| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Global Climate Change Program | Federal |
NASA's research program provides data on solar output, sea level rise, atmospheric and ocean temperature, ozone depletion, air pollution, and changes in sea ice.
| Reference Data | Global | http://climate.nasa.gov/NasaRole/ |
| National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | Great Lakes Sea Grant Network | Federal |
The Great Lakes Sea Grant Network focuses on assessing local information needs, providing information to key stakeholders, and identifying adaptive strategies.
| Water Supply implications and Demand Management; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information | The Great Lakes | http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/greatlakes/climate/index.html |
| National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | National Severe Storms Laboratory | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools. | National | http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/qpesums/ |
| National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | Sectoral Applications Research Program (SARP) | Federal |
NOAA's SARP program promotes research that provides improved decision support capabilities for climate-related issues in key socio-economic sectors. SARP is building an interdisciplinary knowledge base to foster the creation, dissemination, and exchange of climate research that addresses resource management. Other goals of this program include creation of climate change materials that identify and reduce climate change related vulnerability and risk; use of climate change research in decision making; and development of a research and operations agenda that meets the climate change information needs of NOAA.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Regional and Local Information | National | http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./cpo_pa/cpo_pa_index.jsp&pa=sarp&sub=1 |
| National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | Water Resources and Hydrology Research | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Downscaled Models | Global focus, though most products address the Great Lakes region | http://www.research.noaa.gov/oceans/t_hydrology.html |
| National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration | Western Water Assessment (WWA) | Federal |
WWA works to increase the relevance and value of scientific information that informs and improves decision making, contributing to effective water management in the western U.S. This research program provides climate forecasts and regional vulnerability assessments to assist water resource managers in decision making.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools. | Western States (Colorado, Colorado river basin, Lake Powell, Lake Mead); Pacific Northwest | http://wwa.colorado.edu/water_management_and_drought/wwa_proj.html |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Drinking Water Research Program | Federal |
The Drinking Water research program focuses on protecting drinking water quality and improving the sustainability of water resources. Long term goals of this program include risk characterization and risk management research to produce data, models, and tools that promote the sustainable use of water resources. Tools are water quality focused and include methods to identify pathogens and toxicity in water, along with methods to measure cumulative health risks from water resources.
| Decision making, Risk management, Technical Assistance and Tools; Reference Data; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications | National | http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/dwresearch-intro.htm |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Global Change Research Program | Federal |
EPA's Global Change Research program is a stakeholder-oriented research program that examines the effect of global change on water quality. The goal of this program is to develop the science needed to inform adaptation efforts. This program establishes partnerships with local decision makers and develops assessments and decision support tools to aid water resource managers. These tools are also used to support adaptive management and planning for responding to climate change. This program also assesses how climate change may impact the goals of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Act.
| Water Quality Implications; Decision making, Risk management, Technical Assistance and Tools | National | http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/globalresearch-intro.htm |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Water Quality Research Program | Federal |
The Water Quality Research program conducts watershed management research. The program does not specifically focus on climate change, but develops tools and expertise that may be helpful in predicting and diagnosing changes in water quality resulting from climate change.
| Water Quality Implications; Decision making, Risk management, Technical Assistance and Tools | National | http://www.epa.gov/ORD/npd/waterqualityresearch-intro.htm |
| U.S. Global Change Research Program | Global Water Cycle: An Interagency Workgroup | Federal |
The Global Water Cycle research program develops adaptation and mitigation strategies, assessments, and decision support tools based on global water cycle research. This research program also focuses on improving modeling of key hydrologic processes including snow and ice pack freeze/thaw cycles, soil moisture, and ground water interactions. This program is also linking global change models to regional and local scale hydrologic models to help improve simulations of extreme events.
| Decision making, Risk management, Technical Assistance and Tools; Adaptation; Mitigation; Downscaled Models | Global | http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/ProgramElements/water.htm |
| United States Department of Agriculture | Southern Global Change Research Program | Federal |
The Southern Global Change Research Program's Water Resources research area is a collaboration of scientists working to integrate hydrologic, soil erosion, and climate models to determine future impacts on water resources. Integration of various models has resulted in a regional map of potential water stress through 2050. This program is also developing tools to better inform water resource managers.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand management | Southern United States | http://www.sgcp.ncsu.edu/Research/Research-Areas/Water-Resources.aspx |
| United States Geological Survey | Cooperative Water Program | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools. | National | http://water.usgs.gov/coop/ |
| United States Geological Survey | Ground Water Resources Program | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Water Supply implications and Demand Management; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Regional and Local Information | National | http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/gwrp/ |
| United States Geological Survey | National Water Quality Assessment Program | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Water Quality Implications; Decision making, Risk management, Technical Assistance and Tools | National | http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/ |
| United States Geological Survey | Water Information Coordination Program | Federal |
Although this program is not focused specifically on climate change, it addresses issues that may be impacted by climate change or relevant to climate change assessments.
| Reference Data; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools. | National | http://acwi.gov/wpinfo.html |
| Bureau of Meteorology | Hydrological Services Program Water Resources Assessment | Foreign Government - Australia |
The Hydrological Services Program Water Resources Assessment provides access to information and data from a range of national and international projects. The Web site presents a collection of reference data from hydrological monitoring stations throughout Australia, along with global hydrological data.
| Downscaled Models; Reference Data; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications | Australia; International | http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/wr/index.shtml |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) | Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research | Foreign Government - Australia |
The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research conducts research across several areas of relevance to water utilities. The Climate Variability and Change (CVC) area focuses on assessing changes and impacts related to climate change, developing national and regional climate projections, developing integrated approaches to climate change adaptation, and developing tools for integrating earth science assessments with impact assessments. The Weather and Environmental Prediction (WEP) area focuses on developing regional climate modeling techniques and developing studies of rainfall changes and associated hydrological impacts.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | Australia | http://www.cawcr.gov.au/research.php |
| Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) | Coastal Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) | Foreign Government - Australia |
CMAR conducts atmospheric and climate-related research. Staff members focus on researching climate impacts and risks, the influence of oceans on rainfall, and the regional impacts of climate change. The Climate Program provides a number of resources on climate impacts and risks, water supply, and climate system modeling.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | Australia; International | http://www.cmar.csiro.au/research/climate.html#overview |
| Department of Climate Change | Australian Climate Change Science Program | Foreign Government - Australia |
The Australian Climate Change Science Program provides information on climate change science and develops projections for climate change in Australia. Research topics include climate change in Australia, climate modeling systems, climate variability and weather extremes, regional climate change projections, international research collaboration, and communications.
| Downscaled Models; Regional and Local Information; Public Communication and Outreach | Australia | http://www.csiro.au/science/Climate-Change.html |
| Environment Canada | Canadian Center for Climate Modeling and Analysis | Foreign Government - Canada |
The Canadian Center for Climate Modeling and Analysis provides information on atmospheric and coupled global change models, accompanying reference data that can be downloaded for use in these models, and a series of publications addressing model use and hydrology.
| Downscaled Models; Reference Data | Canada; International | http://www.ec.gc.ca/ccmac-cccma/ |
| Environment Canada | Canadian Climate Change Scenarios Network (CCCSN) | Foreign Government - Canada |
The CCCSN supports climate change impact and adaptation research in Canada and other nations. This program provides decision makers and stakeholders with updated climate change scenarios, downscaled models, reference data, adaptation information, and tools for creating climate change scenarios.
| Downscaled Models; Reference Data; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Mitigation | Canada; International | http://www.cccsn.ca/index-e.html |
| Government of Canada | Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division | Foreign Government - Canada |
The Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division integrates climate change adaptation activities into policy actions, plans, and projects. Since 1998, this division has funded over 300 projects related to climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation. Current program activities include equipping decision makers with the necessary information on impacts, adaptation, and tools to support informed resource management.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Mitigation | Canada | http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php |
| Government of Canada | Infrastructure Canada | Foreign Government - Canada |
Infrastructure Canada investigates the effects of climate change on infrastructure in terms of impacts and adaptation. The programs research goals are to better understand Canada's vulnerability to climate change and to provide research to inform adaptation strategies. Infrastructure Canada is currently funding projects addressing water quality, water quantity, water demand, water levels, ecosystem impacts, implications for resource managers, and infrastructure design.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | Canada | http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/infra/env-eng.html |
| Government of Canada | Natural Resources Canada | Foreign Government - Canada |
Natural Resources Canada conducts research on water availability, historical hydro-climatic changes, extreme drought and low flows, and integrated assessments of resilience and adaptation options. Natural Resources Canada also provides relevant information for managing water dependent sectors, water demand, and water supply for specific regions of Canada.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | Canada | http://sst.rncan.gc.ca/ercc-rrcc/theme1/index_e.php |
| Government of Canada - Environmental and Natural Resource Management | Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) | Foreign Government - Canada |
CCAA conducts research addressing climate change impacts on natural resources, such as water, throughout Africa. Current projects address water resources and flooding, management options for preserving water supply and quality, and adaptation to drought and sudden flooding.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply and Demand Implications | Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Togo, Mauritania, Senegal | http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Programs/Agriculture_and_the_Environment/Climate_Change_and_Adaptation_in_Africa/Pages/default.aspx |
| Japanese Ageing for Marine-Earth Science and Technology | Research Institute for Global Change | Foreign Government - Japan |
The Research Institute for Global Change monitors meteorological changes in the oceans, air, and land. Data collected on these changes is then used to develop climate models, simulations and other forecasting tools that provide projections for potential future changes in the global environment.
| Downscaled Models; Regional and Local Information | Eurasia and Asia | http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frcgc/eng/program/hcrp/index.html |
| National Research Program | Climate Change Impact on Water Environment in Latvia | Foreign Government - Latvia |
This program is developing a number of data series, including: meteorological data sets corresponding to climate change scenarios, hydrological runoff and nutrient flow data sets calculated through mathematical modeling, and long-term predictions and forecasting based on models of runoff and nutrient flow. This program will assess and adopt regional climate change models, determine climate change impacts to river runoff and nutrient loading, and provide modeling support to other work groups addressing these issues. All research will be focused in Latvia.
| Regional and Local Information; Downscaled Models; Reference Data; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Water Quality Implications. | Latvia | http://kalme.daba.lv/en/wp1/ |
| The Scottish Government | Adaptation Framework | Foreign Government - Scotland |
The Scottish Government has conducted substantial research on adaptation to climate change. This research resulted in the development of a comprehensive adaptation framework to better manage risk and safeguard communities from climate change. This framework has a section for water resource managers that highlights impacts such as increases in flooding, decreases in water quality, and decreases in supply. This report also provides information on adaptation activities for utilities.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | Scotland | http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange |
| Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) | Adapting to Climate Change Programme | Foreign Government - United Kingdom |
The Adapting to Climate Change Programme is a cross-government initiative, coordinated by DEFRA, focusing on adaptation to climate change in England. In 2008, this program published a report on adaptation to climate change in the UK. The report discusses climate impacts, including water stress and water infrastructure impacts, and adaptation activities.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | United Kingdom | http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate/adapting/ |
| Department of Energy and Climate Change | UK Climate Change Programme | Foreign Government - United Kingdom |
The UK Climate Change Programme conducts research on climate change and energy in Europe and internationally. This program published a general report on climate change in the UK, with Section 3 highlighting impacts to water resources based on a number of different climate scenarios. Results are broken down by region throughout the UK. This section also highlights priorities for adaptation, including no and low regrets activities.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Downscaled Models | Europe | http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/tackling.aspx |
| UK Climate Impacts Programme | Water Resources | Foreign Government - United Kingdom |
The Water Resources program provides links to a variety of resources useful to water utility managers. These resources provide information on climate change impacts, changes in water demand, and adaptation and risk assessment tools designed to inform management activities. The program's Web site includes a database called BRAIN that allows the user to search information related to adaptation actions, impacts, and research.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Economic Tools; Adaptation | United Kingdom | http://www.ukcip.org.uk/index.php |
| American Water Works Association (AWWA) | various projects | Foundation/NGO |
AWWA sponsors research and publications addressing climate change impacts on water resources, including impacts to water quality and supply. Additionally, many publications funded by AWWA are designed to inform water resource managers through adaptation techniques and case studies.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Case Studies and Best Management Practices. | National | http://www.awwa.org/About/index.cfm?ItemNumber=3885&navItemNumber=1420&showLogin=N |
| Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) | Climate Change Committee | Foundation/NGO |
The Climate Change Committee helps drinking water utilities stay abreast of federal rules and legislation relevant to climate change and water resources. AMWA also generates materials specific to climate change and water resources, including reports that address climate models, adaptation cost estimates, and mitigation.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Downscaled Models; Adaptation; Mitigation | National | http://amwa.net/cs/climatechange |
| Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate | Science and Research | Foundation/NGO |
The focus of the Science and Research program is to foster activities that help the water sector manage the effects of climate variability and change. Publications from this program focus on risk and adaptation, impacts of climate variability on water development, and management techniques to deal with climate impacts.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | Netherlands; International | www.waterandclimate.org |
| Electric Power Research Institute | 55 Strategic Water Issues: TMDLs, Availability, Climate | Foundation/NGO |
EPRI's suite of funded research addresses key issues facing the electric power sector due to climate change, some of which have implications for water supply and usage. Specific issues include placing the operations of power plants into a watershed context and understanding the implications of climate change for power plant water use. EPRI has developed the Electronic Watershed Assessment and Management (eWAM) tool, and the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF).
| Water Supply Implications and Demand; Decision Making, Risk Management; Technical Assistance, and Tools. | National | http://mydocs.epri.com/docs/Portfolio/PDF/2009_P055.pdf |
| Institute of Observational Research for Global Change | Hydrological Cycle Observational Research Program | Foundation/NGO |
The Hydrological Cycle Observational Research Program addresses changes and variability resulting from climate change. Research relies on modeling, simulation, and sensitivity experiments. The Institute of Observational Research for Global Change also provides reference data and downscaled models for use by decision makers.
| Reference Data; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Downscaled Models | Asia | http://www.jamstec.go.jp/iorgc/hcorp/index-e.html |
| National Research Council | Climate Change at the National Academies | Foundation/NGO |
This program conducts workshops, studies, and meetings, and produces reports addressing issues related to the global water cycle, water resources, and climate change. Publications address desalination, water management in the Colorado River Basin, hydrology in the Klamath river basin, adaptive management of water resources, and estimates of future water use and demand. The program also conducts research to inform mitigation and adaptation efforts. Publications include synthesis and assessment reports and analyses of uncertainty in climate projections.
| Adaptation; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Downscaled Models; Mitigation; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | Research addresses the Colorado River Basin, the Klamath River Basin, and other areas within the United States. | http://dels-old.nas.edu/climatechange/ |
| National Wildlife Federation (NWF) | Global Warming Program | Foundation/NGO |
NWF's Global Warming program focuses on climate change impacts on wildlife. However, NWF published a detailed report in 2007 analyzing how climate change would impact the Great Lakes region and how water resource policy in that area should be changed to adapt to climate change impacts.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Adaptation | The Great Lakes | http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/ |
| Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) | Issues: Global Warming | Foundation/NGO |
NRDC has conducted extensive research on climate change, including analyses of climate change impacts on natural resources and human health. NRDC authored a report analyzing how climate change would affect water resources throughout the Western United States. The report provides a guide for water resource managers to help them adapt to climate change and includes several informative case studies.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Regional and Local Information | Western States | http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/hotwater/contents.asp |
| Pacific Institute | Climate Change and Water | Foundation/NGO |
This program conducts research on how climate change will affect water supplies through alteration of the timing of winter snows and spring rains, the timing of traditional reservoir levels, and the frequency of summer droughts.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information | Research addresses water resources and climate change impacts in California, Nationally, and Internationally. | http://www.pacinst.org/topics/water_and_sustainability/climate_change/ |
| Pew Center on Global Climate Change | various projects | Foundation/NGO |
The Pew Center conducts research on key climate change topics such as economic impacts, environmental impacts, and domestic and international solutions. The Pew Center publishes a wide variety of materials addressing climate change, some of which focus on impacts to water resources.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Adaptation; Mitigation | National and International research and publications. | http://www.pewclimate.org/ |
| RAND Corporation | Environment, Energy, and Economic Development (EEED) | Foundation/NGO |
The RAND EEED program develops decision support tools, such as water management strategies, that increase the resilience of water resources to climate change.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | National | http://www.rand.org/research_areas/energy_environment/ |
| Resources for the Future | Climate Change Research Program | Foundation/NGO |
The Climate Change Research Program focuses on U.S. and international climate policy, international trade and competitiveness issues, approaches for reducing emissions from deforestation, and climate adaptation policies. Some of the adaptation research addresses impacts to freshwater resources and provides regional case studies.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | Colorado River watershed; Boston; New York City; Georgia, the Everglades; San Joaquin River, California. | http://www.rff.org/Research_Topics/Pages/Climate_Change.aspx |
| Texas Water Resources Institute | | Foundation/NGO |
The Texas Water Resources Institute conducts research on water resources throughout Texas and works with key stakeholders to provide science-based solutions for a variety of climate-related water resource issues. Specific research includes modeling the impacts of climate change on water supply reliability throughout the Houston metropolitan area.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management. | Texas | http://twri.tamu.edu/about |
| Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research | Cities and Coasts Theme | Foundation/NGO |
The Cities and Coasts theme focuses on building resilience and decreasing vulnerability through the development of decision support tools for vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategies, and managing coastal areas under climate change. Publications address water resource management and adaptation to climate change in African water basins and England.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information | United Kingdom; Africa | http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/research/transition-period/resilience |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: A Balanced Approach to Water Conservation: Removing Barriers and Maximizing Benefits #4175 | Foundation/NGO |
The Water Conservation project will identify successes and challenges of water conservation programs, along with best management practices that improve water conservation programs. It will also provide useful reference data.
