How the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI)

serves as a model to solve contemporary science and policy issues

ILS 372 Carolyn Rumery BetzNovember 17, 2011

Ice cover on Lake Mendota Photo: John Magnuson Brook Trout Photo: John Lyons

Groundwater Flooding Photo: Peter Gorman

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI)

• Began in 2006 between UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

• 2007 - Working groups created through grass-roots efforts; Science Council co-chairs named in Fall organizational structure developed

• Formally announced in early 2008 as a “boundary organization” that blends the lines between science and policy-making

• In 2011 includes >200 participants; 15 working groups; advisory council and a science council

WICCI’s Mission

Assess and anticipate climate change impacts on specific Wisconsin natural resources, ecosystems and regions

Evaluate potential effects on industry, agriculture, tourism, and other human activities

Develop and recommend adaptation strategies

A.B. Sheldon

WDNR

Coordinating Committee

Advisory CommitteeCommunications and

Outreach Group

Working GroupsOperations Unit

WICCI’s Organizational Structure

• Advisory Council makes the science behind WICCI relevant to the citizens and stakeholders of Wisconsin.

• Represents businesses, NGOs, cities, agencies, recreation, agriculture

• Science Council identifies critical or emerging scientific questions related to the mission of WICCI

• Provides leadership on climate change impact issues in Wisconsin

• Organizes and coordinates Working Groups

• Working Groups identify potential risks and vulnerabilities pertinent to working group topic area or geographic region

• Summarize existing information on climate change impacts

• Identify data and research needed to assess future impacts

• Recommend adaptation strategies

WICCI’s Structure

Over 200 Collaborators

WICCI CollaboratorsFederal U.S. Department of AgricultureU.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Geological Survey

State State of Wisconsin Commissioner of InsuranceWisconsin Coastal Management ProgramWisconsin Conservation CongressWisconsin Council on Forestry Wisconsin Department of TransportationWisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ProtectionWisconsin Department of Health and Family ServicesWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Emergency ManagementWisconsin Geological and Natural History SurveyWisconsin Public Service CommissionWisconsin State Climatology OfficeWisconsin State Legislature

Tribal GroupsGreat Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Local/MunicipalCity of Fitchburg EngineeringCity of Madison Storm Water UtilityCity of Racine Water & Wastewater UtilityColumbia County Land & Water ConservationDane County Land Conservation DivisionGreater Milwaukee CommitteeLeague of Wisconsin Municipalities Madison & Dane County Public Health DepartmentMadison Metropolitan Sewerage DistrictMilwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage DistrictSoutheast Wisconsin Regional Planning CommissionWisconsin Towns Association

UniversitiesLakehead UniversityUW ExtensionUW Sea GrantUW-Engineering Professional DevelopmentUW-Green BayUW-La CrosseUW-MadisonUW-MilwaukeeUW-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER InstituteUW-Stevens Point

NGO's1000 Friends of Wisconsin American Birkebeiner Ski FoundationClean WisconsinEducation Communications Board Fox-Wolf Rivers Environmental History ProjectGrow North Regional Economic Development Corporation, Inc.Natural Areas Preservation Council Nature NetNew North, Inc. Professional Dairy Producers of WisconsinSecond Look HolsteinsThe Association of State Floodplain ManagersThe Nature ConservancyTrout UnlimitedWisconsin Citizen-Based Monitoring NetworkWisconsin Environmental InitiativeWisconsin River AllianceWisconsin Paper CouncilWisconsin Wetlands AssociationWisconsin Wildlife Federation

Private SectorAECOMAlliant Energy HNTB CorporationMontgomery Associates-Resource SolutionsMSA Professional Services, Inc.S.C. JohnsonShort Elliott Hendrickson, Inc.We Energies

Water Resources

Human Health

Milwaukee

Coldwater Fish

Stormwater

Wildlife

Green Bay

Coastal Communities

Forestry

Central Sands Hydrology

Agriculture

Adaptation

Climate

Plants and Natural

Communities

WICCI Working Groups

Soil Conservation

First Assessment Report Released February 2011

Water Resources Working GroupWisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

October 2010

Climate

Water

wicci.wisc.edu/

Carolyn Betz

Reaching out to decision makers, educators and the general public

Carolyn Betz

Carolyn Betz