addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

have the resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.Vulnerable populations living in institutional settings are particularly vulnerableduring evacuations from disasters. For instance, Santa Cruz County has a highproportion of elderly living in nursing homes that could be affected (English et al.,2007).Sea level rise also will affect the provision of basic services through disruptionof linear infrastructure. Portions of two of the state’s major north-southroadways—US 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH or SR 1)—are locatedon the coast. Impacts on these roadways could affect regional transportation,access to communities, and access to tourism areas. Weather-related landslidesalready regularly close SR 1 through Big Sur.Sea level rise and severe storm surges are a concern for nuclear power plantsnear the Pacific Ocean, including Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San LuisObispo County. Risks associated with this facility include flooding of containmentbuildings where highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel is stored and loss ofgenerating capacity owing to severe erosion from the intrusion of seawater andother damages to the facility due to sea level rise. The plant’s cooling practicesmight be affected due to rising ocean temperatures (CDPH, 2008). These impactscould affect those populations who live near the facility or rely on the powerproduced by the facility.Finally, communities that depend on groundwater basins within the coastal zonemay be affected by saltwater intrusion driven by sea level rise. Of particularconcern is the Pajaro Valley, which supplies water for Watsonville and surroundingagricultural areas.AgricultureResidential and agricultural development already dramatically impacts some ofthe endemic species in this region (e.g., through habitat loss). Climate changeis projected to further stress these species either through a lack of water (e.g.,vernal pools and wetlands) or alteration of habitat conditions (CDFG, 2007). Insome cases, species are able to migrate as long as appropriate habitat is availableand a pathway to the habitat is unobstructed. In the eastern, warmer, and drierportions of the region, this is a critical consideration for species such as the SanJoaquin kit fox (CDFG, 2007).The ecosystem changes that affect species–including changes in vegetativecover, water availability, seasonal temperature, and precipitation regimes–alsoaffect agricultural. Agriculture plays a significant role in the local economiesof the Central Coast region, which produces a large amount of wine grapes,strawberries, lettuce, and vegetable crops (California Farm Bureau Federation,PAGE 70APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS