Mayors Water Council

Newsletter of the Mayors Water Council of The United States Conference of Mayors

Winter 2008

Mayors Water Summit Features Climate Change and

Water Impacts, Water Conservation Issues

By Rich Anderson

The Mayors Water Summit was held in San Francisco on

September 26-27. The Mayors Water Council (MWC) Co-

Chairs, Albuquerque (NM) Mayor Martin J. Chávez, and Fay-

etteville (AR) Mayor Dan Coody led the Mayors in discussions

about climate change impacts on water resources, water sys-

tems asset management, water conservation, combined sewer

overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and

infrastructure financing.

San Francisco Facing Big Water Challenges

Susan Leal, General Manager of the San Francisco Pub-

lic Utilities Commission commented on the challenges the

Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody and Albuquerque

city faces in providing water for a large population. Climate

Mayor Martin J. Chávez, Co-Chairs of the Mayorsí

change impacts on snow pack have led the city to plan for a

Water Council preside over the San Francisco Water

diversity of water sources. Leal stated that 65 percent of the

Summit.

current water supply is in the form of snow pack in the moun-

tain ranges. That source is decreasing as temperatures rise and

rain replaces snow. The city is engaged in major coordination

ters. NOAA applied the mapping technique to the same Long

efforts with surrounding communities to ensure that an ade-

Island area and found that a similar hurricane disaster today

quate water supply is available for the growing city population

would have a $150 billion impact on the `uninsured' assets in

and surrounding area.

the same impact area.

Leal also commented on the city's concerns about the ener-

Davidson commented that the LIDAR tool can be used for

gy requirements of providing clean water. The city is investing

hazard assessment and can effectively guide public infrastruc-

in clean alternative energy to mitigate greenhouse gas emis-

ture siting decisions. For example, NOAA can anticipate the

sions. The clean energy sources include renewable fuels such

impacts of a 1 meter rise in sea levels on New York City; or

as solar and geothermal.

be used to predict impact areas from river flow and flooding

Ms. Leal also mentioned that the city is very concerned

information. NOAA is continuing to refine the hazard assess-

about rising sea levels. The city and the state have conducted

ment tools through a program known as Sectoral Applications

a series of studies to delineate the potential for land inundation

Research Program (SARP), (see www.NOAA.gov). She also

under different scenarios of rising sea levels. She stated "The

mentioned other tools currently available to communities such

city's water managers may really be the `first responders' to

as the Heat Health Warning System.

climate change impacts."

Climate Change Impact Questions Every

Climate Change Impacts on Water

Mayor Should Ask

Resources: NOAA Coastal Service Center

David Balmforth, Ph.D., an international expert on climate

Provides Assessment Tools

change impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies with

Margaret Davidson, Director of the National Oceanic and

Montgomery Watson Harza articulated a critical check-list

Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Cen-

of questions mayors should be asking to anticipate impacts

ter, talked about the unnamed 1938 hurricane that caused

and take appropriate actions. For example, Balmforth asked

serious devastation on Long Island, New York. She said that

if mayors understand the vulnerability of their communities to

NOAA now has high resolution mapping capabilities (LIDAR)

climate change impacts. He noted the recent decrease in rain-

that can be used by local government to assess natural disas-

see SUMMIT on page 12

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