addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans
addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans 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
To this mix, climate change is added. Climate change is projected to result inlarge increases in wildfire frequency and size. The expected property loss is likelyto be highest in areas with higher population densities (Westerling and Bryant,2006).Fire can also set in motion a series of other potential impacts. Following fire, anintense rainstorm can result in landslide or large erosion events that can havedrastic consequences for the receiving stream, river, or lake.Public Health, Socioeconomic, and Equity ImpactsThe foothill areas outside the Sacramento area (e.g., Placerville, Auburn, GrassValley) show higher ozone levels and increased temperatures. People over theage of 65 have the largest increase in mortality with increased concentrationsof ozone (Medina-Ramon and Schwartz, 2008), and the elderly make upapproximately 20 percent of the population in Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa,Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, and Tuolomne counties. In addition, people who work orspend a lot of time outdoors, such as employees of the tourist industry (LakeTahoe), are vulnerable. In Mariposa, Placer, Plumas, and Tuolomne counties, lodgingand food services rank among the top five employment sectors. The combinationof diminished snowpack and exposure to higher ozone levels may make thesepopulations particularly vulnerable.Additional Resources• Wildfire Resources• x California Fire Science Consortium, Sierra Nevada Module: http://www.cafiresci.org/homepage-sierra-nevada/• x Northern California Prescribed Fire Council: http://www.norcalrxfirecouncil.org/Home_Page.html• x NorCal Society of American Foresters: http://norcalsaf.org/• x Quincy Library Group: http://qlg.org/• x California Fire Alliance: http://cafirealliance.org/• x California FireSafe Council: http://www.firesafecouncil.org/• Biodiversity and Ecosystems• x Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: http://ceres.ca.gov/snep/• 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.html• x The Wildlife Action Plan divides the state into regions. The Sierra Nevadaand Cascades Region overlaps with the North Sierra region.• x Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: http://www.trpa.org/APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 79
- Page 222 and 223: Bay Area RegionCounties: Alameda, C
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- Page 278 and 279: ultimately result in reduced water
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To this mix, <strong>climate</strong> <strong>change</strong> is added. Climate <strong>change</strong> is projected to result <strong>in</strong>large <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> wildfire frequency and size. The expected property loss is likelyto be highest <strong>in</strong> areas with higher population densities (Westerl<strong>in</strong>g and Bryant,2006).Fire can also set <strong>in</strong> motion a series of other potential impacts. Follow<strong>in</strong>g fire, an<strong>in</strong>tense ra<strong>in</strong>storm can result <strong>in</strong> landslide or large erosion events that can havedrastic consequences for the receiv<strong>in</strong>g stream, river, or lake.Public Health, Socioeconomic, and Equity ImpactsThe foothill areas outside the Sacramento area (e.g., Placerville, Auburn, GrassValley) show higher ozone levels and <strong>in</strong>creased temperatures. People over theage of 65 have the largest <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> mortality with <strong>in</strong>creased concentrationsof ozone (Med<strong>in</strong>a-Ramon and Schwartz, 2008), and the elderly make upapproximately 20 percent of the population <strong>in</strong> Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa,Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, and Tuolomne counties. In addition, people who work orspend a lot of time outdoors, such as employees of the tourist <strong>in</strong>dustry (LakeTahoe), are vulnerable. In Mariposa, Placer, Plumas, and Tuolomne counties, lodg<strong>in</strong>gand food services rank among the top five employment sectors. The comb<strong>in</strong>ationof dim<strong>in</strong>ished snowpack and exposure to higher ozone levels may make thesepopulations particularly vulnerable.Additional Resources• Wildfire Resources• x California Fire Science Consortium, Sierra Nevada Module: http://www.cafiresci.org/homepage-sierra-nevada/• x Northern California Prescribed Fire Council: http://www.norcalrxfirecouncil.org/Home_Page.html• x NorCal Society of American Foresters: http://norcalsaf.org/• x Qu<strong>in</strong>cy Library Group: http://qlg.org/• x California Fire Alliance: http://cafirealliance.org/• x California FireSafe Council: http://www.firesafecouncil.org/• Biodiversity and Ecosystems• x Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: http://ceres.ca.gov/snep/• 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.html• x The Wildlife Action Plan divides the state <strong>in</strong>to regions. The Sierra Nevadaand Cascades Region overlaps with the North Sierra region.• x Tahoe Regional Plann<strong>in</strong>g Agency: http://www.trpa.org/APG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 79
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