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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental Materials - Futures Committee - 08/10/2015 - Adapting to a Changing Climate Building a Resilient Fort Collins Presentation to Future’s Committee August 10, 2015 Katy Bigner, Environmental Planner Agenda 1.Definitions: Mitigation and Adaptation Connection 2.Shifting Focus 3.What is a Resilient Community? 4.Urban Land Institute Study 5.Local Considerations and Concerns 6.Bright Spots 7.Needs and Next Steps 3 Resilience = Capacity to survive, adapt and grow no matter what kinds of chronic stress and acute shocks are experienced. Shifting Focus to Include Climate Change Adaptation Communities across the world are starting to address climate change impacts Focus from large research institutions and policy foundations such as Rockefeller, Kresge, Yale Federal and State focus with resiliency and preparedness plans forthcoming. •Colorado has large focus on water planning How do you achieve Resiliency? Bouncing Forward Reflective Resourceful Inclusive Integrated Robust Redundant Flexible Resilience Scorecard There’s Much to Love About Our Fort Collins Climate Why Prepare for a Changing Climate? It’s about protecting our quality of life now and in the future Projected Climate Change Snapshot for Fort Collins •Up to 6° F warmer summers by 2040 •Continued declines in snowpack (our natural water storage) •Earlier spring runoff •Declines in soil moisture, water availability and quality •Poorer air quality during summer •Less certainty about precipitation Sources: Joint Front Range Climate Change Vulnerability Study, Fort Collins Extreme Heat Study, CWCB Climate Change in CO report Strong Potential for More Extreme Events •Greater likelihood of severe storms •Greater likelihood of extended drought •Greater likelihood of severe wildfire How is Fort Collins Vulnerable to Climate Changes? Many businesses and residents rely on our high quality drinking water supply Fort Collins residents love our urban forest, local recreation, natural amenities such as parks, trails, natural areas and the Poudre River Low income and other vulnerable populations have less capacity to deal with challenges Urban Land Institute Resilience Study for Northern Colorado Building Resilience •Regional approach to river land use •Infrastructure •Housing •Aggressive floodplain management (design with natural systems) ULI Recommendations Financing Resilience •Reclamation of floodplain •Formalized emergency assistance structures •Infrastructure finance •Integrated economic development strategy •Small business preparation/planning ULI Recommendations Leading Resilience •Regional working group •Annual summit •Hardened and created redundancies for regional communication •Education and engagement Bright Spots City of Fort Collins is already working on many of these problems: -Seeking additional water storage -Regional collaboration on fire related issues and integration of lessons learned from 2012 fire -FEMA CRS rating, Low Impact Dev. practices, ongoing stormwater program -Ongoing risk management for extreme events -Participation in national and regional water/climate change dialogue -Integration of adaptation strategies into Climate Action Plan Implementation Needs and Next Steps Integrated planning through identified strategies and tactics •Move from planning to implementation Begin folding adaptation considerations into Asset Mgmt. when possible Extreme event planning this Fall for wildfire smoke and extreme heat Equalize department awareness and knowledge base Further develop collaborative relationships between Larimer County, PSD, UCH, Health District and others Monitor the climate science for improved modeling and projections Questions for Future’s Committee Who do we need to be collaborating or partnering with to better protect Fort Collins and the region? In 25-50 years, what will we wish we had protected/built/catalyzed today? Thank You! Katy Bigner Environmental Planner kbigner@fcgov.com •On average, ~50% of Fort Collins Utilities annual water supply from each basin •Approx. 1,000 square miles of land area; primarily forested & undeveloped •Critical assets that regulate stream flow and purify water supplies Climate Changes Drought Wildfires Insect & disease outbreaks Floods Water quality Snowpack Reservoirs Nuisance species Protecting Watersheds from Climate-Driven Changes •Focus on Healthy Forests & Floodplains •Collaboration is key! Private Citizens Private industry Water Utilities State & Federal agencies Non- profits Other NGOs Academia Current Collaborations Source Water Quality Monitoring Programs Big Thompson Watershed Coalition (BTWF), Northern Water, City of Greeley, Tri-Districts Coalition for the Poudre River (CPRW) Poudre River Health Targets Fort Collins Utilities & Natural Areas Department, CSU Post-Fire Hillslope & Stream Restoration & Forest Health Improvement projects How do you achieve Resiliency? Bouncing Forward Reflective: Use past experience to inform future decisions Resourceful: Recognize alternative ways to use resources Inclusive: Prioritize broad consultation to create shared ownership in decision making Integrated: Bring together a range of distinct systems & institutions Robust: Have well-conceived, constructed and managed systems Redundant: Have spare capacity purposively created to accommodate disruption Flexible: Have willingness and ability to adopt strategies in response to changing circumstances