CRI: Bay Area Climate News for October 2015

                  BAY AREA CLIMATE NEWS

Old Dominion study is first to look at U.S. using tide gauge and satellite data

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (Oct 15) issues latest Winter Outlook (good maps!)

Researchers Studying Probability of Hurricane Hitting Southern California

USGS and University of Cantabria looking at historical relationship of ocean temps & hurricane development and analyzing SoCal probability under future warming. Will eventually use CoSMoS to model impacts on cities

SB 246 (state-regional-local coordination), AB 1482 (state agency planning, and SB 379 (Hazard Mitigation Plans/General Plans) all signed by Governor Brown. Great news. Next question: Will adequate funds be allocated for implementation?

New planning guidance, tools and information developed, tested and refined by BCDC’s Adapting to Rising Tides Program.  Includes latest local project info, how-to, and links to BCDC’s Help Desk.

Public engagement tabletop game (now in kit form!), developed by Marin County leaders, to illustrate choices to protect and enhance “Marin Island 2050” from sea level rise and extreme storms.

CHARG (Coastal Hazards Adaptation and Resilience Group)

Over 100 engineers, planners, scientists and policy makers are participating in this Bay Area effort to coordinate and align efforts to deal with coastal and bayside flooding. Includes policy, finance, and science working groups. Fall stakeholders workshop November 12, 10am – 1 pm.

CA Resources Agency has released 10 sector-basedDRAFT Implementation Action Plans produced by state agencies. Each is 10-15 pages, including proposed next steps. Give them your input by November 30.

(More info: bruce@climatereadinessinstitute.org)

Water

UC faculty & students working with City of Berkeley to analyze groundwater potential for park/playing field irrigation and possible post-disaster use.

Health

1st meeting held October 20th of Bay Area Health Department Climate Working Group, run by CRI and the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII). Project spotlights included City/County of San Francisco’s Climate & Health Profile.

Cross-Topic

Berkeley Lab/CRI researchers developing high-resolution urban climate modeling capacity to improve understanding of heat islands, fog, etc. in the Bay Area. What are the interactions of global climate change, local microclimates and the built environment? CRI will be soliciting input from practitioners on useful data products, metrics and scenarios.

Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA) is producing a statewide workshop to define and understand the critical importance of the urban-rural connection for climate adaptation. Will explore opportunities for collaboration. November 5, 11 am – 5 pm, in Sacramento.

1976: Water Pipe on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to bring emergency water from EBMUD to Marin during big drought