Climate change: what is the future for our water?
- Snowpack: A possible reduction of snowpack could change water supply.
- Glacier melt: Reduced water supply from shrinking glaciers
- Forest fires: Warmer, drier summers and earlier springs may lead to increased forest fires.
- Extreme weather: A possible increase in extreme weather e.g. tornadoes, hail storms, heat waves, droughts, dust storms, floods, blizzards
- Agriculture: Increased demand for irrigation and a change in crop types due to a longer growing season
- River flow: Lower river flow reduces water supply, water quality, and recreation activities.
- Habitat: Warmer river temperatures stress cold-water species such as trout.
- Groundwater: Reduced recharge causes lower water tables which in turn cause some shallow wells to go dry.
- Hydroelectric power: Reduced flow decreases power generation.
