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TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE DATA
FOR THE YUBA IRWM REGION
The following evaluation examines the most relevant climate information produced at the
federal, state, regional, and local level that has a bearing on the Yuba IRWM region and will
serve to inform the Yuba Core Group. The Core Group has accepted the responsibility to advise
Burdick & Company about the voracity of the available data, critical data gaps, a vulnerability
analysis, and strategies for adaptation. The following documents will help inform the Group
during its evaluations.
This evaluation does not include all climate reports and documents encountered during the
planning process, but rather those that were required to be consulted by the IRWM Guidelines,
as well as documents, data, and Websites found to be particularly valuable to the planning
process. Remaining references are contained in the bibliography.
State Documents
Department of Water Resources’ Integrated Regional Water Management Proposition 84 and
1E Guidelines (November 2012), the first document listed below, directs IRWM planning regions
(pg. 68) to “…keep four documents in mind as they assess the effects of Climate Change on
their regions; consider adaptations to those effects; and seek to mitigate GHG emissions[.]”
Synopses of these four documents follow the reference for the Guidelines. Other documents of
relevance follow those.
1.) The Natural Resources Agency, Department of Water Resources, Division of Integrated
Regional Water Management. Proposition 84 & Proposition 1E Integrated Regional
Water Management Guidelines. Sacramento, CA; State of California. November 2012.
http://www.water.ca.gov/irwm/guidelines.cfm
2.) Climate Change Scoping Plan: A framework for change. December 2008. Prepared by
the California Air Resources Board for the State of California, Sacramento, CA.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/adopted_scoping_plan.pdf
This document provides a through description of the legislation directing state policy and
subsequent planning for climate change and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. On page 1
it states, “On September 27, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 32, the
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006). The event
marked a watershed moment in California’s history. By requiring in law a reduction of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, California set the stage for its
transition to a sustainable, clean energy future. “
In the Findings and Declarations for AB 32, the Legislature found that, “… global warming would
cause detrimental effects to some of the state’s largest industries, including agriculture,
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winemaking, tourism, skiing, commercial and recreational fishing, forestry, and the adequacy of
electrical power.
Further, it found that: “The impacts of global warming are already being felt in California. The
Sierra snowpack, an important source of water supply for the state, has shrunk 10 percent in
the last 100 years. It is expected to continue to decrease by as much as 25 percent by 2050.
World-wide changes are causing sea levels to rise – about 8 inches of increase has been
recorded at the Golden Gate Bridge over the past 100 years – threatening low coastal areas
with inundation and serious damage from storms.”
On page 15, it states that California is the fifteenth largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the
planet, representing about two percent of the worldwide emissions. It then suggests measures
for reducing GHGs and target reductions by sector and measure.
Water sector recommendations include six GHG emission reduction strategies: Three of the
measures target reducing energy requirements associated with providing reliable water
supplies and two measures are aimed at reducing the amount of non-renewable electricity
associated with conveying and treating water. The final measure focuses on providing
sustainable funding for implementing these actions. Measures follow:
 W-1 Water Use Efficiency
 W-2 Water Recycling
 W-3 Water System Energy Efficiency
 W-4 Reuse Urban Runoff
 W-5 Increase Renewable Energy Production
 W-6 Public Goods Charge
It appears that the Yuba watershed may contribute the most to the 2020 GHG reduction
Measures within the Sustainable Water, Forest, and Agricultural areas. This document will be
most relevant when considering adaptive resource management strategies and GHG reduction
associated with project development.
3) California Department of Water Resources. Managing An Uncertain Future: Climate
change adaptation strategies for California’s water. Sacramento, CA, State of California.
October 2008. (Incorporated into Volume 1 Chapter 7 of the California Water Plan (CWP)
Update 2009) Available from:
http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/ClimateChangeWhitePaper.pdf
Uncertain Future provides a profile of the observed climate phenomena at the state level that
have some bearing on the Yuba watershed, and can/should be corroborated by more localized
study:
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
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Temperature: California’s temperature has risen 1° F, mostly at night and in the winter,
with highest elevations experiencing the highest increase. The heat-wave season – the
period during which temperatures reach 90°F or higher for three or more consecutive
days – has lengthened to between 132 and 204 days a year in California. Historically,
the heat-wave season has lasted on average 115 days.
