Kindy Gosal, Columbia Basin Trust

Adapting to Climate Change in the

Columbia Basin

The Columbia Basin

Projected Temperature Change

Precipitation Projections

Changes in Snowpack

Changes in Streamflow

Goal:

• Support communities to

increase their resiliency

related to climate

change impacts at a

local level.

Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative

Approach to adaptation

Steps in Adaptation

Dialogue and Good Communication

Vulnerability Assessment

Develop Adaptation Strategy

Implement Actions

2006 to present

2006

• CBT research with PCIC background paper

• Outreach via climate change science roadshow

2007

• Initiative launched on climate change adaptation

• 1st regional workshop for local government on adaptation

2008-2009

• Kimberley and Elkford local projects

• 5 additional governments observe and learn via network

• 2nd regional workshop for local government on adaptation

2009-2010

• Rossland, Castlegar and Kaslo/Area D local projects

• 15 local governments + 3 regional districts observing, learning, taking interest via network

Essence of the Work

• Engaging communities to incorporate impacts and adaptation thinking into their work

• Bridging the gap between climate science and local communities

• Translating science into realities on the ground

• Understanding risks and opportunities

• Action planning

The structure of concentric circles

Community Projects

Technical support

Advisory Committee

Learning

Network

• Community projects at the center

• Adaptation planning process in communities

• Technical support

• Direct to projects and CBT

• Learning Network

• Community project reps, other interested local governments, technical support members

• Advisory committee

• High level strategic advice to initiative/CBT

• CBT

• Coordination, project support, funding, partnerships

CACCI Structure unpacked

The local government partnership

CBT provides:

• Funding $30,000

• Technical support

• Coordination support

Local government provides:

• Commitment to the process

• Resources

• Staff time

• Steering committee

Partnerships = success

• Partnerships help bridge high level climate science to the local, community level.

6 step planning process

1. Get Started

2. Learn About Climate Change

3. Identify Priorities in Your Community

4. Assess Vulnerability, Risk & Opportunities

5. Develop Adaptation Strategies and Actions

6. Implementation & Monitoring of Plan

#1 Get Started

Each community commits to

the process including initial

steps to:

• Establish a local

coordinator

• Establish a local steering

committee

• Develop a workplan

#2 Learn about Climate Change

Working with communities means bringing the climate science

down to the community level and grounding it in local

observations.

#3 Identify priorities in your community

Public outreach and events help identify the priorities in the

community. Community impact mapping and voting are

techniques that are used at the community level to help identify

priorities for further investigation.

Kimberley’s Adaptation Project (2008-2009)

Kimberley identified three priority climate impact issue areas:

1. Water and forests (natural environment)

2. Municipal infrastructure (built environment)

3. Tourism (socio-economic environment)

The adaptation plan has 100+ recommendations,

from simple, “no-regrets” measures, to more complex investigations.

District of Elkford’s Adaptation Project (2008-9)

Three impact areas were identified.

Actions drafted into new OCP (May 2010)

1. Wildfire

2. Flooding

3. Water supply

#4 Vulnerability and Risk Assessment

Process Step Summary

Description

Purpose

Vulnerability

assessment

Identifying the

“weak” spots

Figure out which risks can be

adapted to more easily, and which

will require substantial resources or

other changes.

Risk assessment What to pay

attention to first

Figure out the biggest risks

requiring action

#5 Developing adaptation strategies and actions

In many instances the adaptation action plan will inform

the official community planning document or other planning

documents in the community.

Elkford’s example of an action strategy to address water

supply is below.

Goal:

Understand

and

manage water

supply

Objective:

Encourage water

conservation and

demand reduction

High urgency strategy

recommendation:

Adapt municipal building bylaw to

require

low-flow plumbing fixtures for all new

buildings

Update subdivision servicing bylaws:

Implement low impact development

standards for new developments

Learning and sharing within the Basin

• The Learning Network is made up of local governments in the

Columbia Basin, CBT Technical Support Team and Advisory

Committee.

• CBT supports LN members to learn, share and act.

• 18 communities & 3 Regional Districts are participating

Adaptation Initiative

Learning, sharing and documenting the process

for the Basin and beyond

The Online Adaptation

Resource Kit is based

on the experience of

Phase One and

creates a road map for

other communities.

• Videos

• Key resources

• Comments &

feedback on

process

Lessons from the Communities

• Review the data, understand the science

• Ensure both staff and council are involved at all stages of the project

• Look for synergies with your planning processes

• Communications is important – media, workshops

• Be flexible

• Commit to implementation of the adaptation plan

• Start today!

6 months into current community projects

Communities and their priorities for investigation (2009-2010)

Rossland

Socio-economic

approach

Castlegar

Kaslo & Regional

District of

Central Kootenay Area D

Infrastructure

Water availability

Food security and agriculture

Energy

Water systems

Food Security and Agriculture

Municipal infrastructure: stormwater system

Food security and agriculture

Additional topics under consideration

Learning Network Outreach 2010

• Primer Workshops to help new communities ‘Get

Started’

– Climate Science, Impacts on the Ground, Where to Start

Planning

– Improved communication tools

• Online webinars for:

– Sharing experiences (June 22)

– Planning links (capacity building May 26)

Strategic Planning 2010

• Advisory Committee reflections on next steps (June)

• Monitoring and Learning with Phase 1 and Phase 2 communities

(July-August)

• Reflection and Future thinking planned for September 2010 with all

technical support, advisors, locals and resource people.

Communities Adapting to CC Initiative

Actions: Water Conservation

Per Capita Water Use in Communities in the

Columbia Basin

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Consumption

Europe: 160 L/P/D

USA & Canada: 350 L/P/D

Columbia Basin

Communities 500-1800 L/P/D

Cost :

Europe : $ 2.00-7.30 / m3

Canada: $ 0.63-0.90 /m3

Columbia Basin

Communities: $ 0.15-0.87/ m3

Communities Adapting to CC Initiative

Contact Information:

Web: www.cbt.org/climatechange

CBT Phone: 1 800 505 8998