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2 posts in July 2026

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Jul 1, 2026

| Director's Corner, July 2026, Newsletters

Letter from the Director – July 2026

Dear friend,

With summer upon us and drought conditions continuing to develop across the Pacific Northwest, I am especially appreciative of the work of our team in the Washington State Climate Office, who provide credible, accessible updates on climate topics ranging from snowpack to predictions for El Nino conditions. And, personally, I love having climatologists a few doors away from my office to pepper with my many questions on historical context and weird weather!

Although the UW Seattle campus is quieter in the summer months, our collaborations continue forward at full pace — ranging from the NW CASC Deep Dive workshops on emerging climate risks in the PNW to supporting our partners at state agencies with the implementation of Washington’s Climate Resilience Strategy.

Jun 23, 2026

| CIG Science, July 2026, Newsletters

Understanding How Growth Management, Water Efficiency, and Climate Could Shape Future Residential Water Demand in the Puget Sound Region

Despite the Puget Sound region’s reputation for abundant water, communities across western Washington are increasingly confronting summer water stress. Hotter, drier summers, declining snowpack, and rapid population growth are reshaping the timing and reliability of freshwater availability in the Puget Sound Region.

Over the next 40 years, the region is expected to add roughly five million residents, increasing pressure on water infrastructure, freshwater ecosystems, and instream flows that support salmon and other species.

Understanding both how future regional water demand may change and the potential for alternative supplies are critical pieces of the region’s broader climate resilience strategy. To help address this challenge, the Climate Impacts Group partnered with Puget Sound Partnership on a multi-year project examining how future water management actions can support broader Puget Sound Recovery goals, both past and future.