June 8th, 2012

Envision Skagit to Host Presentation on Skagit Climate Science

SKAGIT COUNTY - On June 21, a University of Washington climate scientist will report on the latest research about potential changes in the climate of Skagit County and the Skagit River watershed over the next century.

Dr. Alan Hamlet, Research Assistant Professor with the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will lead the presentation at the Skagit County Administration Building, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon. The presentation is open to the public and is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 am, including time for audience questions.

Hamlet is the lead author of the "Skagit River Basin Climate Science Report," which was developed for Skagit County and the Envision Skagit 2060 project. The report, available on the Envision Skagit website, surveys projected changes in climate that might affect the Skagit River basin through 2100. It focuses on documented and potential effects on glaciers, river flows, the Skagit River delta and Skagit Bay, fish and wildlife, and a variety of human systems, including flood control, agriculture, hydropower, and stormwater management.

Members of the Skagit Climate Science Consortium reviewed chapters of the report and will be available at the presentation to answer questions. The Consortium includes scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, Skagit River System Cooperative, Seattle City Light, NOAA Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy, Western Washington University, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The presentation will be recorded by Skagit TV21 for viewing on the TV21 and Envision Skagit websites.

In sponsoring the report and the presentation, the Envision Skagit 2060 project seeks to stimulate community discussion of practical choices to address the potential impacts of climate change.
Coordinated by Skagit County, Envision Skagit 2060 is working with a wide range of community partners to develop a broadly-supported, 50-year vision to protect our environment, sustain our natural resource industries, and accommodate population growth in livable, walkable, and economically vibrant communities.

Related: Envision Skgit 2060 web site