Tapped Out: Climate Change's Impact on Our PNW Water

Climate change is impacting the PNW right now. In Washington, our summers are getting hotter and drier. Did you know we’ve already lost 15-30% of our snowpack over the last 80 years with even more expected in the next 80 years? Our reservoirs aren’t big enough to withstand large periods of droughts, like in other states like California.

What do we need to be doing from a climate change perspective? Enter the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, which is helping to build climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest. We talked with Research Scientist, Guillaume Mauger to discuss the state of Washington right now and what you can do to help with climate change and adaptation. 

Episode Topics:

• What is the UW Climate Impacts Group
• Difference between climate mitigation vs adaptation
• The two important ways to look at climate change
• The impacts on snowpack and reservoirs
• Will summers get hotter and drier?
• Climate Impacts Group research and work in the PNW
• Working with tribes
• Three steps people can take to promote climate adaptation 

Learn more about Cascade Water Alliance’s We Need Water Program
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