safeguarding california in ac2on -...

SafeguardingCaliforniaInAc2on:

ClimateChangeAdapta/onExamplesfromState

Agencies

California is experiencing a changing climate, and impacts fromclimatechangeareonlyaccelera/ng in their severityand frequency.

Projec/ons showing increased drought, wildfire, inland and coastal

flooding, and extreme heat events require ac/on to safeguard

California from the harmful impacts of climate change. The

SafeguardingCaliforniaPlan,updatedin2018,istheState’sroadmapforongoingac/onsandnextstepstoadapttoclimateimpacts.

The33examplesinthiscompila/onprovidemoreconcreteexamples

of the steps outlined in the Safeguarding California Plan to make

communi/es, infrastructure, services, and the natural environmentmoreresilient to climatechange.Eachof theseexampleshighlights

unique strategies funded by the State to combat and adapt to the

effectsofclimatechangeinconcreteandmeaningfulways.

To findmore case studies across California, aswell as resources forimplemen/ngclimateadapta/onprojectsandpolicies,pleasevisitthe

Adapta/on Clearinghouse coordinated by the Governor’s Office of

PlanningandResearch:opr.ca.gov/clearinghouse/adapta/on/

Summary

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Agriculture

Parks,Recrea2on,andCaliforniaCulture

BiodiversityandHabitat

Forests

Oceans

Water

General

Transporta2on

EmergencyManagement

Energy

PublicHealth

LandUse

ClimateJus2ce

The13sectoriconsbelowhelpcreateavisualsystemthatshowshowstategovernmentagencies’adapta/onac/ons indis/nctsectorsare

woventogetheraspartofaholis/croadmapforresiliencetoclimate

change. Each of the examples in this compila/on aremarkedwith

oneormoreoftheseiconstoindicatethefocusoftheprogramsand

projectsdescribed.

GuidetoSafeguardingCaliforniaIden2fiers

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The Blue Lake Rancheria (“Tribe”), a federally-recognized tribe in rural Humboldt County, hasundertakenanaggressive,integratedstrategytoimprovepublichealth,lowergreenhousegas(GHG)emissions,andadapttoachangingclimate.Pollu/onandclimatehazardsareamplifiedonthesetriballandsduetogeographicisola/on;theregion’smainroadsarepronetolandslidesandconnec/onstooutsideelectricity,naturalgas,andcommunica/ongridsaretenuous.TheTribehasiden/fiednearbyhazardousinfrastructureandairandwaterpollu/onconcerns,andtheseimpactsareexacerbatedbytheeffectsofclimatechange.

Aligning with California, the Tribe’s government, elected leaders, and staff have made significantprogresstowardcleanenergy,GHGreduc/ons,andcommunityresilience.TheTribehasimplementedawiderangeofprojectstoaddressthesegoals,includingstepstoensuregreatercri/calinfrastructureand resource reliability during emergencies. For example, with funding from the California PublicU/li/es’ Electric Program Investment Charge, the Tribe developed a low-carbon, community-scalemicrogridwitha500-kWsolararray,a1-MWhTeslabacerystoragesystem,andaSiemensmicrogridmanagement system. Backed by numerous partners, including the California Energy Commission,Schatz Energy Research Center, California State University at Humboldt, Pacific Gas and ElectricCompany, IdahoNa/onal Laboratory, Siemens, Tesla, REC Solar,McKeever Energy, Colburn Electric,KernenConstruc/on,andtheAmericanRedCross,themicrogridenablestheTribetosupply itsownpowertoacampusofcri/calinfrastructureduringemergencies,andithasresultedinenergysavingsof$200,000/year,a10%increaseincleanenergyemployment,andareduc/onofat least150tons/yearofGHGemissions.Otherprojectsto improvetheTribe’sresiliencetoclimatechange include1)developmentofasmartcommunitywatersystem,2)afoodsovereigntyini/a/ve,3)developmentofaResilience Training and Innova/on Center, 4) transi/on to green transporta/on, includingdevelopmentofregionalElectricVehicle(EV)infrastructure,addingEVbuseswithintheTribe’spublictransitsystem,andbiodieselmanufacturingusingtheTribe’swastecookingoil,and5)anagreementwiththeAmericanRedCrosstoserveasashelter-in-placeintheeventofaregionalemergency.TheTribe’s efforts, including significant mi/ga/on of greenhouse gas emissions, improved energy andwaterefficiency,andplanstoshelterandprotect indigenousandothercommuni/es intheeventofclimateemergenciesorextremeevents,arecri/calforsustainableclimatechangeadapta/on.

ClimateResiliencePlanningAmongCaliforniaNa/veTribes

Formoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visithcp://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/

ImagesprovidedbyBlueLakeRancheria

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ClimatechangewillcontributetovariableandunpredictablesnowfallinCalifornia’smountainousareas.Asextremeweatherbecomesmore frequent,buildingsand infrastructuremustundergorenova/ons towithstand the impacts of these events. Donner Trail Elementary School in theTahoe-TruckeeJointUnifiedSchoolDistrictispronetoreceivingbetween200-400inchesofsnowinthewinter/me.Theschoolbuilding,withasnowloadra/ngofapproximately130poundspersquarefootinthewinter(wellbelowtheNevadaCountyBuildingcode’srequired252poundspersquarefoot)wasatriskofcollapseundertheweightofanincreasedsnowload.Recognizingthedangerstothebuildingandthepublichealthriskintheeventofheavysnowaccumula/on,theDistrict applied for the California Office of Emergency Services’ Hazard Mi/ga/on Grant forsupport inrenova/ngtheroofoftheschoolandincreasingtheschool’ssnowloadcapabilitytomeet building code requirements. In January 2017 amer the project was complete, the areaexperienced one of the worst winter storms and snowfalls on record with approximately 300inchesofsnow. Asaresultofthefacility’sstructuralimprovements,theschoolwithstoodwhatcouldhavepreviouslybeenacatastrophicwinterevent.

HazardMi/ga/onatDonnerTrailElementarySchool

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaOfficeofEmergencyServices.Clockwisefromlem:DonnerTrailElementarySchoolfromtheoutside;theinterioroftheroofbeforeitwasrenovatedtomeetlocalbuildingcodespecifica/ons;theinterioroftheroofameritwasrenovatedto

meetbuildingcoderequirements.

Formoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visit:hcp://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/

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Thethreatofclimate-relatedwildfirescalledtheCaliforniaOfficeofEmergencyServicestoac/on.Partnering with the Big Bear Lake Fire Protec/on District, The City of Big Bear Lake, and SanBernardinoCounty FireProtec/onDistrict, theOfficeof Emergency Services setout to replacehazardous wood shake shingle roofs on structures iden/fied by the Mountain Area SafetyTaskforceneartheSanBernardinoNa/onalForestboundaries. Thesehigh-riskstructureswereenhanced by replacing the wood shake shingles with 30-year Class A composi/on roofingmaterialandbyretrofinnghomeswithnon-emberintrusionventswiththegoalofreducingtheriskofwildfire-destroyedhomesby51%.Withtheadventofclimate-exacerbatedwildfire,theseprecau/onarymeasuresarecri/caltoprotec/ngCaliforniahomes.

BigBearRoofReplacements

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(KG_oroville_8531_09_01_2017.jpg)


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Climatechange is impac/ngenergyneeds inthestateofCalifornia. Duringperiodsofextremeheat,forexample,energydemandincreasesasmorepeoplerelyonaircondi/oningtostaycool.As climate-related events becomemore frequent, improved energy efficiencywill enhance thestate’s resilience to climate change. The Santee Unified School District recognized theopportunitytoimproveitsenergyefficiencybyretrofinngtheen/redistrictwithover8,000newLEDligh/ngfixtures. InpartnershipwiththeCaliforniaConserva/onCorps’VistaEnergyCenter,California Energy Commission, and Department of Educa/on, the District used Proposi/on 39fundingtoimplementtheprojectbetweenJuneandSeptemberof2016. Withthenewligh/ngfixtures, thedistrict savesaprojected720,000Kilowachoursperyear,which translates to171metrictonsofannualgreenhousegasemissionsreduc/on.Notonlydoesthisprojectreducetheschool’srou/neenergyuseandthecostoftheu/lity,butitalsopreparesthedistrictwithmoreefficient means to maintain func/on during extreme climate events when energy demandsfluctuate.

EnhancingEnergyEfficiencyintheSanteeUnifiedSchoolDistrict

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaEnergyCommission


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The Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program provides direct funding for solarinstalla/ons in low-income communi/es in California. Administered by nonprofit GRIDAlterna/ves, it provides up-front rebates to help low-income homeowners served by investor-owned u/li/es access the benefits of solar power, with integrated workforce developmentopportuni/es.TheprogramwascreatedbyAssemblyBill2723,whichdirectedthataminimumof10%ofCaliforniaSolarIni/a/vefundsbesetasideforprogramsassis/nglow-incomehouseholdsininvestor-ownedu/lityserviceterritories.Fundingfortheprogramwasextendedin2013.Over6,800low-incomehouseholdshavereceivedsolarpowerthroughtheprogramtodate.

Single-FamilyAffordableSolarHomesProgram(SASH)

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaEnergyCommission.SenatorKevinDeLeón(secondfromright)ataLIWPsolarinstalla<oninSacramento.Heisflankedbythehomeowner,leEandajobtrainee,right.


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Cal-Adapt is an online, interac/ve, visualiza/on tool that enables researchers, decisionmakers, and thegeneralpublictoexplorehowclimatechangewillimpactspecificregionsinCalifornia.Arecommenda/onin the 2009 California Adapta/on Strategy to support local decision-makers and planners in iden/fying,understanding,andadap/ngtoclimaterisksspurredthecrea/onofCal-Adapt. Currentresearchprojectsare launching updates to 1) climate change visualiza/on tools and data (projected aswell as historical)hostedonCal-Adapt,2)migrateCal-AdapttoanopensourceApplica/onProgrammingInterface(API)thatsupportsthird-partytooldevelopment,and3)implementconcertedoutreacheffortstoensurethatresultsreachtargetaudiencesintheelectricitysectorandareresponsivetotheirneeds.

VisualizingClimate-RelatedRiskstotheElectricityandNaturalGasSystemsUsingCal-Adapt

Screenshotfromcal-adapt.org


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Extremeheateventscompoundclimatechangeeffectsonenergyuse,par/cularlywherethegridismostvulnerabletoextremepeakdemand. FundedbytheElectricProgramInvestmentCharge(EPIC), the project develops an in-depth analysis of future demand, grid response, andvulnerabilityduetoincreased(andprolonged)heateventsinSouthernCaliforniaEdisonterritory.Currentandfutureclimatescenarioswillprojectandevaluatehowextremeheatincidencesleadtostrainonsta/onsandsubsta/ons,andwhethertheytriggerpeakerplantgenera/on.Withtherelease of the Fourth Climate Change Assessment in August 2018, researchers will offer gridopera/onguidance.

LosAngelesCountyGridVulnerabilitytoExtremeHeat

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(JRC_Los_Angeles_Hollywood—3.jpg)


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TheLow-IncomeWeatheriza/onProgram’s(LIWP)solar,launchedin2015,providesrebatesforlow-income households in economically and environmentally disadvantaged communi/es toreceivesolarpower.Theprogram,partoftheCaliforniaDepartmentofCommunityServicesandDevelopment’s broader LIWP program, is administered in conjunc/on with the Single-FamilyAffordableSolarHomesProgram (SASH)by thenonprofitGRIDAlterna/ves,withanaddi/onalpilotprogram inFresnorunbyFresnoEconomicOpportuni/esCommission (FresnoEOC).GRIDAlterna/vesexpectstoinstallsolarfor2,900familiesthroughtheprogramthroughmid-2018. Italso integrates workforce development opportuni/es into its projects. Implemen/ng cleanenergyandenergyefficiencymeasures,providingworkforcedevelopmentandgreenjobstrainingopportuni/es, and crea/ng opportuni/es for broad community engagement for low-incomecommuni/eshelpslow-incomehouseholdsincreasetheirclimateresiliency.

Low-IncomeWeatheriza/onProgram(LIWP)

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(FL_Solar-8971_12_12_2017.jpg)


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Extremeweather-related events can be problema/c for California’s transporta/on fuel sector.The California Energy Commission-lead research teamwill iden/fy and assess California’s jointenergyandtransporta/onvulnerabili/estoextremeweather-relatedevents.Theteamispoisedto iden/fy op/ons to improve the sector’s resilience to climate change, with par/cularconsidera/onofwildfireandflooding.Engagementwithpetroleumsectorstakeholdersandthepublic through workshops informs the project’s priori/es, methodology, and implementa/on.Ini/alvulnerabilityassessmentsusingexis/ngavailabledatawillbeafirststepiniden/fyingrisksandavenues for improved resilience.Further refinementwill leverage the team's sophis/catedhydrodynamicmodelingcapabili/es, thescenariosavailable throughCalifornia’sFourthClimateChangeAssessment,andextensivestakeholderengagementtoincreaseresilience.

ExtremeWeather-RelatedVulnerabilityandResilienceforCalifornia’sIndependentTransporta/onFuelSector

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(FL_Solar_Panels-3983.jpg)


ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(FL_Solar_Panels-3983.jpg)

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Incollabora/onwithSanDiegoGas&Electric,theCaliforniaEnergyCommissionisconduc/ngamul/-hazard analysis of climate change impacts on San Diego’s natural gas system. Throughresearch involvingmapping applica/ons to overlay complexmodeling results, workshops, andinterviews,theanalysisilluminatesthedirectandindirectimpactsofsealevelrise,coastalstormsandflooding,andinlandhazardsandexposure.Basedonthisanalysis,adapta/onmeasuresandpoten/al implementa/on protocols will be iden/fied, evaluated, and assessed as a means ofimprovingSanDiego’spreparednessforclimatechange.

SanDiegoNaturalGasVulnerabilityandResilience

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(SanDiegoCoronadoBridge)


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TheCaliforniaDepartment of Forestry and Fire Protec/on, in partnershipwith theCity of Brawley,Brawley High School District, the City of Imperial, the City of Calexico, and the City of Holtville,organized the plan/ng of 1,400 trees in predominantly disadvantaged communi/es in the ImperialValley. Fundedby theUnited States Forest Service’sUrbanandCommunity ForestryProgramandCalifornia Climate Investments from the Greenhouse Gas Reduc/on Fund, the project offers jobtraining, community involvement, andyoung tree careas ameansof expanding theurban canopy,par/cularly indisadvantagedcommuni/es. Improvingtheurbanforest inventory isaneffec/velow-costmeansofadap/ngtothechangingclimate.Theincreasedurbanshadewillhelptosaveenergybyreducingtheurbanheatislandeffectandofferprotec/ontothepublicduringextremeheatevents.TheexpandedcanopywillbenefitpublichealthasitfilterspollutedairandstormwaterintheImperialValley. During this 40-year project, not only will an es/mated 5,622 tons of greenhouse gases bereduced,buttheexpandedurbanforestwillhelptheareadevelopastrongerresiliencytotheimpactsofclimatechange.

ImperialValleyUrbanForestExpansion


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California StateWater Resources Control Board providedmul/ple grants from the Proposi/on84’s Storm Water Grant Program to the City of Santa Barbara to implement Low ImpactDevelopment (LID)designswithinparking lots,alleys,andstreets.TheCity replacedmore than230,000squarefeetofasphaltandconcretewithpermeableinterlockingconcretepaverstotreatstormwater,allowrunofftoinfiltrateintothesoil,andprovidegroundwaterrechargeandfloodprotec/on. The projects capture and infiltrate approximately 8 acre-feet of rainfall in SantaBarbaraperyear.Theelimina/onofrunoffmi/gatespublichealthrisksassociatedwithpooling,flooding,andpollutedrunoffresul/ngfromrecurringflashstorms,anditalsoreducestheriskofflash floods and prevents habitat damage downstream. The infiltrated water increases theamount of groundwater which is pumped, treated, and distributed to residents for municipalwater.Increasedinfiltra/onandhighergroundwaterlevelscontributetohigherbaseflowsinthecreeks,therebyenhancingthestreamhabitatbenefitsforaqua/corganisms.Thecity’scentury-old Italian pine trees displayed some of the most surprising results; the trees, which hadpreviouslydisplacedcementedsidewalkswiththeirwater-deprivedroots,begantogrowdeeperto reach the newly-replenished water source far below ground and showed visible signs ofimprovedhealthsoonamertheprojectswere implemented.Thetreeswill furtherhelptofilterpollutants fromwater, improveairquality,andreduceurbanheat islandeffect in thecity.Thelightcolorofpaversalsohelpsreducetheurbanheatislandeffect.Theenvironmentalandpublichealthbenefitsareespeciallyimportantwiththethreatofstormsbecomingmorefrequentandextreme, and the number of extreme heat days increasing with climate change. Recognizingmul/plebenefits,easeofmaintenance,reusability,anddurabilityofpermeablepavers,citystaffare now favoring LID prac/ces over tradi/onal methods for managing stormwater and dryweatherflows.

UpgradingStreets,Sidewalks,andAlleysforaHealthyandResilientCalifornia

ImageprovidedbytheStateWaterResourcesControlBoard Formoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visithcp://resources.ca.gov/

climate/safeguarding/

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The drought in California which began in 2012was themost severe in the State’s recorded history. Inaddi/on to the far-reaching impacts thatdroughthason theenvironmentand theeconomyof affectedcommuni/es, it may also have significant effects on public health. Par/cularly as climate changeexacerbatestheoccurrenceofdrought,understandingtheimpactoftheseeventsonCaliforniaresidentsisacri/calpartofestablishing resilience in thestate. In2015, theCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth(CDPH)partneredwithMariposaCountyHealthDepartmentandTulareCountyHealthandHumanServicesAgencytoquan/fythepublichealth impactsofdrought.TulareCountyreportedthegreatestnumberofdry private wells in the state, and Mariposa County experienced unparalleled tree mortality. UsingCommunity Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), a rapid community needsassessment method developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven/on, CDPH evaluatedhouseholdwateruseaswellasdrought-associatedexacerba/onsofchronicdiseasesandbehavioralhealthissues,acutestressors,andfinancialimpacts.

Theseassessmentsproducedthefirstes/matesofdrought impactsonhouseholdhealth,peaceofmind,acutestress,worseningofchronicdisease,finances,andproperty,demonstra/ngthathouseholdsmightperceivephysicalandmentalhealtheffectsandfinancialandpropertyimpactsduetodrought.Thefindingswereused toaugmentongoingdrought responseopera/ons inTulareandMariposaCoun/es, includingtargeted outreach to residents for water assistance, expanding behavioral health services, iden/fyingpopula/onswithspecialneeds,andthedevelopmentofdroughtadapta/onplansthroughacoopera/veagreement with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). These findings were published in theCommunityAssessmentReportforTulareCounty,CommunityAssessmentReportforMariposaCountyandintheAmericanJournalofPublicHealth’sar/cle,Physical,Mental,andFinancialImpactsfromDroughtinTwoCaliforniaCoun/es,2015.

AssessingDroughtImpactsinTulareCounty

ImageprovidedbytheStateWaterResourcesControlBoard Formoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visithcp://resources.ca.gov/


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TheClimateChangeandHealthProfileReports,developedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofPublicHealth–OfficeofHealthEquity’sCaliforniaBuildingResilienceAgainstClimateEffectsprogram(CalBRACE), assist coun/es in California to prepare for the health impacts related to climatechangethroughadapta/onplanning.Thereportspresentanoverviewofclimatescienceandlinkcurrentandprojectedclimatechangeriskstohealthoutcomes.Boththereportsandindicatorsprovide unique data at the smallest geographic level available to inform public healthprac//oners and their partners about climate change risks to health. Indicators in the reportsincludeheat-relatedemergencydepartmentvisits,adultslivingwithmul/plechroniccondi/ons,popula/oninhighwildfireareas,popula/onlivinginpoverty,race/ethnicity,outdoorworkers,aircondi/oningownership,treecanopy,andpublictransitaccess.

ClimateChangeandHealthProfileReports

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(KG_oroville_pm_3701_07_17_2017.JPG)


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TheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransporta/on (Caltrans)has realigned2.8milesofHighway1 innorthernSanLuisObispoCountyupto475 feet inlandof theoriginalalignment toprotect theroutefromseverecoastalerosionexacerbatedbytheeffectsofclimatechange.Theprojectwillprotect the highway for the next 100 years and provide access for vehicles, bicycles andpedestrians.Completedin2017,therealignmentofthehighwayatPiedrasBlancaswillnotonlyrestorethenaturalfunc/onsofnearbycreeksbyreplacingthreesignificantcrossingswithbridgesbut the removal of ar/ficial revetments will enable bluff and inter/dal zones to reestablishequilibrium. Furthermore, the permeable roadway materials used during construc/on willmaintain thehydrologicconnec/vityofadjacentwetlands.Asclimate-relatedextremessuchassea-level rise, drought and flooding impact the integrity of California’s coastal areas, therealignmentofthisiconichighwayisoneadap/vemeasurethatwillupholdthebuiltandnaturalenvironmentforyearstocome.

Highway1PiedrasBlancasRealignment

ImagesprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransporta2on


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TheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransporta/on’s(Caltrans)ClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessmentsiden/fyvulnerabili/esandassessthepossibleimpactsofclimatechangeontheStateHighwaySystemacrossthestate. The assessments will indicate loca/ons where infrastructure may be at risk and help Caltransrecognizeprocessesthatmayneedtochangetoberesilienttofutureclimatecondi/ons.Inthenextphaseof theassessment,Caltranswill studyvulnerableassets todevelopstrategiesandadap/vemanagementplanstoaddressandreducethepoten/alcostsofclimateimpacts.ByOctober2019,assessmentreportswillbereleasedforeachofCaltrans’twelvedistricts.

Partnering organiza/ons include the Coastal Commission; Department of Forestry and Fire Protec/on;DepartmentofWaterResources;EnergyCommission;CaliforniaGeologicalSurvey;ClimateCentral;FederalEmergency Management Agency; Federal Highway Administra/on; Metropolitan Transporta/onCommission;Na/onalOceanic andAtmospheric Administra/on; PacificGas and Electric Company; PointBlue; San Francisco Bay Conserva/on and Development Commission; United States Geological Survey;University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Davis; Scripps Ins/tu/on of Oceanography atUniversityofCalifornia,SanDiego;andUnitedStatesArmyCorpsofEngineers.

Transporta/onVulnerabilityAssessments

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofTransporta2on Formoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visithcp://resources.ca.gov/


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Changes to the climate are impacting the already brief precipitation season in California, necessitating supplemental irrigation to support agricultural production in the state. Seth and Michelle Rossow utilized funds from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) to purchase and install an improved irrigation system on their farm in Merced County. Seth and Michelle Rossow Farms now automate irrigation of tomato and bell pepper crops on their 175 acres of land. The automation mechanism on their existing sub-surface drip irrigation system utilizes newly installed soil moisture probes to alert workers when the crops need water. The new system thus conserves water by utilizing smaller quantities more frequently and directly to the crop root zones. By replacing an above-ground diesel-fueled sprinkler system, this automated irrigation technology is not only saving water, but reducing diesel emissions, conserving electricity, and saving money. Efforts to adapt to climate change by enhancing the water and energy efficiency of existing agricultural systems in this way are imperative components of a resilient future.

Advancing Water Management in Merced County


ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofFoodandAgriculture.Clockwisefromtopright:Dripsysteminstalledinastonefruitorchard,dripsysteminstalledinavineyard,microsprinklersysteminstalledinawalnutorchard.

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Since2014,theCaliforniaDepartmentofFoodandAgriculture(CDFA)hasprovidedgrantstotheagriculturalcommunitythroughtheStateWaterEfficiencyandEnhancementProgram(SWEEP).ThepurposeofSWEEPistoprovidefinancialassistancetofarmstoimplementirriga/onsystemsthatconservewaterandreducegreenhousegasemissions.SWEEPprojectshelpfarmsadapttoclimatechangeimpactsbyachievingimprovedwaterandenergyefficiency,therebymaintainingproduc/vefarmswithlessresourceinputs.

In 2016, in aneffort to increase access to SWEEP funds to farmsof all resource andeconomiclevels, CDFA received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s NaturalResources Conserva/on Service (USDA NRCS) to support technical assistance workshops forSWEEP applicants throughout California. Through this strategy, CDFAwas able tomaintain thecompe//venatureoftheSWEEPprogramandalsoenhanceopportuni/esforfarmerstoreceiveapplica/on assistance. As a result, for the 2016 SWEEP solicita/on, 23 applica/on assistanceworkshopswereheld,reachingover200workshopacendeesinfourlanguages(English,Spanish,Hmong,andPunjabi).ThistechnicalassistancestrategyhasnowbecomeanintegralpartoftheSWEEPprogram.FundingfrombothUSDANRCSandfromtheStrategicGrowthCouncilallowedCDFA to provide funding to technical assistance providers during the 2017 SWEEP solicita/on.Eleven technical assistance providers held 24 workshops throughout California, reaching 270peoplewithapplica/onassistance.CDFAaimstoimplementsimilartechnicalassistanceprogramsfor its other climate smart agriculture incen/ve programs such as the Healthy Soils Incen/veProgram. Regional technical assistance professionals are vital to future climate changeadapta/onbecausetheyhelptobringconserva/ontechnologiesandprac/cestofarms.

TechnicalAssistanceforStateWaterEfficiencyandEnhancementProgramApplicants

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentoffoodandAgriculture.


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Tidal marshes are vegetated coastal wetlands that provide cri/cal habitat for numerous species,includingyoung salmon, steelhead trout, shorebirds,waterfowl,harbor seals, andendangeredbirdsand mammals like the California clapper rail and salt marsh harvest mouse. As climate changechallenges the integrity of these habitats, restora/on efforts are cri/cal to maintaining a resilientcoast.TheSouthBaySaltPondRestora/onProjectisthelargest/dalwetlandrestora/onprojectontheWestCoast.Whencomplete,therestora/onwillconvert15,000acresofformersaltevapora/onponds at the south end of San Francisco Bay to amix of /dal marsh, mudflat, and other wetlandhabitats. In addi/on to restoring and enhancingwetland habitat, the project also aims to providewildlife-orientedpublicaccessandrecrea/onaswellasfloodmanagementintheSouthBaythatwillincreaseresiliencetosea level rise.Theproject isapartnershipbetweentheUnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife,SantaClaraValleyWaterDistrict,andStateCoastal Conservancy. The first phase of projects, which restored or enhanced 3,750 acres, wascompletedinMay2016.Thesecondphaseofprojects(3,335acres)willbreakgroundin2018.

SouthBaySaltPondRestora/on

ImagesprovidedbyChrisBenton


ImagesprovidedbyChrisBenton

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The King Fire Watershed Rehabilita/on and Reforesta/on project will begin the process ofreversing the ecological, economic, environmental, aesthe/c and social impacts of 1,300 acresburned in the King Fire in the Fall of 2014. The California Department of Forestry and FireProtec/on partnered with the United States Forest Service, Georgetown Divide ResourceConserva/onDistrict andUniversityofCaliforniaCoopera/veExtension toplantapproximately390,000trees,sequesteringover169,671tonsofgreenhousegasesoverthenext60years.WithfundingfromtheForestHealthProgramandCaliforniaClimateInvestments,theprojectaimstorallylandownerswithintheKingFireperimetertothecauseofreforesta/onthrougheduca/onalandfinancialsupporttofosterhealthierforests.Theimprovedhealthandre-establishedcoverofforested lands will increase poten/al carbon sequestra/on and reduce the greenhouse gasemissions on the burned areas, benefinng not only local habitat, but protec/ng watershedvaluesandwaterqualityinareasthatareimportantsourcesofdomes/cwatersupply.Removingaccumulated debris and dead trees from the affected lands not only improves the growthpoten/alof futurevegeta/on,butalsoreducestheriskofwildfireandmakestheforestsmoreresilienttodrought.