| Reference Data; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | National | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4175&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Analysis of Changes in Water Use under Regional Climate Change Scenarios #4263 | Foundation/NGO |
The Changes in Water Use project is to study changes in water use and demand under a variety of climate change scenarios. It will also identify adaptation measures for projected changes.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | National | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4263&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Estimating Salinity Effects Due to Climate Change on the Georgia and South Carolina Coast #4285 | Foundation/NGO |
This project will study salt-water intrusion events under forecasted climate change in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Information will be used to assess the potential impacts of salt water inundation on coastal utilities.
| Regional and Local Information; Downscaled Models; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply and Demand Management Implications | North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4285&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Evaluating Effects of Climate Change on Water Utility Planning Criteria and Design Standards #4154 | Foundation/NGO |
This project will evaluate current water planning criteria and design for their effectiveness in preparing utilities to adapt to future climate change. Project will focus on the Western coastal United States utilities.
| Regional and Local Information; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | Western coastal United States | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=2&PID=4154&OID=4154 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Forecasting the Future: Progress, Changes, and Predictions for the Water Sector #4232 | Foundation/NGO |
The Forecasting the Future project will identify social, political, economic, environmental, and business trends that will impact the water utility sector over the next 10-20 years.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand management | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4232&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Implementing Effective Asset Management in Water Utilities: Organizational Models, Culture, Policies, and Strategies #4173 | Foundation/NGO |
This project highlights leading practices that result in strong asset management programs, along with providing organizational models, operational traits, policies, and strategies. Project will inform a guidance document to help utilities develop asset management programs.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Case Studies and Best Management Practices | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4173&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Incorporating Climate Change Information in Water Utility Planning: A Collaborative, Decision Analytic Approach #3132 | Foundation/NGO |
This project on water utility planning will identify water utility vulnerabilities to climate change, the adaptations needed to be made by water utilities, and develop short and long-term management strategies to assist utilities in planning for climate change. It will also address uncertainty associated with climate change projections.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Adaptation | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=3132&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Joint Front Range Climate Change Vulnerability Study #4205 | Foundation/NGO |
The Vulnerability Study project will use a unified regional approach to forecast changes in runoff in 2040 and 2070 across a range of climate change scenarios. It will rely on two different hydrological models.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Downscaled Models; Regional and Local Information | Colorado | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4205&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Key Asset Data for Water Sector Utilities #4187 | Foundation/NGO |
This project creates a list of terms and a classification system to highlight key drinking water and wastewater system assets and performance indicators to promote asset management programs.