Flooding: Peak natural flows have increased on many of the state’s rivers during the
past 50 years. Infrastructure and management to handle peak flows has been designed
under historic flow regimes that may no longer be sufficient. For instance, the five
highest floods of record on the American River have occurred since 1950.
Storm intensity: Along with reductions in snowpack and accelerated snowmelt, greater
storm intensity and weather extremes are occurring.
Water quality: An increase in the frequency and intensity of storms has resulted in more
erosion and higher turbidity, and concentrated pulses of pollutants. Higher water
temperatures also have accelerated some biological and chemical processes, increasing
growth of algae and microorganisms, the depletion of dissolved oxygen, and impacts to
water treatment processes.
Drought: Regions that rely heavily on surface waters are anticipated to be particularly
affected as runoff becomes more variable, and more demand is placed on groundwater.
Forests are predicted to be more stressed by drought, making them more susceptible to
damage by pests and disease, and the frequency and intensity of fire.
Hydroelectric generation: Changes in timing of inflows, decreased snowpack, and lost
opportunities for power generation from drought may be exacerbated by climate in the
future.
The document then provides a recommended series of high-level adaptation strategies for
water managers to consider for improving capacity to handle change. It recognizes that
vulnerability and adaptive strategies will vary by region and therefore promotes IRWMPs and
funding for them within the set of strategies. Generally, the strategies offered in this document
are embedded in the guidance provided by the IRWM guidelines. This document will be most
applicable when considering adaptive strategies for the region.
4.) California Natural Resources Agency. (2009). 2009 California Climate Adaptation
Strategy. Retrieved from CAKE: http://www.cakex.org/virtual-library/1959
When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-13-08 on November 14,
2008, it called on state agencies to develop California’s first strategy to identify and prepare for
the impacts on climate change. The Adaptation Strategy summarized the best known climate
science at the time of publication and outlines the state agency responses to promoting
vulnerability to climate impacts.
The Strategy proposes a set of recommendations for policy development to protect the state. It
acknowledges that the Climate Change Scoping Plan generally focused on GHG reduction and
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that the potential activities contained the Adaptation Strategy are complementary to GHG
reduction.
Seven sector-based adaptation working groups focused on the following areas addressed in the
Strategy: Public health, ocean and costal resources, water supply and flood protection,
agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and habitat, and transportation and energy infrastructure.
Overall recommendations particularly relevant to the Yuba IRWMP include the following:
 As directed by Senate Bill X71, state agencies must implement strategies to reduce per
capita water use 20 percent by 2020, including supporting agricultural water use
efficiency. This recommendation carries through the IRWM Guidelines.
 Consider project alternatives that avoid new development in areas prone to flooding,
wildfire and erosion due to climate change.
 The state should identify key aquatic and terrestrial habitat vulnerable to adverse
climate effects and expand protected areas that provide amelioration of potential
impacts.
 Assessments of public health, especially in vulnerable communities and populations,
should include consideration of resilience to effects of climate change.
 Local general planning efforts should take into considerations the effects of climate.
 State fire-fighting agencies should include increased wildfire risk in their planning.
Specific recommendations for adaptation are contained in the document for each topic area,
and many recommended considerations and actions are already prompted by the IRWM
Guidelines. Of particular relevance for Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) are health inequity
issues related to climate:
5.) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CA Department of Water Resources, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, and the Resource Legacy Fund. Climate Change Handbook for Regional
Water Planning. December 2011. Available from:
http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/Climate_Change_Handbook_Regional_
Water_Planning.pdf
The Climate Change Handbook offers exceptional guidance on all aspects of IRWM climate
considerations from impact assessment and vulnerability analysis to adaptive resource
management strategies and project development. It is geared relatively toward regions with
much higher urban populations and resources, so the Core Group will likely use its guidance
where it has relevance. The summary of information sources at the end of the document
yielded substantive data and modeling that could be used in the preparation of the
vulnerability assessment.
