AdSci Water Resources

Mission

Learning from and working with leading practitioners from across the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater sectors, AdSci Water Resources supports the advancement of  lessons learned and  approaches to prepare for and respond to climate-related impacts. Through ongoing efforts, the AdSci Water Resources program element will continue to research and fund research of SARP and other key topics of interest such as: 

• Examining economic impacts and costs of climate- related extremes and adaptation;  
• Assessing urban areas’ vulnerability to extreme hydrologic events; 
• Developing tools and methods to help decision makers better understand, use, and communicate scientific information in planning and adapting to climate-related changes; 
• Integrating climate data, forecasts, and projections into decision-maker management of water resources; and
• Hosting and participating in engagement activities with partners, such as webinar series, that evolve into relevant resources for decision-maker use.

Issue

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century, and water managers, long accustomed to managing climate variability, have emphasized the need for more information about climate variability and change that they can incorporate into their risk management plans. 

Program Element History

The Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) division launched the AdSci Water Resources program element in response to this need, and builds on the decades of work from the legacy Sectoral Applications Research Program (SARP) by exploring practical lessons and leading practices focused on steps that water resource managers can take to mainstream climate science and build climate resilience. AdSci Water Resources aims to continue expanding the exchange of knowledge across communities that will foster more effective adaptation and improve community resilience, and also apply these approaches to other sectors.

Partnerships

Currently, AdSci Water Resources has developed many partnerships with leading practitioners, such as NOAA National Center for Environmental Information and the National Weather Service, Environmental Protection Agency, The Water Research Foundation, American Planning Association, Water Utility Climate Alliance, etc.