Climate Impacts Group

Atmospheric Rivers Spur Debates on Flood Management in Washington State

After a series of storms dumped unprecedented amounts of rainfall on the northwestern corner of Washington last November, small communities in the Nooksack Valley were left severely flooded and asking questions about how to prevent flood damage in the future. Dr. Guillaume Mauger is quoted.  

Gangs Of Elk Are Feasting On Farmers’ Haystacks Across The Northwest

Gangs of wild elk are attacking farmers’ haystacks in Washington and Oregon. They’re hungry, after a long drought and record mountain snow this winter has driven animals down to the lowlands. Dr. Meade Krosby is quoted. This story also ran in Wichita Eagle and OPB.  

Op-Ed: Weather disasters can teach us how to prepare for the future

With climate change our challenge now is to reduce the impacts of flooding on our communities. We can do that by learning from these events when they happen, writes Guillaume Mauger, UW research scientist at the Climate Impacts Group in an Op-Ed. 

Workshop: Resilience planning for small water systems in Washington

Virtual Workshop: Resilience planning for small water systems in Washington
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
9 a.m.–noon

This workshop has past. You can access a recording of the workshop or learn more about this project below. 

WORKSHOP RECORDING

PROJECT PAGE

In 2021, Washington experienced record heat, precipitation deficits, low streamflows and declining aquifer levels. The fall and winter has brought record rains and flooding that damaged water system infrastructure. Climate change impacts water systems in Washington in a variety of ways. If operators have insufficient information about how their systems are at risk, the reliability and quality of drinking water could be compromised. 

Evacuations, search for missing persons continue after flooding in Washington

Extreme flooding pretty much cut off Seattle from the rest of the country last Friday. Meade Krosby is quoted. 

“We received a pretty shocking amount of rain in a very small amount of time across the state, particularly in Western Washington,” Krosby said. “Our soils are already really saturated, our rivers are already really high, and so getting this huge amount of precipitation in a really small amount of time led to significant flooding throughout the state.” 

Floods cut off Seattle from rest of the U.S.

As floods hit parts of the Northwestern U.S., Dr. Meade Krosby warned that policymakers must be pushed to develop immediate and long-term solutions.  

Crystal Raymond to present in free webinar led by Municipal Research and Services Center

Dr. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist, will participate in a webinar on building local climate resiliency on Wednesday, January 12. Event details and registration info below.

Local Climate Response – Building Resiliency and Adapting to Impacts

Wednesday, January 12

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Credits: CM

More information

Register 

NOW HIRING: Two research scientists to support climate adaptation research

Note 6/21/22: The search for these positions has ended. 

The UW Climate Impacts Group is now hiring for two research scientist positions to support Climate Impacts Group’s senior researchers on climate change research and adaptation projects. We are seeking one research scientist with a focus on natural resources, and another with a focus on the social sciences.

The Research Scientist Natural Resources position will 1) work with the Climate Impacts Group’s senior scientists to conduct applied research on climate impacts and adaptation in natural resources; 2) engage with partners and decision makers on projects in all stages of the adaptation process from vulnerability assessment to planning and implementation; and 3) provide analytical, logistical and project management support for research and applications. 

Hiring: Research Scientist – Natural Resources

The UW Climate Impacts Group is hiring a new, full-time Research Scientist with a focus on natural resources. The Research Scientist will support climate impacts and adaptation research projects led by the Climate Impacts Group’s senior scientists. Focus areas may include natural hazards and ecological disturbances, landscape conservation, species and ecosystems, water resources, and sea level rise and coastal impacts.

We envision this position will: 1) work with the Climate Impacts Group’s senior scientists to conduct applied research on climate impacts and adaptation in natural resources; 2) engage with partners and decision makers on projects in all stages of the adaptation process from vulnerability assessment to planning and implementation; and 3) provide analytical, logistical, and project management support for research and applications. 

Hiring: Research Scientist – Social Sciences

The UW Climate Impacts Group is hiring a new, full-time Research Scientist with a focus on social sciences. This position will add breadth to the work we do and support the Climate Impacts Group’s senior researchers on climate change adaptation projects with our federal, tribal, state and local partners.

We envision this position will contribute to: 1) applying social science and policy research to new climate impacts/adaptation projects independently and/or with guidance; 2) working with the Climate Impacts Group’s senior research staff to identify and execute on opportunities to move projects from analysis to implementation; and 3) providing logistical, project management and research support to projects.