The step-by-step guidance on regional vulnerability (Appendix B) and adaptive strategies will be
particularly helpful for leading the Core Group through a constructive evaluation process.
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6.) California Climate Change Center. Water management adaptation with climate
change. (paper) Prepared by: Josué Medellin-Azuara, Christina R. Connell, Kaveh Madani,
Jay R. Lund and Richard E. Howitt Final paper August 2009.
The California Energy Commission’s PIER Program established the California Climate Change
Center in 2003 to document climate research to inform the public and expand climate change
information. This paper explores water management adaptation in California using two
scenarios: a warm-dry and a warm-only. Modeled findings project consequences that allow
separation of precipitation and temperature effects for hydrological adaptation. Specific
reference to changes in water supply for the Sacramento basin are relevant to the Yuba
IRWMP, as are segregated analyses of supply for urban vs agricultural use.
Regionally Applicable Documents:
7.) AECOM. Draft 2030 General Plan Update EIR, Yuba County.
The Yuba County General Plan Update EIR (the Update EIR) includes an extensive section on the
cumulative development impacts on climate from implementing the General Plan. It discusses
the various greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sectors, such as transportation, industry, and
residential and commercial development, and state policies that direct reductions in emissions
from those sectors.
The Update EIR then generally describes the climate setting and trends for Yuba County as well
as vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for development to accommodate a changing
climate. A discussion of impacts on climate from GHG emissions and mitigation measures to
reduce such emissions follows. Table 47-4 of the Update EIR lists extensive policies by emission
sector, designed to reduce GHG emissions in Yuba County through general plan
implementation. Further, the Update EIR recognizes that the 2030 General Plan contains goals,
policies, and programs to aid in the adaptation to climate change by, for example, minimizing
development along water courses, increasing water conservation, and preserving important
habitat and open space. It concludes that while feasible mitigations have been incorporated
into the General Plan, the efficacy of the County’s policy approach is unknowable at this time.
8.) Sierra Nevada Alliance. Sierra Climate Change Toolkit, 3rd Edition. South Lake Tahoe, CA.
2010. Available from: http://www.sierranevadaalliance.org/publications
The Toolkit takes a Sierra-region-specific look at climate change, with a thorough summary of
tiered data from the global, national, and Sierra-regional level on current science. It then gives
practical advice and linked resources on GHG reduction practices, adaptation principles and
practices, adaptations strategies, and resources for project development and project funding.
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In its third edition, it has clearly built upon a wealth of information and will be used as a
reference for resource management strategies, adaptation strategies, and project development
and funding.
9.) Ag Innovations Network. Agricultural Water Stewardship: Recommendations to
Optimize Outcomes for Specialty Crop Growers and the Public in California. California
Roundtable on Water and Food Supply. June 2011. Convener: Ag Innovations Network,
Sebastopol, CA. Available from:
http: aginnovations.org/articles/view/stewardship_recs/
This set of findings and recommendations from the Roundtable emphasizes the regional
watershed management approach to agricultural water efficiency and conservation. It
mentions the use of RWMGs and the IRWM process as the pre-eminent venue for meaningfully
engaging agricultural stakeholders and recognizes past under-representation from this sector.
Its recommendations can be used as a checklist during the planning process to assess whether
ag-related water issues have been adequately addressed and whether the ag community has
been sufficiently engaged. Interestingly, the findings say that, “Nearly a quarter of farmers
surveyed by the Agricultural Water Management Council said that lack of technical assistance
limited their ability to implement water conservation practices.” This is particularly relevant in
the time of agency budget cuts and when considering potential limitations to project
development.