KingFireWatershedRehabilita/onandReforesta/on

ImagesprovidedImagesprovidedbytheGeorgetownDivideResourceConserva2onDistrict.


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Theriskofwildfire is by increasingtreemortality inCalifornia forests. Inaneffort toaddressthese risks, the California Conserva/on Corps (CCC) collaboratedwith California Volunteers totreat 500 acres of tree mortality-stricken land from throughout 2017 by felling, bucking, andlimbing dead and dying trees. Through the first sixmonths of the project, CCC TreeMortalitycrewstreated120acresinthesixhighly-impactedcoun/esintheSouthernSierraNevadaRangetoimproveforesthealthandremovehazardsforpublicsafety.Thisini/a/vepromotesresiliencyto climate change by improving the health of forested watersheds in the Sierra Nevadamountainsandproac/velyrespondingtheincreasingthreatofwildfires.

CombanngTreeMortality

BEFORE

AFTER

ImagesprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec/on


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LakeTheodoreinPlacerCountywasiden/fiedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec/on (CAL FIRE) as a high priority fire preven/on loca/on based on its proximity toInterstate80,theUnionPacificrailroad,powerinfrastructure,residen/alstructures,andoutdoorrecrea/on at Lake Theodore. In response, California Conserva/on Corps crews, in partnershipwithCAL FIREand thePlacerCountyWaterAgency, completedapproximately 23 acresof fuelload reduc/onat the lake.With funding fromtheStateBoardofForestryandFirePreven/on,crewssettoworktoremoveladderfuels,clearbrush,andprunetreesasameansofreducingtheriskofwildfireinthearea.ThoughtheprojectwascompletedinJune2017,theimprovementstoforesthealthhavemadetheareamoreresilienttowildfireandotherimpactsofclimatechangeforyearstocome.

FuelReduc/onatLakeTheodore



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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protec/on (CAL FIRE) partnered with Our CityForest,SanJoseStateUniversity,MasterGardenersofSantaClaraCounty,theAudubonSociety,andCaliforniaFishandWildlifeServicetocompleteanurbantree inventoryandcreatea long-termurbanforestmanagementplanfortheCityofModesto. Theseefforts,alongwithareviewofcityordinancesandpolicies,willsignificantlyimprovemanagementoflocalresources.The200treesplantedindisadvantagedcommuni/esinModestowillreducegreenhousegasemissionsby582.3 tons and also help the community develop a stronger resilience to extreme weatherevents. Increased urban shade helps safeguard against climate extremes by reducing energycosts and reducing the urban heat island effect during extreme heat events. The addi/onalvegeta/onwillalsohelptoreducestormwaterrunoffinthestreetsandsidewalksandimproveair quality within the city. As weather extremes challenge natural systems and public health,urban forest expansion will help the City of Modesto and other communi/es throughoutCaliforniabecomemoreresilienttoclimatechange.

Replan/ngTreesinModesto


ImagesprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec2onFormoreinforma/onaboutSafeguardingCaliforniaandClimateChangeAdapta/oneffortsinCalifornia,visithcp://resources.ca.gov/


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TheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec/on(CALFIRE)partneredwith theUrbanand Community Forestry Program and California Climate Investments in 2014 to remove andreuselogsfromtreesinSacramento’surbanareasthatwouldotherwisebeconsideredwasteandsent to landfills. Sacramento Tree Founda/on uses these salvaged materials to create usableproducts, including post and beam /mber, fence pickets, elegant banquet tables, chairs, andbou/quewoodenbowls. Overthethree-yeargrantperiod,theprojectisexpectedtomill1,820logs fromurban tree removals. This salvaged usablewood coupledwith themilling ofwastewood and bark that will be used in future tree plan/ng projects will sequester an es/mated2870.14 tons of greenhouse gases in this three-year /meframe. The project aims to engageresidentsinunderstandingthelifecycleoftheurbanforestsandthebenefitsofreclaimingurbanwood. As milling opera/ons reach their full poten/al, the project aims to create jobopportuni/es for local residents in this disadvantaged community. Ac/ve maintenance of theurban forests in Sacramento is not only reducing waste, but it is also crea/ng a healthierenvironment for the urban vegeta/on that will contribute to California’s resilience to climatechangeimpacts.

SacramentoTreeFounda/onUrbanWoodRescue

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec/on

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtec2on


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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protec/on (CAL FIRE) partnered with Our CityForest,SanJoseStateUniversity,MasterGardenersofSantaClaraCounty,AudubonSociety,andCalifornia Fish andWildlife Service in 2016 to complete an urban tree inventory and create along-term urban forest management plan for the city of San Jose. Funded by the Urban andCommunity Forestry Program and California Climate Investments, the 200 trees that will beplantedandestablishedindisadvantagedcommuni/eswillnotonlyhelpreducegreenhousegasemissions,butmakethecommuni/esmoreresilienttoclimatechangeimpacts.Thecanopywillreduce theurbanheat islandeffectand theassociatedenergy costs.Addi/onal vegeta/onwillimproveairandwaterqualitybyfilteringpollutantsfromairandstormwater.Asclimatechangeexacerbates the effects of extreme heat days, efforts to expand urban vegeta/on will onlyenhanceCalifornia’spublichealthandresiliencyofthenaturalenvironment.

