11, 2009 . Streaming audio of the program available under "Listen to Weekday"
KING 5 evening news story: "UW study predicts major climate changes in next decade", aired Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) is an interdisciplinary research group studying the impacts of natural climate variability and global climate change ("global warming") on the U.S. Pacific
Northwest (PNW). Through research and interaction
with regional stakeholders, the CIG works to increase the resilience of the Pacific Northwest to fluctuations in climate.
CIG research focuses on four key sectors of the PNW environment: water resources, aquatic ecosystems, forests, and coasts. Recent funding from the State of Washington (the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment) also enabled the CIG to
expand research into three new areas specifically for Washington State: agriculture, human health, and urban stormwater infrastructure.
The CIG is unique in its focus on the intersection of climate science and public policy. The CIG performs fundamental research on climate impacts and works with PNW planners and policy makers to apply this information to regional decision
making processes. The CIG is part of the Center for Science in the Earth System at the University of Washington's Joint Institute for the Study of the
Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO).
