Climate Change and Integrated Regional Water Management in California: A Preliminary Assessment of Regional Approaches

This report examines the initial steps that IRWM regions are taking in response to new requirements to address climate change vulnerabilities and consider greenhouse gas emissions in IRWM plans.

Given our evolving understanding of climate change impacts and appropriate adaptation strategies, effectively integrating climate change into planning is a challenging task. This report seeks to
learn from initial steps by IRWM regions in order to inform future guidance and support. It also identifies key considerations for DWR and IRWM regions in analyzing and adapting to climate change
risks within an adaptive management framework.

Specifically, this report seeks to:

1. Assess the manner and degree to which the climate change requirements in the 2010 IRWM Guidelines are met in Round 1 Proposition 84 Planning and Implementation grant proposals, and in recently approved IRWM plans
2. Assess current IRWM regional approaches to analyzing and adapting to climate change risks, in light of the overall goal to promote an adaptive management approach
3. Provide recommendations on key steps for DWR and IRWM regions to support the development of informative climate change analyses and mechanisms for adaptive management at regional and state levels

This assessment is based on a review of the current IRWM climate change requirements, existing IRWM plans, and Planning and Implementation grant proposals funded in 2011. It is also informed by interviews conducted by DWR regional climate change specialists with representatives of IRWM regions regarding their plans to address climate change.