CityofSanJoseCommunityForestManagementPlan

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(KMG-capitol_mulch-05796.jpg)ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(KG_plant_closeups_46538.jpg)


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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protec/on partnered with the Los AngelesConserva/onCorps,CityofLosAngelesRecrea/on&ParksDepartment,PortofLosAngeles,andtheCityofLosAngelesCouncilDistrict15torecruit,hire,andtrainyouthandyoungadultsfromlocal disadvantaged communi/es to restore the urban forestry in San Pedro. Efforts includedplan/ng 3,000 drought tolerant trees, crea/ng 3,600 linear feet of landscaped stormwatercapture,installing25street-sidelandscapedraingardens,andconver/ng25frontyards(37,500squarefeet)todroughttolerantlandscaping.Theprojectissimultaneouslyachievinggreenhousegas reduc/onsof10,335 tonsduring the40-yearproject lifewithnumerousco-benefits to thepublicandnaturalenvironment.Theurbanvegeta/onenhancesthequalityandsupplyofwater,helpsfilterpollutants fromtheair,andmaintainsnatural systemstoenhancethecommunity’sresiliencytoextremeclimatechangeevents.

SanPedroUrbanForestRestora/on

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(FL_Griffith_Park-2582.jpg)


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KatellaHighSchoolStormwaterCaptureProjectreceivedaDroughtResponseOutreachProgramforSchools(DROPS)grantfromtheStateWaterResourcesControlBoardtoimplementtheuseofLow Impact Development BestManagement Prac/ces strategies for stormwater capture andgroundwaterrechargeatthehighschool.KatellaHighSchoolinAnaheim,CaliforniaqualifiesasaDisadvantaged School, with 84% of students eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. Theproject,designedtocaptureandinfiltrateapproximately6acre-feetperyearofstormwateranddry weather flows, replaced exis/ng impervious surfaces with permeable pavers, vegetatedbioswales, raingardens,andna/ve,water-wisegardens. Inaddi/ontocapturingstormwater,theprojectcontributestothehighschool’sresiliencytoimpactsofclimatechangethroughurbangreening and reduced urban heat island effect. The added vegeta/on helps reduce the risk offloodingwhilealsoconservingwater.Stormwaterinfiltra/onisimprovedandbothaugmentsthelocalwatersupplyandenhancesthestreamhabitat.Nowthatconstruc/oniscomplete,thehighschool con/nues to raise awareness aboutwater sustainability through school and communityeduca/onandoutreach.

StormwaterCaptureatKatellaHighSchool


ImageprovidedbytheAnaheimUnifiedSchoolDistrict

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TheCaliforniaConserva/onCorps(CCC)establishedtheIns/tu/onalTurfReplacementProgramin July2016 inpartnershipwithDepartmentofWaterResources (DWR)tou/lizeProposi/on1funds for water efficient landscaping and irriga/on projects at local government facili/es andnon-profit ins/tu/ons within the San Joaquin Valley. Priority is given to projects within adesignated Disadvantaged Community or Economically Distressed Area. Projects includeremovingturfandotherhighwateruselandscapes,installingormodifyingirriga/onsystemswithhighwaterefficiencycomponents,plan/ngdroughtresistantand/orCaliforniana/veplants,andinstallingotherwater-efficientlandscapematerials(organicmaterial,rock,decomposedgranite)asneeded.Over20projectsareeithercompleteorcurrentlyunderway. Whiledatacollec/onandwatersavingscalcula/onsforthisprogramhavenotyetbeenfullycalculated,CCCandDWRarepleasedwiththeoutcomessofarandlookforwardtoYear2oftheprogram.

Ins/tu/onalTurfReplacementProgram

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(JRC_cash_for_grass_11-9953.jpg)


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California’s five-year drought lem Tulare County par/cularly vulnerable. The unincorporatedcommunityofEastPorterville,intheheartofTulareCounty,isconsidered“groundzero”ofthedrought.Hundredsofhouseholdslostaccesstoclean,runningwaterasaresultofdrywells,orfaceddeteriora/ngwaterqualityfromincreasingnitratecontamina/on. Residentswererelyingondeliveries of bocleddrinkingwater andnon-potablewater before the unprecedented jointcollabora/onofthethreestateagencies–StateWaterResourcesControlBoard,DepartmentofWaterResources,andtheCaliforniaOfficeofEmergencyServices,andthegovernmentsofTulareCounty and the City of Porterville – provided a more permanent, safe, and reliable solu/on.Together, throughProposi/on1 grants and loan forgiveness, the state agencies fully funded aconnec/on to a public water system. The project connects approximately 1,100 proper/es toclean and reliable source of drinking water. Already, the project is enabling Tulare Countyresidentstobepreparedfortheworseningeffectsandfrequencyofdrought. Asclimatechangeintensifiesdroughtcondi/ons, thesecollabora/veefforts tosafeguardcommuni/esagainst theeffectsofdroughtandotherextremeeventsarecri/caltomaintainingaresilientfuture.

DroughtResilienceinTulareCounty

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(FL_Porterville-6912.jpg)


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On January11,2017, theCaliforniaConserva/onCorps (CCC) Fresno crew, inpartnershipwiththe Department of Water Resources and Madera Irriga/on District, completed a project toimprovewaterefficiencyintheCountyofMadera. Theprojectteamdistributedbarkmulchanddecomposed granite, removed turf, replaced sprinklers, installed water efficient irriga/oncomponents,andplantedhundredsofdroughtresistantplantsandtrees.UsingtheModelWaterEfficient LandscapeOrdinance’s (MWELO)methodology forwater savings calcula/ons, theCCCes/mates this projectwill save the district 790,000 gallons ofwater per year. The projectwillmaximize theconserva/onof landscape irriga/onwaterat theDistrictOfficeanddemonstratethelong-termwatersavingstoallofthedistrict’smorethan500growers,helpingbuildresiliencytoclimatechangebyrespondingtodroughtandwaterscarcitythroughwaterconserva/onandpubliceduca/on.

