Climate Change

Climate Change in Puget Sound

Global warming modeling published by the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group in two reports commissioned by King County and the Puget Sound Action Team found that the Pacific Northwest  warmed up faster (2.3 degrees) than elsewhere on the planet (1.1 degrees Fahrenheit) during the 20th century.

By 2050, average annual temperatures for the Pacific Northwest could be up to 5 degrees higher than they were during the last 30 years of the 20th century.

Predicted effects

1. Wetter winters with more intense rainfall.  Dryer summers. Earlier spring snowmelt.
2. Significant retraction of the snowline in our mountains due to warmer winters - reducing our water "warehouse."
3. Rise in sea level by as much as 3.3 feet in the South Sound and 1 foot at Neah Bay by 2100
4. Increased acidification of ocean water will slow or impair growth of shells.
5. Earlier onset of spring (already 2 weeks early in parts of the Puget Sound region).

Expected Impacts

1. Inundation and shift of habitat types in existing salt marshes, mud flats, and beaches
2. Change in salinity, stratification, nutrient cycling and ocean productivity affecting the Puget Sound food web and expand dead zones
3. Lack of summer creek/river flows to maintain salmon runs in some watersheds, severe reductions in others
4. Disruption to species when spring conditions trigger earlier hatching and migration or warm winter temperatures cease to trigger hibernation
5. Increase in pests and diseases which affect crops, shellfish and forests
6. Intensified stormwater problems: more flooding, erosion, and combined sewer overflows
7. Favorable conditions for invasive species
8. Negative economic affects on agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, and hydropower

Governor’s Initiative

Governor Christine Gregoire launched a Climate Change Initiative in 2007, convening a task force and a number of subcommittees.  People For Puget Sound participated in the committee that addressed shoreline health.  Two legislative bills addressing climate change passed in 2008.  These bills, however, are just a starting point.  

What can be done?

1. A resilient system will be more able to handle change. We must create robust habitat areas, such as wide creek riparian zones and multilayered intertidal shoreline and upland areas. For example, if increasing water temperatures or a drop in water volume will stress a creek, a thick canopy of tree cover can help minimize the impact.
2. Make hard decisions that are fair but effective. We need to focus resources in areas that will give us longer-term benefits. For example, modeling shows that rainfall-dependent (i.e., lower lying) watersheds will be less affected by global warming than snow-fed watersheds. We must consider these conditions as we plan for restoration and protection work.
3. Water reclamation now. Reclaimed water is water that has already been used for one purpose, has been treated and can be reused for certain types of use (irrigation, for example). If we will have water shortages in our creeks and rivers, we must build the infrastructure now for distribution of reclaimed water - and it isn't cheap. We will not be able to afford to use potable water for nonpotable needs in the future. We especially must leave water in the creeks to support wildlife over the dry summers.
4. Address stormwater. We need to reduce the need for stormwater combined systems by separating sanitary waste from stormwater. New capitol improvements should consider long term global warming to ensure that salmon and other species will have enough water. Toxic chemicals and nutrients in urban runoff must be curbed. Standards must be adopted to significantly reduce impervious surfaces and that infiltrate all stormwater on-site, rather than conveying it to streams.
5. Cleanup your septic system. It is urgent that we eliminate septic system problems because their contributions to dead zones, such as those in Hood Canal, will likely be amplified by climate warming.
6. Regulate with forethought. Today, most of the important regulatory actions taken by local, state and federal agencies are taken without consideration of potential climate change impacts. For example, new coastal structures should be designed for a higher sea level or buildings must be set back so that structural controls are not needed at all. We must be vigilant that regulations and ordinances are completely thought out.
7. Go on a Low-Carbon Diet. From driving your vehicle fewer miles to planting more trees and weatherizing our houses and apartments, every citizen can help reduce our output of greenhouse gases.
8. Be aware of Environmental Justice. The most needy in our society may be forced to pay more of their budgets for basic needs such as drinking water, energy and food because of global warming.
9. Massive public education. For many people, the issue of global warming feels like a distant idea - not an eminent threat. We must all understand that action is needed now.

Contact: Heather Trim, (206) 328-7007