| Reference Data | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4187&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management Tools for Climate Change: Assessing Potential Impacts and Identifying Adaptation Options #4262 | Foundation/NGO |
This project identifies likely vulnerabilities associated with climate change, provides utilities with tools to assess vulnerabilities and manage risk.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4262&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Water Conservation: Customer Behavior and Effective Communication #4012 | Foundation/NGO |
This Water Conservation and Customer Behavior program investigates residential customer behavior and effective communication tools for conveying information about water use and conservation.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand management; Communication and Public Outreach | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=2&PID=4012&OID=4012 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Water Utilities and Climate Change: A Research Workshop on Effective System Adaptation #4228 | Foundation/NGO |
This project included a research workshop that incorporated climate science into the decision making processes for water utility management. This workshop will result in a final report on water utility adaptations in Florida Coastal Area.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Regional and Local Information | Florida | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4228&OID=0 |
| Water Research Foundation | Project Snapshot: Water Utility Framework for Responding to Emerging Contaminant Issues #4169 | Foundation/NGO |
The Water Utility Framework project will develop a framework to inform water utility managers in responding to contaminants that impact water quality. Project will provide best practices for monitoring programs, analytical methods, treatment, and risk assessment.
| Water Quality Implications; Adaptation; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Decision Making; Risk Management; Technical Assistance; and Tools. | None | http://www.waterrf.org/search/detail.aspx?Type=1&PID=4169&OID=0 |
| Water UK | Climate Change Program | Foundation/NGO |
Water UK's Climate Change Program conducts research on climate change and water utilities. Specific topics include reducing carbon footprints, understanding potential climate change impacts, and presenting relevant adaptation options. A briefing developed for the water resource management industry highlights impacts, case studies, and next steps for water utilities in a changing climate.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Case Studies and Best Management Practices; Adaptation; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Mitigation | United Kingdom | http://www.water.org.uk/home/policy/climate-change/adaptation-briefing |
| World Resources Institute | Climate, Energy, and Transport | Foundation/NGO |
WRI projects in the Climate, Energy, and Transport research areas address climate change impacts, water scarcity, and the development of basin level databases on the condition of water resources. This database is intended to provide an informative resource for policy makers and managers. Publications provide regional information on climate change impacts, including information of relevance to water resource managers.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Regional and Local Information; Reference data; Downscaled models | International | http://www.wri.org/projects/climate |
| EU WATCH | Water and Global Change | International |
The Water and Global Change program intends to synthesize research from the hydrological, water resources, and climate change communities to determine the overall vulnerability of water resources to climate change in the EU, USA, and Japan. Technical reports address drought analysis, water quality issues, and modeling projections in river basins throughout the EU. The program also provides summaries of impacts for policy makers.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Regional and Local information; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications | European Union, United States, Japan | http://www.eu-watch.org/nl/25222705-Home.html |
| NeWater | | International |
NeWater, a program supported by the European Commission, promotes the use of adaptive strategies for integrated water resource management among water resource managers, with research focusing on vulnerability assessments and best practices. Publications address vulnerability assessments, regional scenarios of climate change, adaptation, and enhancement of existing climate tools.
| Adaptation; Downscaled Models; Case Studies and Best Practices; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Regional and Local Information; Reference data | Europe, North Africa | http://www.newater.info/index.php |
| The Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research | Scientific Capacity Building/Enhancement for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries (CAPaBLE) | International |
The CAPaBLE program was formed in 2003 to provide communication channels between policy-makers and scientists to help leading researchers in developing countries produce comprehensive scientific analyses of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, adaptation, and mitigation. The program also works to improve and facilitate informed decision making by policy makers.
| Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Mitigation | Asia | http://www.apn-gcr.org/programmes-and-activities/capable/ |
| The Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) | various projects | International |
APN provides funding for a number of projects in the Asia-Pacific region under five main themes, including research on ecosystem changes and sustainable development. Projects funded other this program address changes in water quality, water quantity, flood risk management, and water resource management under climate change.
| Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Reference data | Asia | http://www.apn-gcr.org/ |
| UNESCO | International Hydrological Programme (IHP) | International |
The IHP is UNESCO's international research program for water research, water resources management, education, and capacity building. Primary objectives include developing techniques and methodologies to improve understanding of hydrological phenomena, improve local and global water management, stimulate dialogue and cooperation between water science and management, promote sustainable development of vulnerable resources, and increase awareness of global water issues.
| Adaptation; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools | International | http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/ihp/ |
| United Nations Environment Programme | Climate Change | International |
The Climate Change research program has created international initiatives to improve resilience to climate change through building adaptive capacity, conducting vulnerability assessments of ecosystems, and promoting adaptation services. Science initiatives have also focused on quantifying global impacts, including developing maps of water stressed regions under different climate scenarios.