MaderaIrriga/onWaterEfficiency

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(KMG-capitol_mulch-05796.jpg)


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In 2010, the San Francisco Bay Conserva/on andDevelopment Commission and the Na/onal Oceanic andAtmospheric Administra/on’s Office for CoastalManagement brought together local, regional, state andfederalagenciesandorganiza/ons,aswellasnon-profitandprivate associa/ons for a collabora/ve sea level riseadapta/on planning project along the Alameda Countyshoreline to iden/fy how current and future flooding willaffect communi/es, infrastructure, ecosystems andeconomy. TheAdap/ng toRising Tides (ART) Programwasbornfromthiseffort.

Sincethen,theARTProgramhascon/nuedtobothleadandsupportmul/-sector, cross-jurisdic/onalprojects thatbuildlocalandregionalcapacityintheSanFranciscoBayAreatoplan for and implement adapta/on responses to addresscurrentandfutureflooding.TheseeffortshaveenabledtheART Program to test and refine adapta/on planningmethods to integrate sustainability and transparentdecision-making from start to finish, and foster robustcollabora/onsthatleadtoac/ononadapta/on.

Adap/ngtoRisingTides(ART)Program

ExamplesofcompletedandongoingprojectsandservicesoftheARTPrograminclude,but:

•  ART Help Desk – An on-call service to connect local governments and others with

knowledgeableARTProgramstaffwhocanassistwithunderstandingandusingARTtoolsand

data,andconnectthemwithotherrelevantinforma/onandexper/se.

•  Bay Area Sea Level Rise Mapping and Analysis – A project to develop integrated regional

shoreline mapping and analysis products needed to support consistent sea level rise

assessmentandadapta/on.

•  StrongerHousingSaferCommuni/es–Aprojecttodevelopstrategiesforbuildingcommunity

resiliencetoseismicandfloodingrisks

•  ARTAlamedaCountyProject–Acollabora/veadapta/onplanningprojecttoaddresssealevel

riseandstormeventimpactsalongtheAlamedaCountyshoreline.

•  Corte Madera Baylands – A pioneering effort in San Francisco Bay to demonstrate the

importanceofbaylandsasthefirstlineofdefenseagainstcoastalflooding.

•  Eastern Contra Costa County – A collabora/ve adapta/on planning project that will assess

climate change vulnerabili/es in Eastern Contra Costa County to improve individual and

sharedac/onstowardsresiliencetorisingsealevels.

Screenshotfromhap://www.adap2ngtorising2des.org/project/art-subregional-project/


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Development has had a heavy impact on thewelfare of coastal dunes. In an effort to restorehabitat and provide nature-based sea-level rise adapta/on along the Cardiff Beach, the StateCoastal Conservancy, in partnership with California State Parks, Ocean Protec/on Council,CaliforniaCoastalCommission,CityofEncinitas,SanElijoLagoonConservancy,andtheUniversityof California, LosAngeles, is implemen/ng a dune restora/onproject. This nature-based sea-level riseadapta/onstrategywill reconfigurebocomlayersofcobbleandstonebeneathatoplayerofimportedsandandintroducena/veseedscollectedfromnearbylagoonstoprotectthe2,900feetofvulnerablePacificCoastHighwayalongthebeach.Thislivingshorelineapproachwillproducefouracresofna/vedunehabitatandenhancethepublic’saccesstothecoast.Physicalandbiologicalmonitoringwillbeconductedbeforeandamertheprojectconstruc/ontoprovideinforma/ononhowandwhydune topographychangesover/meandwhichna/veplantsandplan/ngmethods are best suited for dune restora/on in the region. The planning and designprocesseshaverecentlybeencompleted,andcurrentimplementa/onandmonitoringeffortswillhelp ensure that the shoreline will maintain viable habitat and natural barriers against theimpactsofsea-levelriseinthenearfuture.

CardiffBeachLivingShoreline


ImagesprovidedbytheStateCoastalConservancy

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The State Coastal Conservancy provided funding and technical assistance to Marin County todevelop a bayshore sea-level rise vulnerability assessment.Marin County ranks second of thenineBayAreaCoun/esforprojectedriskofimpactsfromsealevelrisefloodingandstorms,withpoten/allossesof$8.5billionworthofbuildingsandcontentsonthebayshoreline.Theprojectinventoried all assets along the county’s bayshore vulnerable to six different sea level risescenarios(upto60inchesplusa100-yearstormsurge),evaluatedthevulnerabilityofimpactedassets, created profiles for each city within Marin County, as well as each asset type (e.g.Recrea/on),anddevelopedadapta/onfactsheetsandamemorandumontheoutcomesofthecounty’ssealevelriseadapta/ondemonstra/onprojects.ThefinalMarinBayWAVEvulnerabilityassessmentdramwasacceptedby theMarinCountyBoardofSupervisors in Juneof2017.Thecountyalsohascommunityengagementandoutreachprogramsworkinginconjunc/onwiththevulnerability assessment, including the Here-Us-Now “OWL” Virtual Reality Project, “Game ofFloods”publiceduca/onac/vityonsealevelriseadapta/on,andtheYouthExploringSeaLevelRiseScience(YESS)program.MarinCountyisalsocoordina/ngwithSanMateoCounty,whichisalsocomple/ngasea-levelrisevulnerabilityassessmentfundedbytheConservancy.

MarinBayWaterfrontAdapta/onVulnerabilityEvalua/on(BayWAVE)

ImageprovidedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofWaterResourcesPhotoshelterGallery(cc_king_2des_27.jpg)


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