Progress on incorporating climate change into management of California's water resources

This paper presents preliminary efforts by agencies managing California's water resources to incorporate climate change research into their planning and management tools. Projected increases in air temperature may lead to changes in the precipitation patterns, runoff timing and volume, sea level rise, and changes in the amount of irrigation water needed due to modified evapotranspiration rates. Historical observations of climate change related to California's water resources are shown. Results from preliminary modeling studies of potential impacts of climate change to operations of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project, Delta water quality and water levels, flood forecasting and evapotranspiration rates are presented. Future directions to incorporate risk assessment are discussed.