---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Makuch, Joseph" <
Joseph.Makuch@ars.usda.gov>
Date: Oct 6, 2011 4:50 PM
Subject: [ENVIRO-NEWS] EPA Climate Change and Water News
To: <
Enviro-News@ars.usda.gov>
From:
water_climate_change@epa.gov [mailto:
water_climate_change@epa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 4:04 PM
Subject: EPA Climate Change and Water News
EPA Climate Change and Water News
U.S. EPA News
U.S. EPA Releases Report: An Assessment of Decision-Making Processes: Evaluation of Where Land Protection Planning can Incorporate Climate Change Information
This report, prepared by the Global Change Research Program (GCRP) in the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. EPA, is a review of decision-making processes of selected land protection programs. The goal of this report is to assess the feasibility of incorporating climate change impacts into the evaluation of these programs. The assessment revealed that there are several strategies that might be useful for incorporating climate change into decision making. As part of a portfolio of adaptation strategies, land protection may become more important for jurisdictions, particularly to ameliorate climate change impacts on watersheds and wildlife. To view the report, visit:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/global/recordisplay.cfm?deid=238091 . To view the Federal Register notice, visit:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-22/html/2011-24365.htm .
U.S. EPA Releases Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan 2011
The Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan 2011 is a collaborative product of the EPA and State and Federal partners, with input from non-governmental organizations. State partners include both the Association of Clean Water Administrators and Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The Action Plan presents a clear, consistent framework for action, both internally among EPA's own programs and externally in working with partners. The Action Plan describes the HWI, including its vision, guiding principles, goals and objectives; and presents an implementation framework for actions by EPA and States. To view the Action Plan, please visit:
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/hwi_action.cfm?CFID=6186452&CFTOKEN=50855028.
Save the Date - U.S. EPA, the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management Program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry to Host Conference: Climate Change in the Caribbean: Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 15 - 16, 2011 at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Law
This free two-day conference will provide participants the opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field about climate change impacts and projections for the U.S. Caribbean, strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and steps that can be taken in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to increase resilience in the face of a changing climate. For more information on the conference, please visit:
http://www.drna.gobierno.pr/oficinas/arn/recursosvivientes/costasreservasrefugios/pmzc/cc-conference/Invitation.pdf .
Other Federal Agency News
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Seeks Public Comment until November 29, 2011 on 2012 - 2021 Strategic Plan
On September 30, 2011, a Federal Register Notice announced the opening of the public comment period for the U.S. Global Change Research Program's 2012-2021 Strategic Plan. Every ten years, in accordance with the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (Sec 104, P.L. 101-606), the USGCRP must produce a 10 year National Global Change Research Plan (i.e., a Strategic Plan for the USGCRP). For further information on USGCRP, visit:
http://www.globalchange.gov. The public comment period for the 2012-2021 Strategic Plan is open for 60 days and comments are due by November 29, 2011. All comments are encouraged to be submitted through this website:
http://strategicplancomments.globalchange.gov/ . Comments may also be addressed to
strategicplancomments@usgcrp.gov. Please read the [guidelines] (
http://strategicplancomments.globalchange.gov/email-guidelines ) on the 2012-2021 USGCRP Strategic Plan before emailing them.
U.S. Department of the Interior Releases Report: Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States
The report, released October 3, 2011, assesses the status of scientific information available to help understand the impacts of climate change and other stressors on U.S. freshwater resources and calls for modernization of systems to help monitor and sustain water supplies. The report was prepared by a federal interagency panel led by USGS and developed in concert with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), NOAA, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The report reviews the state of existing science and identifies strategies for improving systems to collect climate-related data and water monitoring information. The improvements are intended to help water managers predict, respond and adapt to the effects of climate change on the nation's freshwater supplies so that they can help ensure adequate water quantity and quality. For more information and to view the report, visit:
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Interior-Report-Assesses-Scientific-Water-Monitori!
ng-and-Modeling-Systems-and-Calls-for-Modernization-to-Help-Sustain-Water-Supplies.cfm . [or
http://go.usa.gov/91V ]
Other News
Save the Date - The German Federal Government to Host Bonn2011 Conference: The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus, Solutions for the Green Economy on November 16 - 18, 2011 at the World Conference Center, Bonn
The German Government has recognized a clear need for new approaches which address the interconnections within the water, energy and food security nexus. The conference will focus on the three action fields of sustainable development: The social dimension: Accelerating Access, integrating the bottom of the pyramid; The economic dimension: Creating more with less; and, The ecologic dimension: Investing to sustain ecosystem services. The conference will put a nexus lens on the three action fields while focusing on better understanding the interlinkages between the three securities. Further, the discussions will focus on identifying enabling conditions which facilitate the transition to a greener economy. For more information on the conference, please visit:
http://www.water-energy-food.org/en/conference/home.html.
The Clean Water America Alliance Releases Report: Barriers and Gateways to Green Infrastructure
The report summarizes the results of a survey of utilities, academics, and government officials regarding barriers to green infrastructure, informed by the ongoing green infrastructure research and education programs of The Clean America Water Alliance. Recommendations were developed and refined through conversations with partner organizations including American Rivers, The Conservation Fund, Low Impact Development Center, Smart Growth America, and the Alliance's Urban Water Sustainability Council. To read the report, please visit:
http://bit.ly/gireport.
State of Massachusetts Releases Report: Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report, September, 2011
This report, prepared by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, is the first broad overview of climate change as it affects Massachusetts, the impacts of this change, vulnerabilities of multiple sectors ranging from natural resources, infrastructure, public health, and the economy. It also provides an analysis of potential strategies. To read the report, please visit:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Air,+Water+%26+Climate+Change&L2=Climate+Change&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_energy_cca-report&csid=Eoeea .
________________________________________
EPA Climate Change and Water News is produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). For more information on EPA's climate change activities, visit
http://epa.gov/climatechange. For an overview of climate change and water issues, visit
http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange.
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