| Water Supply and Demand Implications; Water Quality Implications; Adaptation; Regional and Local Information; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Communication and Public Outreach | International | http://www.unep.org/climatechange/Home/tabid/2180/language/en-US/Default.aspx |
| City of Chicago | Chicago Climate Task Force | Other Domestic |
The Chicago Climate Task Force has conducted research addressing climate science, impacts to Chicago's resources, and adaptation activities. This research has resulted in several publications investigating how climate change may affect Chicago's water resources.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Case Studies and Best Management practices. | Chicago, IL | http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/pages/research___reports/8.php |
| New York City | Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Climate Change Program and Assessment Plan | Other Domestic |
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection's Climate Change Program and Assessment plan presents an analysis for NYC detailing climate change science and projections, potential impacts on the activities of the DEP, and adaptation strategies for NYC.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Adaptation; Case Studies and Best Management Practices. | New York, NY | http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/news/climate_change_report_05-08.shtml |
| California Climate Change Research Center | Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program | State |
The PIER program conducts research on impacts and adaptation to climate change, including research on hydrological processes impacted by climate change, identifying which regions and sectors will be most affected, and what steps can be taken to mitigate and adapt to these challenges.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation; Mitigation | Focus of research varies from city, to regional, to statewide analysis for California. | http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/research/impact.html |
| Colorado Department of Natural Resources | Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) | State |
CWCB is aiding water managers by supporting planning efforts on a local, regional, and state wide scale. CWCB has conducted research and released reports focusing on water availability, climate change vulnerability, and drought. CWCB research addresses observed trends and projections for temperature, precipitation, snow, and runoff in Colorado. A recent research report is intended to provide water resource managers with a synthesis of relevant information for water resource planning.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools. | Colorado | http://cwcb.state.co.us/Pages/CWCBHome.aspx |
| State of California | Department of Water Resources | State |
The Department of Water Resources addresses climate change impacts through funding adaptation and mitigation research activities. Specific research includes 10 adaptation strategies for California's water managers, fact sheets explaining the impacts of climate change on California's water resources, and the California Water Plan, which provides reference data and a framework to help water mangers with decision making.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Communication/Public Outreach; Reference Data | California | http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/ |
| Washington State - Department of Ecology | Climate Change Program | State |
The Department of Ecology's Climate Change Program works with local communities to develop state wide strategies for responding to climate change impacts on water supply and quality. The Department of Ecology has produced a number of publications, reports, and fact sheets that highlight climate change related impacts for the State of Washington, including impacts to water resources.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | Washington State | http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm |
| Imperial College London | Grantham Institute for Climate Change | University Research Program |
The Grantham Institute for Climate Change analyzes the impacts of climate change on ecosystem composition and function. Publications address the costs of adapting to climate change and adaptation methods that can be undertaken within the UK.
| Adaptation; Regional and Local Information | United Kingdom | http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/climatechange/research/vulnerableecosys#fni-4 |
| The Australian National University | Climate Change Institute - Integrative Research Program | University Research Program |
The Interactive Research Program addresses climate change impacts and associated adaptation techniques in rural Australia. The climate-energy-water systems program addresses system links and synergies between energy and water policy, and how these policies can be designed to be more resilient to climate change.
| Adaptation | Rural Australia; International | http://www.anu.edu.au/climatechange/section/irp |
| UC Davis - University of California | Climate Change - Water Resources Program | University Research Program |
The Water Resources program has focused on analyzing how climate change will affect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, how climate change has and will affect Lake Tahoe, how climate change will affect native fish populations, how climate change will affect water resources in the western U.S., and how sea-level rise will affect water resources through salt water intrusion.
| Regional and local Information; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management | Sacramento, CA; Lake Tahoe, CA; Western United States | http://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/water.html |
| University of Adelaide | Climate and Ecology | University Research Program |
The Climate and Ecology research program addresses water use under increased climatic variability. The program focuses on tracking, managing, and allocating water. Additional research includes developing a mathematical model to guide water resource management and developing a decision support system designed to support management of water resources.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Adaptation | Australia | http://www.adelaide.edu.au/environment/climate/ |
| University of Alaska - Fairbanks | Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research | University Research Program |
The Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research conducted an international project titled "Arctic Impact Assessment." This project evaluated climate change information, climate modeling, impacts to freshwater resources, and management.
