Climate Impacts Group

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Climate Adaptation Barriers and Needs Experienced by Northwest Coastal Tribes: Key Findings from Tribal Listening Sessions
Wednesday, October 16 | 11 a.m. PT

The coasts of Oregon and Washington are home to over two dozen Tribal nations, each contending with climate impacts including sea level rise, ocean acidification, extreme heat events, increasing wildfire risk and declining snowpack.

A team of researchers with the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative held a series of listening sessions with government staff, citizens, and elected officials from Northwest coastal Tribes to better understand the barriers and unmet needs they experience in responding to these and other climate risks. 

After two years of drought in the Yakima Basin, could relief be on the way?

As the Yakima Basin remains in its second consecutive year of drought, water right users are wondering when relief will come. Deputy state climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.  

State, Federal Officials Work to Measure Progress in Fight to Limit Climate Impacts

States and federal agencies are dedicating more staff, time, and resources than ever to help prepare communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems for a more extreme climate. With this encouraging activity comes a need to measure the progress and impact of resilience initiatives to determine which have proved successful—and which are falling short—and to use that information to direct future funding and revise efforts as needed.  Carlie Stowe is mentioned.  

Report outlines struggles, successes Pacific Northwest coastal tribes face in adapting to climate change

Coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest are set to face some of the most dramatic effects of climate change in the region, from rising seas to more severe storms. The University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians conducted a series of listening sessions with leaders and citizens of 13 coastal tribes to hear how they were responding to climate challenges. NW CASC University Director and CIG Senior Scientist Meade Krosby is quoted.  

WA finally catches a (small) break from drought conditions

Washington’s drought status explained, as of early September. Karin Bumbaco is quoted. 

‘Wimpy’ winter ahead for Pacific Northwest despite La Niña prediction, climatologist says

La Niña conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest this winter, which usually bring colder, wetter weather to the region. After a dry summer — and a below-average snowpack accumulated last winter — we could use the moisture. Emeritus Washington State Climatologist Nick Bond is quoted, and says this year’s La Niña will likely be weaker than previously expected.  

Late-summer heat wave bakes Western Washington — but not for long

Recap of summer heat, fire, and dry conditions, with expectations for fall weather. Bond is quoted.  

New Grants Expand Gonzaga’s Climate Efforts Through Regional Partnerships

The Gonzaga Climate Institute and the Coeur d’Alene (CDA) Tribe were awarded a $29,944 grant from the University of Washington’s Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative to build community knowledge and resilience to climate change impacts. 

Trying to escape sea-level rise, Northwest coastal tribes are drowning in paperwork

Coastal tribal communities in the Lower 48 live on the frontlines of climate adaptation, with some facing the daunting challenge of relocating altogether to safer inland places as sea levels rise. Between November 2022 and August 2023, a researcher from the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and one from the University of Washington conducted listening sessions with tribal leaders, citizens and employees from 13 Northwest coastal tribes, posing questions about the status of climate adaptation plans and the greatest obstacles the tribes are facing.

The listening sessions resulted in a report called Climate Adaptation Barriers and Needs Experienced by Northwest Coastal Tribes, which was released this month.  

Washington’s fall could be wetter than normal, NOAA predicts

A precipitation outlook released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center on Aug. 15 predicts above-normal rainfall across the Pacific Northwest in September, October and November. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.