10.) California Energy Commission. Cal-Adapt – Exploring California’s Climate Change
Research. State of California. Website: http://cal-adapt.org/tools/
CalAdapt is an interactive Website that allows the user to access local climate data, trends, and
future high and low GHG scenarios by weather station sites in CA. The site contains articles,
publications and educational information for interpreting climate data. By clicking weather
stations in the watershed, modeled climate trend graphs can be accessed for temperature
degrees of change, decadal averages, monthly averages, precipitation decadal averages, and
wildfire risk, with GIS imaging of all parameters. This information will serve as another source of
comparison with other modeling of the watershed for high and low GHG scenarios.
11.) Sacramento River Watershed Program. The Sacramento River Basin: A Roadmap to
Watershed Management. October 2010. Available from:
http://www.sacriver.org
This programmatic document sets the stage for future watershed management actions to be
taken at the sub-watershed level in the Sacramento Basin, with the intent of implementing
projects that address key issues in each watershed.
It includes exceptionally good maps for hydrology, vegetation, land use and ownership and
displays CALVEG data from USFS. It recognizes and incorporates issues and objectives from the
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recent locally prepared strategies and plans by subwatersheds. It attempts to link watershed
“report cards” with adaptive management strategies, and credits efforts in each watershed by
showcasing successful stewardship and restoration projects.
12.) Safford, H.D., M. North and M.D. Meyer. Chapter 3: Climate Change and the Relevance
of Historical Forest Conditions, Managing Sierra Nevada Forests. Albany, CA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Stations.Date?
Available from:
http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr237/psw_gtr237_023.pdf
Chapter 3 questions the value of historical reference conditions when addressing restoration
and ecosystem management, particularly given current climate trends alongside other
anthropogenic stressors. Recent climate trends are examined from a series of trend summaries
conducted for the California national forests in 2010 and 2011.
Findings suggest that effects of climate change are already apparent in rising minimum
temperatures and other weather and hydrologic manifestations, that projections show further
increases, that managing for historical conditions may not be the only answer to resilience, and
that management practices need to include removal of non-climate stressors.
The climate history and trend data, and climate-driven process analyses will be helpful for both
setting the climate change “stage” and adaptation strategies for the Yuba IRWMP.
13.) Office of Emergency Services. Yuba County Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard
Mitigation Plan. Yuba County, CA. 2009. Available from:
http://www.co.yuba.ca.us/departments/OES/PDM/Multihazard%20mitigation%20plan/Plan%20Documents/Section%204%20%20Risk%20Assessment.pdf
The Hazard Mitigation Plan, developed with the assistance stakeholder and community
assistance, makes a risk assessment of both natural and human-caused hazards within Yuba
County. It includes discussion of probability, a vulnerability assessment, loss estimates, and the
impact of future county development. Climate change is one of the hazards discussed, both
directly and indirectly (e.g., it is discussed indirectly via severity of winter storms, and flood
hazard).
14.) Freeman, G. J. 2003. Climate change and California's diminishing low elevation
snowpack - a hydroelectric scheduling perspective. Western Snow Conference 71:39-47.
Available from:
http://www.westernsnowconference.org/proceedings/pdf_Proceedings/2003%20WEB/Fr
eeman,%20G._Climate%20Change%20and%20CA's%20Diminishing%20Low-Elevatio.pdf
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Freeman’s paper displays PG&E’s early findings on possible impacts to hydropower generation
from observed increases in runoff from winter rainfall and concomitant decrease in spring
snowmelt. It states that, “Climate change appears to be affecting runoff timing and flow
quantities most significantly for those relatively low-elevation watersheds, which are situated
from the Yuba River north. “ PG &E’s Water Management team has observed a significant
reduction in the low to mid-elevation April 1 snowpack during the second half of the 20 th
century.
The paper documents an 8.4 inch (19%) decrease in snow water equivalent for the Lake
Spaulding snow course at 5,200 feet from the earlier 37-year period. A slightly higher (7,200
feet elevation) snow course at Meadow Lake showss at 3 percent increase in snow over the
same period , revealing the sensitivity of the lower snow zone to lack of accumulation and
earlier melt.
