Water Resources Center



2020 Minnesota Climate Adaptation ConferencePoster, presentation, and session abstractsPoster AbstractsHistoric data for Minnesota’s watersheds- Beth Knudsen – MN Department of Natural Resources- Ben Gosack – MN Department of Natural ResourcesThe MN DNR Watershed Health Assessment Framework (WHAF) project team recently published a Climate Summary Report of historic climate data for every major watershed in Minnesota (available online). Information about Minnesota's climate trends is critical when managing for watershed health. As shifts occur in this foundational ecological driver, other natural processes evolve in response at local, regional and global scales. In order to make climate trends more accessible and meaningful to land and water managers, the Global Historical Climatology Network Daily,(nClimGrid) data was analyzed to create summaries at the major watershed and statewide scale. Each report provides an overview of climate conditions based on data collected from 1895 through 2018. The focus is on trends in seasonal and annual temperature and precipitation, comparing the most recent thirty year average (1989-2018) to the entire climate record average (1895-2018). This approach generates values for the amount of change (deviation) seen in the most recent 30 years when compared to the entire 120-year period of record. Results are presented in both maps and charts.The data products include: ? Temperature: Minimum, Mean and Maximum? Recent Average Temperature, Deviation from Record? Annual Average Temperature, Deviation from Record by Month? Precipitation: Mean? Recent Average Precipitation, Deviation from Record? Annual Average Precipitation, Deviation from Record by MonthThe work with historic climate data also produced: ? Statewide results available as an animated map of historic climate trends? Statewide climate summary report? Climate data layers available within the WHAF Online Mapping ApplicationClimate resiliency planning- Stacey Lijewski – Hennepin County- Jessica Arika – Hennepin CountyHighlighting an overview of Hennepin County climate resiliency and climate mitigation work within the public works domain, including efforts led by the Department of Environment & Energy. Solar greenhouse optimization for efficient, local, year-round food production- Daniel Handeen – UMN Center for Sustainable Building Research- Kathy Draeger – UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships- Carol Ford – Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership- Greg Schwesser?– UMN Regional Sustainable Development Partnership- Mary Rogers – UMN Department of Horticultural ScienceThis poster will describe the research and design work undertaken by the Regional Sustainable Design Partnerships of UMN Extension and the College of Design's Center for Sustainable Building Research to refine and optimize the performance and capability of year-round solar greenhouses. Deep Winter Greenhouses utilize thermal storage methods to stabilize and maintain growing conditions for a range of plants. Operation of initial prototypes have led to the development of a new design, informed by farmer partner input. Additionally, horticultural research has explored optimal plant varieties, seeding densities, and soil media. Ongoing monitoring tracks growing environment conditions, energy consumption, and heat storage.Investigating climate influenced Larch Beetle damage to forests- Paul Dubuque – MN Department of Natural Resources- Mike Reinikainen – MN Department of Natural ResourcesEastern larch beetle (ELB), (Dendroctonus simplex), has impacted 45 percent (534,910 acres) of all the tamarack (Larix laricina) forests in Minnesota from 2001-2018. The length and the levels of mortality are unprecedented and represent the longest continuous outbreak of ELB on record. Recent work at the University of Minnesota has shown the influence of climate change on ELB development, but there is extremely limited information available regarding ELB impact on stand development in tamarack forests, particularly for tree regeneration following overstory mortality. Securing tree regeneration in tamarack forests is necessary to maintain ecosystem function and minimize the conversion to alder dominated shrub swamps or non-forest habitat. Furthermore, the DNR has a mission to sustain these forests and renew the damaged acres, thus maintaining their multiple economic and ecosystem benefits. Evaluating the amount and extent of damaged tamarack stands, however, continues to be a serious challenge for the DNR. Collaborating with the University of Minnesota and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection is essential to help understand and quantify tree regeneration (if present) and recruitment in stands damaged from ELB. We will discuss characteristics of the current outbreak, review silvicultural practices for regenerating tamarack, present initial monitoring results tracking tamarack regeneration in damaged stands, and conclude with ongoing efforts to conserve this forest cover type in the face of an unprecedented climate influenced ELB outbreak.Promoting native pollinator gardens in Steele County- Elizabeth Gitlhvedt – Bee Friendly Environmental Alliance of Steele County- Theresa Harmsa, Cindy Rossow, Lynette Yencho, Deb Knutson, Claire LaCanne, Deb Arlt, Maggie McDonough, Jeannette Sanford – All are volunteer members of the Bee Friendly Environmental Alliance of Steele CountyIn 2018 the Environmental Action Team of Steele County Indivisible created a more inclusive group, "The Bee Friendly Environmental Alliance", to address the loss of habitat for pollinator birds and insects in Steele County caused by climate change. In 2019 the "Bee Friendlies" promoted native pollinator plantings and rain gardens throughout Steele County to increase and improve habitat and the sequestration of atmospheric carbon. After an educational presentation to the Owatonna City Council and the public on the need for increased pollinator habitat and the limitation of pesticides harmful to pollinators, we proposed to and convinced the City of Owatonna to adopt a resolution designating the City as a "Pollinator Friendly City". We also observed Pollinator Week in June 2019 with an information booth and plant sale at the local Farmer's Market as well as establishing a native pollinator plant garden near a City park. The all volunteer "Bee Friendlies" will continue efforts in 2020 to address pollinator habitat loss by working with the Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners, the Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District, ISD 761, and the Owatonna Izaak Walton League. We plan an education workshop in February 2020 on planting native pollinator gardens.International Environment Forum- Carolyn Lonning – Baha’i FaithThe IEF is a Baha'i-inspired professional non-governmental organization founded in 1997 with members in over 70 countries on five continents. The Forum is accredited by the united Nations in the science and technology major group, collaborating with the International Council for Science (ICSU) and participating in international conferences on sustainability (Johannesburg 2002; Rio+20 2012) and on climate change (COP15 Copenhagen 2009; COP21 Paris 2015).Among their many goals is to promote environmental awareness and sustainability by developing educational materials through which children, youth and adults are empowered to contribute to practical action. Another goal is to engage with individuals and other groups and apply members' collective knowledge for the benefit of society.Hot off the press: Minnesota Green Infrastructure Guidebook- Tiffany Sprague – MN Sea GrantPredictions of increased precipitation across Minnesota got you down? Wishing you could better manage your property’s stormwater but not sure where to start? Has Google left you confused? Look no further! Minnesota Sea Grant recently released the North Shore Homeowners Guide to Managing Stormwater, helping you on the journey to better manage your stormwater with northern-climate-approved green infrastructure practices. We know a resilient region is one in which communities, businesses and individuals have the capacity to survive, adapt, and grow in response to stress and change. We also know green infrastructure is one tool to help us strengthen resilience to climate challenges such as predicted increases in severity and frequency of storms. And, we know it is discouraging to look at hundreds of Google images for green infrastructure practices built in moderate climates and seemingly impractical for our cold and snowy region. This book is an action-oriented guide to green stormwater infrastructure, highlighting practical and manageable projects the Minnesota homeowner or small business can do to slow and reduce runoff from their property. General costs covered? Check. Degree of maintenance included? Check. Background to help educate that neighbor? Of course. Cute graphics? Have we ever. Ultimately, this guide provides the public with an awareness of the value of green stormwater infrastructure from the perspective of their own residence/business - an awareness Sea Grant is spreading in 2020 with outreach to North Shore communities regarding publication and use of this guidebook.Legal strategies to promote solar energy, public health, and climate adaptation- Jill Krueger – Network for Public Health Law- Betsy Lawton – Network for Public Health LawThis poster applies a public health law lens to the public health threat posed by climate change and the combustion of fossil fuels. Increasing solar energy production can reduce public health harms caused by climate change and the combustion of fossil fuels, including increased incidence of asthma and cardiovascular disease and exposure to contaminants in drinking water leaching from coal ash storage facilities. Solar power can also increase community resilience to natural disasters and other energy interruptions. These health hazards disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color that have higher rates of exposure to pollution, are more affected by climate change, and pay a higher portion of income to meet energy needs. Widespread adoption of solar energy provides an opportunity to reduce emissions, improve health, increase health equity, and address the social determinants of health, including safe and affordable housing and job availability. This poster will describe a variety of legal strategies to promote the adoption of solar energy. Real-world examples to be discussed are drawn from across the country, at the federal, state, and local levels, in both urban and rural communities. Legal strategies explored include: strategies for multi-unit and affordable housing, pollinator friendly strategies, tax incentives, grants, zoning, resolutions, and group buys.Sparking energy improvements in mobile home parks- Jennyfer Barrientos – Growing up Healthy- Sandy Malecha – Northfield Health Community Initiative- Beth Kallestad – City of NorthfieldHarsh winter temperatures in early 2019 were particularly difficult for residents of Rice County’s mobile home parks. Frostbite and destructive fires resulted from residents trying to thaw frozen pipes and use stoves to warm rooms. Residents left water running to keep their pipes from freezing, significantly increasing water and sewer usage/cost. Residents reached out to Growing Up Healthy (GUH) for help.Through a pilot with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Program, the City of Faribault, GUH and Xcel Energy professionals conducted Home Energy Squad visits in 57 trailers. GUH worked with the park manager to coordinate with residents and were present for visits, translating and providing essential cultural context to the Home Energy Squad staff. Efforts are underway to help winterize pipes. Funds from Xcel Energy and other partners are being allocated for Rice County mobile home parks because of residents’ work to raise up their voice and seek solutions for their home energy and safety needs.With a vision of “clean energy for all” the City of Northfield is now working with GUH to replicate this outreach in Northfield’s mobile home parks. The goal is to complete 50 Home Energy Squad Visits in the next year.This poster will address issues mobile home residents face with regard to dealing with weather-related stress, energy conservation and funding, as well as information regarding community partnerships as a way to achieve climate change goals.Creativity Walkshops: Outreach through nature to reach new audiences- Kristen Mastel – University of Minnesota Outreach and InstructionLearn about various outreach programs used to gain new audiences from students, staff and community members through nature-based activities at the University of Minnesota. Nature 30x30 was a partnership with our Nature-Based Therapies program to highlight activities and research to encourage our community to go outside and explore nature for 30 minutes every day. To encourage students and staff to grow their six dimensions of wellness, we have engaged in stressbusters that seek to connect students with nature through aromatherapy, nature printing, and more! Our latest project to encourage reconnection with nature is creativity walkshops where participants will go on a short guided walk and then participate in an activity. While some may see these programs as unrelated to a library, I will show you how partnering with other units to support community wellbeing supports our mission. Breakout Session I Presentation and Session AbstractsTools and Planning (90-minute session)Top Tools for Climate Adaptation and Planning in Minnesota- Kenny Blumenfeld – MN State Climatology Office, MN Department of Natural Resources- Oliva LeDee – Northeast Climate Adaptation Science CenterWhat tools can practitioners use to understand historical climate trends, anticipate future changes, and develop adaptation plans specific to the resources they manage? Though the internet abounds with tools to help address these needs, they vary in scope, geography, utility, and quality. Moreover, they can be difficult to locate and even more difficult to use. Given the urgency of informed adaptation planning, practitioners cannot afford to apply outdated or inappropriate information, to be led down the wrong path, or to be stymied by confusion. The purpose of this session is to highlight some of the highest-quality, most relevant tools for climate adaptation planning in Minnesota. As an active learning session, participants will have the opportunity to test the tools and identify potential applications in their work. After this session, they will be able to confidently use many tools and resources in their climate adaptation practice.Water Resources and Flooding (presentations)Cross-jurisdictional partnership creating more climate resilience- Brian Shekleton – Hennepin County- Drew McGovern – Hennepin CountyCost-effective and resilient responses to climate change cannot happen in isolation because climate vulnerabilities are not limited by jurisdictional boundaries, especially in road right-of-ways. With 25% of all Hennepin County roads in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed and a big number of those in the City of Minnetonka, a partnership was created to assess flood vulnerability in transportation corridors. Vulnerabilities were explored using precipitation values up to the 90th percentile of Atlas 14. This partnership and planning exercise is one of the first climate vulnerability assessments Hennepin County has conducted and the partnership model is one Hennepin County leadership has expressly said they want to expand broadly.From large to small scale modeling, details do matter…- Brandon Barnes – Barr Engineering- Claire Bleser – Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District- Bryan Guidl – City of Bloomington- Scott Sobiech – Barr EngineeringFlooding or not flooding? Are we prepared for the future? Are we using the right degree of detail to identify vulnerability? The Riley Purgatory B luff Creek Watershed District and all of the communities that lie within its boundary are tackling this question. The RPBCWD recently completed a floodplain vulnerability evaluation to identify flood-risk areas along the creeks. One of the outcomes was identifying the flood risk of structures and road crossings riparian to the creeks during a series of various rainfall events. Following the floodplain evaluation, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members have indicated that it would be beneficial if the District’s stormwater model included additional detail throughout the watershed and could be used to better identify flood-risk areas that are not adjacent to the creeks.In response to input provided by the TAC, RPBCWD partnered with the City of Bloomington to update the District’s model of Purgatory Creek to include the more detailed information used by the City to identify areas at-risk of flooding. This presentation will outline the findings and recommendations of the study but also what are the next steps beyond the study.More rain in intense storms – what cities and NOAA can do about it- Randy Neprash – Stantec, Minnesota Cities Stormwater Coalition, and National Municipal Stormwater CoalitionWe are getting more of our rain in intense storms. This is having an impact on our stormwater systems and localized flooding. This change in our rainfall in reflected in the relatively new Atlas 14, precipitation frequency estimates for the Upper Midwest issued in 2013. Atlas 14 replaced the precipitation frequency estimates in Technical Paper 40, issued in 1961. The 100-year storm event for the Twin Cities went from about 6?€ to more than 7.5?€ . There is a case to be made to establish stable funding and a consistent national schedule for updating the precipitation frequency estimates in Atlas 14. Neither are currently in place. We are currently capable of accurately modeling stormwater runoff from various design storms and the movement of that water through city-wide stormwater systems. Such computer models are called ?€?full-system hydrology and hydraulics models". More cities should have such models and these models should be updated with Atlas 14 storm events. This would enable cities to identify potential problem areas during intense storms, with the goal of addressing those situations before they become catastrophes. We should consider state-level funding to help cities get and/or update their full-system H & H models. We should consider national advocacy to get Atlas 14 updates funded and regularized. These are consequential climate change responses that are based on updated historical data and do not rely on climate change projections. This presentation will address all these concepts.Climate adaptation through floodplain restoration- Olivia Dorothy – American RiversRivers and streams across the Midwest have been constricted, altered and straightened to accommodate agriculture and development. The loss of floodplains and wetlands contributes to elevated flood heights and flood damage. As a warming climate triggers more frequent and severe storms and floods, we must restore Midwest rivers to prepare for more frequent and intense flood events. Restoring floodplains to give rivers more room to accommodate flood water is the best way to keep communities safe and provides clean water, open space, and habitat for fish and wildlife. To accomplish this, we must utilize new strategies to integrate river and water management to achieve multiple benefits for the communities of the Midwest. American Rivers is working to advance floodplain restoration policy and practice nationally and across the country. This presentation will discuss strategies that Midwest states and watersheds should consider utilizing to enhance collaboration between river conservationists, flood managers, and farmers to restore and reconnect floodplains to rivers. Collaboration and Community Engagement (presentations)Collaboration with grassroots groups: expanding your work into the community- Leslie MacKenzie – Transition Twin CitiesMost climate adaptation work is undertaken at the level of municipalities or state government, with limited opportunities for community members to participate in a meaningful way. The general public is unaware of planning efforts, uninformed about the adaptation work that needs to happen, and many are feeling increasingly anxious about climate issues. GrassrootsTransition Town groups (and groups like them) can help to bridge the gap, partnering with government and academic experts to bring challenging climate change information down to an actionable level for ordinary citizens. Transition Towns is a global grassroots movement of citizens taking action to reduce their carbon footprint and adapt to a changing climate. Transition groups operate as social networks using change strategies of role modeling, social diffusion and social norms to help people learn and change. People can talk peer to peer about the challenges ahead, actions they have taken, and strategies to overcome barriers to change. Two local Transition groups – Transition ASAP (St. Anthony Park, St. Paul) and Transition Longfellow (Longfellow, Minneapolis) conducted three projects to educate their community about climate change and engage them in resilience-building next steps. Our speaker will talk about these projects: 1) a day-long educational event presenting climate science and solution speakers, 2) a 5-part speaker series culminating in a preparedness fair, and a 3) a year-long weekly preparedness email series. These grassroots groups accessed expert speakers from state and city government, from the University of Minnesota, and from their local communities. They used social media as well as informal networks to attract attendees. The presentation will conclude with anecdotes on impacts, and reflections on missed opportunities for partnerships that could have furthered the work.Climate adaptation in the 1854 Ceded Territory: climate program development and implementation- Hilarie Sorensen – 1854 Treaty AuthorityClimate change is a threat to natural resources such as mooz (moose), ogaa (walleye) and manoomin (wild rice) that are vital to the culture, history, well-being, and life-ways of the Ojibwe people. The 1854 Treaty Authority worked collaboratively with the Bois Forte, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac Bands to develop a “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan: 1854 Ceded Territory Including the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage Reservations”, which was completed in 2016. The purpose of the plan is to investigate how changing climate conditions are and could continue to affect the landscape and species within the 1854 Ceded Territory and the respective reservations. Contractor assistance was obtained from Adaptation International and the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessment Center, which was funded through the Bureau of Indian Affairs climate change program. Hilarie Sorensen, Climate Specialist for the 1854 Treaty Authority, will describe the process that was used to develop the vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan as well as share stories and updates from climate adaptation projects and programs within the 1854 Ceded Territory. Great Lakes One Water: the Resilient Future Project- Tiffany Sprague – MN Sea Grant- Jesse Schomberg – MN Sea GrantThe Great Lakes One Water (GLOW) Partnership is a multi-year, basin-wide initiative designed to help communities around the Great Lakes region develop and implement projects protecting freshwater resources. The Lake Superior/Upper Peninsula regional GLOW team developed the Resilient Future Project, seeking to build a community of civic and municipal leaders with the vision and drive to identify and implement strategies to better prepare for extreme weather, including heavy precipitation events and coastal storms. Community foundations, with the support and guidance of citizens, experts, and municipal and civic leaders from the region, are joining forces through the GLOW Partnership to face the challenge together to increase the resiliency of the region. Through the Resilient Future Project, it is the goal for communities in the Lake Superior/Upper Peninsula region to be more resilient in the face of extreme weather by using a network to share results, establishing this region as a creative laboratory for innovative practices, helping communities see value in resilience investments, and motivating other communities to plan. For the Duluth-Superior area, these efforts are championed by Ready North, a network of agencies across sectors working to increase communities’ ability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, with particular emphasis on our most vulnerable community members. In the City of Duluth, a community leadership team has prioritized and selected a resilience project, with particular focus on marginalized communities with the highest sensitivity to flooding such as individuals experiencing economic stress. Ready North: community collaboration for disaster resilience- Michelle Morris – Duluth Superior Community Foundation – Ready NorthDisasters’ impacts on communities intersect many sectors, as many of us have experienced. Disasters often extend disparities existing in communities prior to the disaster, harming further people already experiencing housing and food insecurity, social isolation, access and functional needs, and language barriers. Successful recovery from a disaster requires a collaborative, multi-sector approach.Stemming from Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation’s involvement in recovery from severe flooding in 2012, it has been a leader in forming Ready North. Ready North is a network comprised of community leaders from city, county and state government; nonprofit organizations; health care institutions; philanthropic organizations; and educational institutions. The network’s focus is to increase northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin communities’ ability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, with particular emphasis on our most vulnerable community members.Ready North has undertaken strategies to create a clear, trusted communication source on disaster preparedness, response and recovery at ; increase communities’ disaster resiliency using a data-informed approach; and build its capacity as a network. Local and national partnerships and support have been vital to the success of these efforts.With 11 tornadoes, 8 mega-rain events, 7 damaging wind events, 6 wildfires and 5 damaging winter storms all within the last 20 years in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, it is clear that these collaborative efforts are and will continue to be vital to the wellbeing of our communities.Agriculture (90-minute session) Farmers adaption to “weird weather:” climate adaptation in agriculture- Dennis Todey – USDA Midwest Climate Hub- Mike Ludwig – Minnesota Farmer- Greg Entinger – Minnesota Farmer- Suzanne Rhees – MN Board of Soil and Water Resources- Peter Ciborowski – MN Pollution Control Agency- Brad Jordahl Redlin – MN Department of AgricultureConversations about climate change can receive a mixed reception in farm country, as some farmers are skeptical of climate change, or at least of human causes. Regardless, many farmers observe greater variability and more extremes in weather patterns and recognize a need to make adjustments in their cropping and tillage practices that improve soil health and provide greater resilience to weather extremes.In addition to greater resilience, greenhouse gas reductions can be achieved from conservation practices. Based on the most recent greenhouse gas emission inventory totals, about two-thirds of the emissions from agriculture, forestry and land use are produced from cropland soils, from nitrate leached from croplands to surface and ground waters, or from petroleum-based fuels combusted in farm equipment. This session will be led by Dennis Todey, Director of the Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, and will feature a conversation with Minnesota farmers and agricultural program administrators from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Board of Water and Soil Resources, and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The panel will explore the challenges and opportunities for climate adaptation in agriculture, greenhouse gas reductions that can also be achieved, and programs in Minnesota that are working to help farmers adapt. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the motivations and factors that drive real-life decisions in agriculture that can be useful in working with farmers to adopt conservation practices.Breakout Sessions II Presentation and Session AbstractsTools and Trends (presentations)Scenarios of the demographic impact of climate change in Minnesota- Megan Dayton – Minnesota State Demographic CenterFor this report, we dive more deeply into our uncertain future by focusing on the aspects of population related to climate change. As a starting point, we begin by first assessing the shape and scale of demographic change underway in Minnesota. Next, we identify the limited nature of historic population projections. Minnesota State Demographic Center projections include conditional calculations showing what the future population would be if a particular set of assumptions were to hold true. We then outline the existing scenario framework, called the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). These scenarios translate directly to population projections for Minnesota that are important for understanding long-term demographic impact of the various climate changes. Developing a watershed based climate vulnerability map- John Delaney – USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center- Kristen Bouska – USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences CenterThe effects of climate change are multifaceted and vary temporally and spatially. With so many different potential changes and projections, there is a need to understand the combined impact of climate change and where changes are anticipated to be most extreme. In order to address this need, we are working with partners from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a climate change vulnerability map for the Midwest Region. The vulnerability map is watershed based and combines fifteen different climate change indicators based on changes in temperature, precipitation, and hydrology. The change in each of these indicators from the baseline period (1986-2005) to the future period (2040-2059) is consolidated into a composite score for each watershed. We have integrated measures of adaptive capacity into the calculations and are exploring ways to allow users to customize the vulnerability assessment by weighting the importance of each climate change indicator to their plant, animal, or ecosystem of interest. We are currently working with our partners to further refine the vulnerability map and to develop guidance on how the map can be integrated into adaptation planning efforts at both regional and local scales. This watershed based vulnerability assessment will help to provide a greater understanding of vulnerability to climate change effects for the Midwest Region and be useful to a diverse array of groups including resource managers.Minnesota winter weather weakening in the climate change era- Siiri Bigalke – University of MinnesotaChanges in the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events are perhaps the most visible sign of climate change. Yet long term variation in average temperature extremes proves to be a persistent climate change signal in the observational record. Relative to all other climate variables, average minimum temperatures have shown the greatest increase, with spatial coherence throughout the United States. On the seasonal scale, winters throughout the US are becoming less cold at a faster rate than summers are warming. These changes are evident across the Upper Midwest and are epitomized in Minnesota, a state known for its extreme winter climate characteristics. Against the backdrop of winter warming are notable events of extreme cold, including the “high-profile” polar vortex outbreaks of 2014 and 2019. This presentation will examine century-scale climate observations to explore the nature of winter climate changes. Drawing on the strongest climate change signals detected in Minnesota, we leverage data from the broader region to characterize the spatial extent of these changes in the context of larger scale mid-latitude climate patterns. With the year 2020 and the new 30-year normals period rapidly approaching, this is an excellent opportunity to reconsider what constitutes an extreme event. Since Minnesota and Upper Midwest climate stakeholders have an economic and environmental dependence on a historic winter profile, this research aims to shed light on what is the new winter “normal” in the climate change era.Multidisciplinary collaboration to predict and measure the new water budget- Tiffany Schaufler – Minnehaha Creek Watershed DistrictFrom 2013-2018, the Twin Cities metro experienced the wettest six-year period on record. During those six years, an extra year’s worth of precipitation fell (~30 inches), meaning the area has received seven years’ worth of rain in a six-year period. 2019 has continued this exceptionally wet trend and currently is the wettest year on record. Under Minnesota’s new climate “normal”, how can water managers successfully predict how much precipitation is coming, track fallen precipitation, monitor its subsequent effects to water bodies, and effectively communicate observed impacts to their communities and citizens? To monitor and manage the impacts of this record precipitation, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) reached out to the National Weather Service (NWS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and Hennepin County Emergency Management (HCEM) to identify areas for collaboration. All four agencies quickly realized that they have common missions/visions that work to provide scientific data and warnings that enhance and protect the health, safety, and quality of life for our communities and citizens. This multi-agency collaboration allows MCWD to utilize real-time scientific expertise to predict, observe, manage, and communicate about water levels across the watershed. Using its partners’ expertise, MCWD has been able to further refine how it tracks and manages the water budget across its entire 178 square mile watershed and limit the duration of high water in spite of record precipitation. MCWD, NWS, USGS, and HCEM believe we have created a successful collaborative model that could be replicated by other organizations throughout the state. Forest Management (90-minute session)Adapting forests to climate change through operational-scale partnership- Brian Palik – USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station- Meredith Cornett – The Nature Conservancy in MN/ND/SD- Paul Dubuque – MN DNR Division of Forestry- Leslie Brandt – USDA Forest Service, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science- Mary Hammes – Mississippi Park Connection- Marcella Windmuller-Campione – University of Minnesota- Rebecca Montgomery – University of MinnesotaThe state of Minnesota is one of the most rapidly warming in the nation. Predictions are for continued warming and a large reduction in summer precipitation, with the potential to greatly impact forests across the state. In response, organizations, agencies, and tribes are beginning to test operational-scale adaptation approaches designed to increase resilience to climate change stressors, including growing season droughts and novel insect pest behaviors. We highlight four such efforts in this panel, including the USDA Forest Service’s Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change experiment, The Nature Conservancy’s Adaptation Forestry in MN’s Northwood’s project, the MN DNR’s black ash adaption project, and an adaptive silviculture experiment along the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Finding solutions that keep forests on the landscape is exceedingly important, as the economic vitality and social identity of Minnesota is closely tied to its iconic forests. Through incorporation of partner input, the highlighted projects are exploring a range of adaptation approaches, as an early lesson learned is that one size does not fit all when it comes to addressing climate change adaptation with forest management. Attendees will hear the latest, first-hand information from experts in the field on what has and has not worked for these highlighted projects, with recommendations on how to adapt approaches to their own situations. Moreover, through the culminating panel discussion, attendees will be able to share their own experiences with forest adaptation strategies and solicit feedback from others on how to begin or enhance their own projects.Policy and Planning (90-minute session)Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning for Minnesota- Laura Millberg – MN Pollution Control Agency- Jennifer Nelson – MN Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management- Jeffrey Meek – MN Department of Transportation- Nissa Tupper – MN Department of Health- Bob Patton – MN Department of Agriculture- Amanda Kueper – MN Department of Natural ResourcesThe first half of this session will provide brief overviews of a recent survey of climate change adaptation and resilience planning by all governmental organizations in Minnesota, the climate trends and recommendations for adaptation included in the 2019 State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and updates from key state agencies about their current adaptation efforts.During the second half, session attendees will participate in a World Café style exercise to provide guidance for Minnesota’s interagency climate adaptation planning. Attendees will be divided into groups with each group assigned to answer the question at one of the stations. Then attendees will move around the room to vote for or add to the initial answers as they visit each station. The five posted questions will include: 1. What climate change impacts are you most concerned about adapting to?2. Who should be the audience for a State Climate Adaptation Plan?3. How might a State Climate Adaptation Plan most benefit you?a. Should it cover topic areas important to you? If so, what topics? b. Should it be structured as a decision-making tool?c. Should it provide guidance / best practices?d. Should it complement work being done at other levels? What work?e. Other benefits?4. What outreach strategies / engagement efforts should be used to develop the Plan?5. How would you like information to be communicated / made available to you about climate adaptation and the State Plan?Public Health (90-minute session)Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate: diverse educational approachesShanda Demorest – Practice GreenhealthBrenna Doheny – University of Minnesota – DuluthBruce Snyder – Health Professionals for a Healthy ClimateAndy Jameton – University of Minnesota Center for BioethicsProblem: Health professionals are highly trusted experts in human health, and are thus well-positioned to lead conversations about climate change. As health impacts of climate change such as heat illness, exacerbations in chronic conditions, injuries, and mental health challenges become more frequent, vast, and complicated, health professionals will be increasingly responsible for treating these conditions. In addition, they must also communicate prevention strategies via climate change adaptation and mitigation to patients and the community at large.Importance of the work: To address climate-related health impacts, the interprofessional Minnesota-based advocacy organization Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate (HPHC)—comprising physicians, nurses, and health professionals across all disciplines—utilizes education as an organizational focus. HPHC educational initiatives have reached thousands of individuals including patients, students, policymakers, health professionals, and community members throughout Minnesota and the nation.Solutions - Approach & Outcome: The reach and audience vary among HPHC educational interventions, but the approach consistently includes: a gap analysis, intergenerational network mapping, content collation and creation, internal and external organizing, community partnering, and debriefing. Examples of HPHC’s educational interventions include patient-facing materials, small-group discussions, online curricula, in-person lectures, and large-format conferences. Workshop participants will: 1) review diverse examples of HPHC’s educational initiatives; 2) gain understanding of the basic components of planning, implementing, and evaluating climate education; 3) outline a plan for their own educational session; and 4) receive feedback from HPHC members about their plans. Participants should come prepared with ideas for their own educational session (although they do not need to be related to health). Breakout Session IIITribal Responses to Climate Change (90-minute session)Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad:a tribal climate adaptation menu- Sara Smith – College of the Menominee Nation- Rob Croll – Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission- Hilarie Sorensen – 1854 Treaty Authority- Kristen Schmitt – US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northern Institute of Applied Climate ScienceTraditional and Indigenous knowledge and perspectives have not often been recognized in planning resources for climate adaptation in natural and cultural resource management. This panel will introduce participants to a new Tribal Adaptation Menu, designed to assist in developing specific adaptation actions that recognize and incorporate tribal perspectives. The Tribal Adaptation Menu was created to help integrate tribal and traditional values with climate adaptation planning processes, such as the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) Adaptation Workbook. This first version of the Tribal Adaptation Menu was intentionally created from Ojibwe and Menominee perspectives, languages, concepts, and values. Future versions will be co-developed by other Indigenous peoples, with their languages, concepts, strategies and approaches. The Tribal Adaptation Menu may be used as a tool to help bridge communication barriers for non-tribal persons or organizations interested in indigenous approaches to adaptation and the needs and values of diverse tribal communities. The menu itself was created by a diverse group of partners including NIACS, College of Menominee Nation, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, Inter-tribal Council or Michigan, 1854 Treaty Authority, Michigan Tech, and numerous Tribal Nations in the Great Lakes region.Natural Resources Management (90-minute session)Applied ecological science for climate-adapted natural resource management- Sarah Skikne – UMN Institute on the Environment- Jessica Hellmann – UMN Institute on the Environment- Marissa Ahlering – The Nature Conservancy- Julie Etterson – UMN-Duluth Department of Biology and Institute on the Environment- Forest Isbell – UMN Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior- Lucinda Johnson – UMN-Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute Climate adaptation depends on a cycle of learning and assessment. In the conservation and natural resource management sector, how can ecological science best serve this process? What are the key science questions that must be answered to pursue adaptation effectively and efficiently? There are many potential ways ecological science can advance climate adaptation, including monitoring of climate impacts and intervention outcomes, generation of predictive models, tests of assumptions, and evaluations of decisions. Panelists will discuss how they’ve worked with partners to design research that informs climate adaptation across diverse Minnesota ecosystems. Topics will include how collaborations – both within and beyond “science” – shape this work, and how scientists can take advantage of natural experiments and historical data.Policy and Planning (90-minute session)The future of Minnesota’s clean water in a changing climate- Phil Belfiori – MN Environmental Quality Board- Mae Davenport – UMN Center for Changing Landscapes- Bonnie Keeler – UMN Humphrey School of Public Affairs- Kate Brauman – Global Water Initiative, UMN Institute on the Environment - Claire Bleser?– Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District- Brett Emmons – EOR Inc.- Camilla Correll – EOR Inc.How will Minnesota’s changing climate affect our freshwater? What can we do to protect water quality and quantity for future generations? This session will present new research on climate change and its water related impacts, including flooding, water recreation, agriculture, and infrastructure impacts. We will hear how these climate changes are being planned for in Minnesota communities/watersheds. The session will end with an invitation to participate in a shaping the 2020 State Water Plan, which will focus on climate change and sustainable water management.Public Health (90-minute session)Minnesota’s heating up: assess to adapt!- Nissa Tupper – MN Department of Health- Kristin Raab – MN Department of Health- Terese Bordeau – Ramsey County- Len Kne – University of Minnesota U-SpatialSESSION NOTE – If you want to create a custom assessment during the session, bring a laptop computer.Extreme heat events in Minnesota are already occurring and are expected to become more common, more severe, and longer-lasting as our climate changes. This can lead to health impacts like dehydration, heatstroke, and even death, along with community disruptions like power outages. The good news is that impacts from extreme heat are preventable with proper planning. Start preparing today by attending this training and leave with a customized heat vulnerability assessment for your community! Bring your laptop to this interactive training session with the Minnesota Department of Health, the University of Minnesota U-Spatial, and Ramsey County to:? learn about factors that can contribute to a community’s vulnerability to heat,? explore the new, online statewide Heat Vulnerability Assessment Tool (), ? gather lessons learned from Ramsey County’s heat vulnerability assessment work, and? create a heat vulnerability assessment for your own jurisdiction.The Minnesota Department of Health along with the University of Minnesota U-Spatial created the online Heat Vulnerability Assessment Tool to help professionals visualize datasets that can contribute to a community’s sensitivity and exposure to extreme heat. The new tool provides planning professionals, emergency managers, and public health professionals throughout Minnesota a platform to identify vulnerabilities to heat, streamline adaptation efforts, and tailor local solutions to protect health and increase climate resilience. ................
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