| Regional and Local Information; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Downscaled Models | Arctic areas | http://www.cgc.uaf.edu/default.html |
| University of Minnesota - Duluth | Natural Resources Research Institute | University Research Program |
That Natural Resources Research Institute analyzes potential climate change impacts on Minnesota's water resources. One study examines the historical climate record for Minnesota and compares these trends to hydrologic and ecological response data. Another study will develop predictions for climate change in Minnesota and quantify the economic impact of changes in precipitation and hydrology.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information | Minnesota | http://www.nrri.umn.edu/cwe/water.htm |
| University of New South Wales | Climate Change Research Centre | University Research Program |
The Climate Change Research Centre addresses topics relevant to climate change and water resource managers. The Terrestrial Processes research area focuses on parameterization in regional and global climate change models. The Climate research area focuses on using global change models to investigate climate variability. The Atmospheric Sciences research area addresses changes in precipitation events and extreme weather events. The Climate Risk and Resilience research area covers risk assessment and planning for climate extremes.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Water Supply and Demand Implications; Downscaled Models | Australia; International | http://www.ccrc.unsw.edu.au/research/research.html |
| University of North Carolina | Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) | University Research Program |
WRRI conducts research addressing water quality and water supply in North Carolina and the surrounding region. WRRI has produced a number of articles to inform water resource managers on topics such as climate change, drinking water, storm water, and water supply.
| Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information | North Carolina; Southeast United States | http://www.ncsu.edu/wrri/index.html |
| Climate Impacts Group: University of Washington | Hydrology and Water Resources | University Research Program |
The Hydrology and Water Resources program examines the influence of climate variability on water resource development and management; develops long term stream forecasts; projects changes in regional water uses; and incorporates climate change projections into water supply planning and management in the Pacific Northwest.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Regional and Local Information; Adaptation | Pacific Northwest | http://cses.washington.edu/cig/res/hwr/hwr.shtml |
| Columbia University | The Columbia Water Center | University Research Program |
The goal of the Columbia Water Center is to develop predictive capabilities for determining how water resources will be impacted by climate change. Research programs focus on climate change and water resources in the Everglades and Delaware River Basin.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Water Quality Implications; Regional and Local Information | Everglades, Florida; Delaware River Basin (NY, NJ, PA, DE) | http://www.water.columbia.edu/ |
| Purdue University Discovery Park | Purdue Climate Change Research Center | University Research Program |
The Purdue Climate Change Research Center addresses the effects of climate change on the water cycle, specifically seeking to understand how changes in timing and duration of precipitation affect water quantity and quality. Other research focuses on modeling changes in water cycles and water balances in North America.
| Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Water Quality Implications; Regional and Local Information | Varies; some research has a wide North American focus, other research initiatives are specific to Indiana. | http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/climate/index.php |
| University of California, Berkeley | Earth Sciences Division | University Research Program; Federal |
The Water Resources Research Program in the Earth Sciences Division focuses on developing approaches and analyzing issues surrounding the transport of nutrients and pathogens through water systems. This program does not directly focus on climate change, though climate change will play an increasing role in these areas.
| Water Quality Implications | California | http://esd.lbl.gov/research/programs/erwr/research_areas/water_resources.html |
| University of Maryland and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Joint Global Research Institute - Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability | University Research Program; Federal |
The Joint Global Research Institute provides research and training in natural resource modeling and assessment, vulnerability and adaptation studies, and local and global environmental mitigation methods. Specific research focuses on the potential impacts of future climate change on water resources along with decadal scale variability in the US Midwest and Pacific Northwest.
| Decision Making, Risk Management, Technical Assistance, and Tools; Adaptation; Water Quality Implications; Water Supply Implications and Demand Management; Downscaled Models; Regional and Local Information | Research programs address the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, along with National and International assessments. | http://www.globalchange.umd.edu/groups/impactgroup/ |
| National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) | Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Network | University Research; Foreign Government - Australia |
The Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Network brings together scientists with expertise in water resource management to identify climate change related risks to Australia's surface and ground water resources. The primary goals of this program are to facilitate national research, build research capacity, and synthesize relevant knowledge that informs Australian water and biodiversity managers.
| Regional and Local Information; Adaptation | Australia | http://www.nccarf.edu.au/water/node/14 |