Climate and Water Policy Workshop
July 16-17, 2001


The Climate Impacts Group assembled many of the Pacific Northwest's senior water resource managers, policy makers, and users at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington on July 16-17, 2001, to discuss the implications of climate variability and climate change for water resources and water policy. Links to background papers, meeting summaries, and presentations are provided below.

Background Papers on Climate and Water Policy

  1. Scientific Assessment of Climate Change: Global and Regional Scales (pdf)
  2. Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Pacific Northwest: Impacts and Policy Implications (pdf)
  3. Preparing for Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest: A Discussion of Water Resources Adaptation Pathways (pdf)

Meeting Summaries

Agenda

Sunday, July 15

7:00-9:00

Evening reception and icebreaker

Monday, July 16

8:30 Opening remarks - Prof. Edward Miles, University of Washington
Scientific Background
8:45 Global and regional climate change: What we know and don't know (ppt)
Dr. Philip Mote, University of Washington
9:15 Impacts of climate change on water resources in the Columbia River Basin (ppt)
Prof. Dennis Lettenmaier, University of Washington
10:00 Break
10:20 Impacts of climate change on water resources west of the Cascades (ppt)
Prof. Rick Palmer, University of Washington
Policy Perspectives
11:00 Western water law: Constraints and opportunities (ppt)
Dr. Doug Kenney, Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado
11:30 Adapting to change and uncertainty: Lessons from the west coast of North America (ppt)
Prof. Chad Day, School of Resources and the Environment, Simon Fraser University
12:00 Lunch with keynote address: Northwest water issues: the long view
Governor Daniel J. Evans
Breakout Groups and Plenary Session
1:30 Breakout Sessions 1-3: White Paper discussions
Moderators: Profs. Edward Miles, Richard Palmer, and Dennis Lettenmaier, University of Washington
4:30 Report in Plenary
Moderator: Prof. Edward Miles, University of Washington
5:30 Adjourn

Tuesday, July 17

Breakout Groups and Plenary Session
8:30 Breakout Sessions 1-3: White Paper discussions
Moderators: Profs. Edward Miles, Richard Palmer, and Dennis Lettenmaier, University of Washington
10:00 Report in Plenary
Moderator: Prof. Edward Miles, University of Washington
11:00 Discussion: Recommendations for future steps
12:00 Adjourn