Water and Climate Change Research
Climate change has many impacts on our natural resources, including shifts to the local and regional hydrologic (water-flow) cycle. For example, in many areas of our country, frequency of droughts and extreme rainfall events are increasing. Every year seems to bring about an earlier spring melt and increased surface water temperatures. These new patterns are expected to continue and to shift outside of historical trends – making forecasting our water quality and supply more difficult. Additionally, more than two thirds of our country is anticipating water shortages over the next several years.
EPA conducts research to better understand these growing impacts of climate change on water quality and availability. This cutting-edge science helps determine and support new strategies for managing watersheds and wastewater while reducing water-related energy demands. In order to protect public health and the health of our ecosystems in the face of a changing climate, EPA research focuses on:
- Modeling climate-related water resource stressors such as nutrient pollution
- Analyzing biological indicators, such as microbial, and habitat indicators, such as hydrologic alteration, to determine the condition of the watershed
- Determining how climate change affects water quality, flow patterns, and flooding risk
- Understanding estuarine and coastal vulnerabilities to climate-related factors
- Designing predictive tools for improved land use management and water utility practices
- Developing adaptation strategies, including economic, social, and ecological approaches to meet climate-related challenges.
Related Resources
Workshops/Reports
- Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Quality, and Global Change: Challenges of Conducting Multi-stressor Global Change Vulnerability Assessments
- BASINS and WEPP Climate Assessment Tools (CAT): Case Study Guide to Potential Applications
- Climate and Land Use Change Effects on Ecological Resources in Three Watersheds: A Synthesis Report
- Climate Ready Estuaries Report -- Volume I
- Climate Ready Estuaries Report -- Volume II
- Freshwater Biological Traits Database Report
- Implications of Climate Change for State Bioassessment Programs and Approaches to Account for Effects
- Regional Monitoring Networks (RMN) to Detect Changing Baselines in Freshwater Wadeable Streams (Final Report)
Related EPA Information
- Climate Change and Nutrient Interaction
- Climate Change and Water
- Climate Impacts on Water Resources
- Climate Ready Estuaries
- Climate Ready Water Utilities
- Drought Reslience and Water Conservation
- Securing and Sustaining Water Systems Research
Tools
- BASINS 4.0 Climate Assessment Tool (CAT): Supporting Documentation and User's Manual
- Being Prepared for Climate Change Workbook
- Climate Resilience Evaluation & Awareness Tool (CREAT)
- WEPPCAT: An Online Tool for Assessing and Managing the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Sediment Loading to Streams