addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Communities in this region should evaluate their vulnerability to loss of the watersupply from the Delta and plan accordingly.Limited water supply could have drastic impacts on the economic stability of theregion. The vast majority of the region’s water supply (approximately 80 percent;DWR, 2011) supports agriculture. Loss or reduction of water supply wouldundermine the economic engine of the region. Communities should carefully planto bolster water supply, simultaneously working to improve the local efficiency ofuse.Surface Water and FloodingRapid snowmelt or intense rain affects not only water supply, but also the aquaticsystems that rely on the flows and the safety of communities in the Sierra foothills.Aquatic systems (e.g., river, lakes, and wetlands) rely on a seasonal hydrologicalregime. Climate change will disrupt this regime, forcing species to adapt.Recreation and tourism in the region are also likely to suffer due to lower waterlevels in waterways and reservoirs and declining snowpack. Employees of theseindustries may become more economically vulnerable because of unstable workingconditions.The mountainous areas are projected to have less precipitation falling as snow andto be subject to rapid melt events. This will result in extreme, high-flow events andflooding in the valley. Communities should evaluate local floodplains and recognizeareas where a small increase in flood height would inundate large areas andpotentially threaten structures, infrastructure, agricultural fields, and/or public safety.FireA big increase in large fire occurrence is projected for the eastern portion of theregion. Once burned, these areas may be prone to landslide or debris flow. Largeproperty loss should be expected in areas with higher population densities, such astourist destinations in the foothills to the east of Fresno.Additional Resources• Wildfire Resources• x California Fire Science Consortium, Central & South Coast Module: http://www.cafiresci.org/home-central-and-southern-ca/• x California Fire Alliance: http://cafirealliance.org/• x California FireSafe Council: http://www.firesafecouncil.org/• Biodiversity and Ecosystems• x California Department of Fish and Game. 2007. California Wildlife:Conservation Challenges - California’s Wildlife Action Plan. Sacramento.Retrieved from http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/wap/report.htmlPAGE 64APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS