EPA's National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change

The EPA has just announced the public release of its National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. This document is essential for anyone working at the intersection of freshwater protection and climate change issues.

The stated purpose of the National Water Program Strategy, according to Ben Grumbles of the EPA, is “to identify potential impacts of climate change for clean water and drinking water programs and define actions to respond to these impacts.” Some of you may have seen a draft of the strategy that was released for public comment last spring.

In addition to outlining the projected impacts of climate change on freshwater resources, this final version “describes 44 specific actions that the National Water Program will take to respond appropriately to climate change in topic areas including adaptation, mitigation, research, and education.”

One quote from this document that stuck in my mind can be found on page 25:

Water conservation is a win-win-win situation—in many cases a single program investment will have greenhouse gas, water supply, and water quality benefits, and will lead to economic savings and greater sustainability of water infrastructure.

The EPA seems to get it, now if only we can convince the rest of the country.