addressing climate change adaptation in regional transportation plans

Desert RegionCounties: Imperial, Riverside, San BernardinoFive Largest Cities (CDOF, 2011): Riverside (305,779); San Bernardino(211,076); Fontana (198,456); Moreno Valley (195,215); Ranch Cucamonga(168,181)Total 2010 PopulationDesert 4,399,379Imperial 174,528Riverside 2,189,641San Bernardino 2,035,210[U.S. Census Bureau, 2010]The Desert is a heavily urbanized inland region (4.3+ million people) made up ofsprawling suburban development in the west near the South Coast region andvast stretches of open, largely federally owned desert land to the east. Prominentcities within the desert portion include Palm Springs (44,500+) and El Centro(42,500+). The region’s character is defined largely by the San Gabriel Mountains,San Gorgonio Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and smaller inland mountainsreaching through the desert to the Colorado River, which borders the region onthe east.Communities in the Desert region should consider evaluating the followingclimate change impacts:• Reduced water supply• Increased temperature• Reduced precipitation• Diminished snowpack• Wildfire risk• Public health and social vulnerability• Stress on special-status speciesAPG: UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS PAGE 93