WHAT:

As part of a virtual public workshop, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its member agencies will confer with a panel of experts to anticipate and plan for the wide range of uncertainties climate change will pose to the region’s water supply and demands over the next 25 years. Four panelists will address how climate change will affect hydrologic conditions in Metropolitan’s service area and the watersheds associated with Southern California’s imported water supply. They will also offer better understanding of the key drivers that will impact future water reliability.

WHEN:

Tuesday, May 25, 12:30-3:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Workshop can be accessed at mwdh2o.com

EXPERTS:

Heather Cooley, director of research, Pacific Institute

Heidi Roop, assistant professor, Department of Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota

Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist, Colorado Water Institute, Colorado State University

Julie Vano, research director, Aspen Global Change Institute

BACKGROUND:

The public, virtual workshop is part of Metropolitan’s long-range planning process, known as its Integrated Water Resources Plan, which anticipates how much water the region can expect from its imported and local supply sources and forecasts regional water demand so that it can take strategic actions to address any water supply gaps and maintain future water reliability. Metropolitan’s 2020 IRP looks at multiple scenarios that could plausibly unfold in the future due to climate change, economic growth, regulations affecting water sources and demands, and other variables.