Of note also is that “In addition to a shift in runoff timing precipitation falling as rainfall also
produces runoff at a much more rapid rate than snowmelt. Increased winter rainfall has also
significantly increased the frequency of large accumulated winter runoff totals for the
November through February period.” These observations also have implications for flood-prone
areas within the watershed.
The paper goes on to extrapolate possible impacts on water management for several sectors,
including potential realignment and re-negotiation of irrigation district delivery contracts to
allow for more elastic climate conditions, and concludes with compensating strategies for
hydropower generation, including holding additional water in reservoirs through the winter
period to increase likelihood of full reservoirs from reduced snowmelt. It also projects that, “If
the snowpack continues to become less in the low-to-mid elevation snow zone, it is anticipated
that the spring runoff recovery from a much-reduced snowpack may decline, as an increased
proportion of soil moisture is likely to be held to satisfy late spring evapotranspiration needs.” It
also recognizes that the system-wide dams were built under a historical flow regime that
depended on 1) 25% of precipitation from snowfall, 2) 37% from snowmelt, and 3) 38% from
groundwater (primarily springs). Changes from the historic norm have the potential to change
spill frequency and magnitude compared with historical data and design of the system. (Figures
1-5 in this paper illustrate changes in snow water equivalent, flow ratios, and comparisons of
flow for the Yuba drainage.)
15.) Freeman, G. J. 2008. Runoff impacts of climate change on northern California's
watersheds as influenced by geology and elevation-a mountain hydroelectric system
perspective. Western Snow Conference 76:23-34. Available from:
http://www.westernsnowconference.org/proceedings/pdf_Proceedings/2008/Freeman.R
unoffImpactsOfClimateChangeOnNorthernCalifornia'sWatersheds.pdf
This paper characterizes the relationship of geology and elevation to groundwater flows in the
region, the relationship of groundwater and runoff from reduced snowmelt and their combined
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effects on runoff trends. Both geology and elevations significantly affect the impact of climate
change on runoff timing. It is forecast that climate change will have a relatively large (in
comparison to more northerly California rivers) timing and quantity change on the Yuba basin
because it has a relatively large proportion of exposed granite in its headwaters that limits
absorption and recharge.
The paper states that for operating a mountain hydroelectric system, adaptation to climate
change specific to a given watershed will likely include a combination of operating changes,
including: higher winter carryover reservoir storage levels, reduced conveyance flows in canals
and flumes during winter storm period, reduced reservoir releases during the late spring and
summer period, and increased sediment sluicing releases from diversion dams. It is observed
that as snowpack continues to disappear, in effect the ability to fully and efficiently use
reservoir storage also diminishes due to the increasing uncertainty of filing the reservoirs. It is
believed by the author that negative impacts to hydroelectric generation will occur with
sufficient frequency to cause overall generation losses for PG&E’s hydroelectric system by
about 2025 on the Yuba River.
Data show that the Feather River at Oroville and the Yuba River at Smartville display the largest
shifts in runoff timing from the late spring into the winter period. This is partially due to the
relatively impervious granite and other rock types that contribute to relatively swift runoff from
rainfall or snowmelt, and to their relatively low elevation. The Lake Spaulding snow course at
5,200 feet has experienced a 31 percent decrease in snow water equivalent from a 35-year
period previous to the 1977-2007 period.
The paper states that, “If the current trend of April 1snowpack reduction on continues due to
climate warming, it is likely only a matter of time before the effects now being experienced at
the lower elevation snow courses begin to take place at higher elevations.” As a result of runoff
from rainfall as opposed to snow and an earlier melt, water managers will likely become more
conservative in setting winter outflow maximums and focus on accommodating increases in
sedimentation. Further, many of PG&E’s forebays and afterbays are incapable of storing
significant quantities of rainfall generated runoff.
Of particular note: On the last page of this paper, Freeman says that PG & E is assisting the
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to model “some of PG & E’s hydroelectric systems on
these rivers” in hopes of understanding flows under climate regimes and developing adaptive
strategies in response.
16.) Freeman, G. J. 2010. Tracking the impact of climate change on central and northern
California's spring snowmelt subbasin runoff. Paper presented at Western Snow
Conference 78:107:118. Available from:
http://www.sierrainstitute.us/ALMANOR/Freeman_Climate_Change_and_Snowmelt.pdf
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This study examined the influences of and correlation between topography and rain shadow
effect on climate impacts to reduced snowmelt, spring runoff, and sometimes total runoff for
the water year. It found that sub-basins least impacted by climate variance were those
influenced by orographic lift, in other words, generally on the west side of mountain ranges.
Those sub-basins in rain shadows or behind topographic barriers suffered greater losses of
precipitation. The paper points out that the Feather and Yuba river watersheds are
experiencing some of the greatest impacts at the current time, with some sub-basins being
impacted more than others, due to topography, geology, and aquifers that can combine in a
unique way to maintain and in some cases increase snowmelt runoff. Projections in this report
indicate that in the North Yuba sub-basin, some drainages will experience flow reductions of 70
to 100% by 2075. The author acknowledges that, “the loss of snowpack will likely result in a loss
of soil moisture with increased likelihood for vegetative stress, disease, and an increase in the
frequency and intensity of fires on these watersheds.”
17.) Freeman, G. J. 2012. Analyzing the impact of climate change on monthly river flows in
California’s Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Mountain ranges. Paper presented at
Western Snow Conference 2012.
http://www.westernsnowconference.org/sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2012Fr
eeman.pdf
Primary findings from this paper relevant to the Yuba IRWMP include:
 Sub-basins from the Yuba River north have remained stable or declined in snowmelt
runoff in recent years. The Yuba River has shown a 3.4% decrease in water year runoff
from the 35-year period of 1942-1976 as compared to the 35-year period of 1977-2011.
 The Yuba River at Smartville shows a general increase of 1.6% and 4.0%, respectively, for
February and March runoff over the same 35-years comparison periods, and a decrease
in runoff for all other months except July (0.2% increase). The shift from April through
July runoff to February-March runoff was more pronounced in the Yuba drainage than
any other save the Feather River at Oroville.
 The increase in Feb-March runoff appears to be caused by earlier snowmelt due to
warming temperatures and from the shift in precipitation that now occurs as snowfall
rather than rainfall.
 The downside of a declining snowpack is the increasing risk from supply uncertainty
associated with rainfall (and lack of slow release from snowpack).
 PG&E forecasts no net loss of hydrogenation in its system for another 12 to 15 years
because river basins to the south of the American River are exhibiting increasing flow.
However, even that increase is forecast to be offset by rising evapotranspiration by
about 2025.
18.) Mehta, V.K.; D. E. Rheinheiimer; D.Y. Yates; D.R. Purkey; J.H. Viers, C.A. Young; and J.F.
Mount. 2011. Potential impacts on hydrology and hydropower production under climate
warming of the Sierra Nevada. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 02.1 2011.
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The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool, an integrated river basin management model
was applied to the Consumnes, American, Bear, and Yuba (CABY) region to simulate projected
climate impacts on hydropower generation. Using both historical and climate warming
scenarios to project results, the authors found that all four watersheds in the CABY region
responded to climate warming with corresponding increases in wet season flows, decreases in
dry season flows, and a net annual decrease in flow overall (partly attributable to increases in
evapotranspiration). Peak flows in the Yuba are expected to shift from 2 to 4 weeks earlier,
depending on the amount of warming.
Of note, the modeling suggests that a low amount of warming is sufficient reduce about 45% of
snow in the watershed, resulting in up to a 20% loss of hydropower generation by the end of
the century. Summer generation loss is projected to be most acute, which coincides with the
period of peak power demand. The authors conclude that, “Enough scientific evidence exists to
assume hydrologic stationarity no longer holds in water resource planning (Miller et al. 2008),”
and that integrated river basin management modeling could be used to aid in future FERC
hydropower relicensing processes.
19.) Yuba County Water Agency. Groundwater Management Plan. December 2010.
The Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP) is an update of the 2005 GWMP and addresses
groundwater basin conditions through spring 2010. It provides the status of management
activities in the basin and presents a list of groundwater management actions, including Basin
Management Objectives (BMOs) to implement Plan goals. This Plan is expected to help array
adaptive strategies for groundwater management in the face of climate stressors.
20.) AECOM. 4.10 Land Use Planning, Population, and Housing, Final 2030 General Plan
Update EIR. Prepared for: Yuba County Planning Department. May 2011. Available from:
http://www.yubavision2030.org/FEIR/4.10%20Land%20Use%20Pop%20Housing.pdf
Population trend data from this document were used in the preparation of the climate
vulnerability assessment.
21.) Cailfornia California Emergency Management Agency and California Natural Resources
Agency. California Adaptation Planning Guide. July 2012. Available from:
http://resources.ca.gov/climate_adaptation/local_government/adaptation_planning_guid
e.html
The Guide provided extensive information by California regions; Yuba County is included in the
Northern Central Valley region. Relevant deomographic and economic statistics, and direction
on vulnerability assessment and prioritization methodology are provided and were used
particularly for guidance on public health, social equity issues, and agriculture considerations
and adaptation information.
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Other References consulted:
Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Yolo County. Prepared by Yolo County and U.C.
Davis. Available from: http://agadapt.ucdavis.edu/changingclimate/
California Department of Public Health. Climate Action for Health: Integrating Public Health into
Climate Action Planning. Available from:
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CCDPHP/Documents/CAPS_and_Health_Published3
-22-12.pdf
California Department of Water Resources. California Water Plan Highlights: Sacramento River,
Integrated Regional Water Management. Sacramento, CA; State of California. Update
2009. Bulletin 160-09 Available from:
http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2009
California Urban Water Agencies. Climate Change and Urban Water Resources: Investing in
Reliability. December 2007. Available from:
http://www.cuwa.org/library/ClimateChangeReport12_2007.pdf
California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment, Tamara Kadir, Linda Mazur, Carmen Milanes. Indicators of Climate Change
in California. August 2013. Available from:
http://oehha.ca.gov/multimedia/epic/pdf/ClimateChangeIndicatorsReport2013.pdf
HDR, Surface Water Resources, Inc. Lower Yuba River Accord. Prepared for: California DWR,
Yuba County Water Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation.
October 2007. Available from:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=2549
HDRIDTA. Wetlands, Riparian, and Littoral Habitat, National Wetland Inventory. Prepared for:
Yuba River Development Project, YCWA. 2010. Available from: http://www.ycwarelicensing.com/Relicensing%20Documents/Relicensing%20Documents%2003%20%20Pre-Application%20Document/2010-1105%20-%20PreApplication%20Document/027-%207_06a%20%20Wetlands,%20Riparian%20and%20Littoral%20Habitat%20%20Attach%207.6A%20NWI%20Maps.pdf
Mead Hunt. External Source Flood Protection Plan. Prepared for: City of Wheatland General
Plan Update. 20 October 2005. Available from:
http://www.wheatland.ca.gov/userfiles/Final_External_Flood_Report(1).pdf
Mehta, V.K.; V.R. Haden; B.A. Joyce; D.R. Purkey; L.E. Jackson. Irrigation demand and supply,
given projections of climate and land-use change, in Yolo County, California. 2012.
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Agricultural Water Management. 117 (2013)70-82. Available from:
www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat
Onsoy, Yuksel S., Christopher L. Bonds, Christian E. Petersen, Curt Aikens, Susan M. Burke.
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Sacramento, CA. Available from:
http://acwi.gov/swrr/Rpt_Pubs/wef_session68/068_0400.pdf
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Pilot Project. Prepared for: California DWR, MWH Americas Inc., YCWA. 2005.
Sacramento, CA. Available from:
http://acwi.gov/swrr/Rpt_Pubs/wef_session68/068_0400.pdf
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Francisco, CA. Prepared by: Louise Bedsworth and Ellen Hanak. January 2011. Available
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Prepared by Lisa Bay
Updated January 14, 2014
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