addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Timber practices have also had ecosystem consequences that are exacerbatedby climate change. The timber industry has resulted in forests with trees ofsimilar age, lacking snags and underbrush. These management practices reducethe diversity of the habitat. In addition, logging road construction and firesuppression has also altered these habitats (CDFG, 2007).The most altered habitat in the Sierra is aquatic and riparian systems. The causesof this change include development and water diversion (CDFG, 2007). Changesin hydrologic flow regime and increased temperature will further stress thesesystems, which are home to many special- status species.Snowpack and FloodingThe North Sierra snowpack serves as a reservoir for the rest of the state. Theclimate-related decrease in snowpack therefore will have dramatic consequenceson the lowland area that depends on this water.In addition, the snowpack decrease may cause the North Sierra region toexperience detrimental impacts from flooding, landslide, and loss of economicbase (e.g., skiing). These flood events are likely to put additional pressure onwater infrastructure and increase the chance of flooding along waterways.Flooding and damage to infrastructure can put large populations at risk (CDPH,2008). The populations at risk include the elderly and children, who are isolatedor dependent on others for evacuation. Populations that lack the resourcesor knowledge to prepare or respond to disaster due to language barriers oreconomic status, including having access to transportation, which would allowthem to escape, at least temporarily, flooding also may be at risk (English et al.,2007).More than any other part of the state, the North Sierra region relies on tourismas its economic base. Recreation and tourism are also likely to suffer dueto lower water levels in waterways and reservoirs and declining snowpack.Reduced recreational opportunities due to fewer ski days or low water levelswill affect the other economic sectors fed by tourism such as hotels, restaurants,and second home development. In addition, employees of these industries maybecome more economically vulnerable because of unstable working conditions.WildfireDespite the fact that the ecosystems in the North Sierra have evolved withrecurring fire, there is a long history of fire suppression in the North Sierraregion. Recently, fire has been recognized as a critical part of ecosystem function(CDFG, 2007). The challenge is twofold: (1) a century of built-up fuel due tosuppression cannot be remedied quickly, and (2) the number of structures thathave been built throughout the region make it difficult to let fires burn.PAGE 78APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS