The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is helping the Redwood Valley County Water District, in Mendocino County, Calif. assess the risks they face from climate change and to take actions that increase resilience. The Water District and more than 20 other communities nationwide will each receive up to $30,000 in training and technical assistance to identify assets, threats, and adaptation options to reduce their risk from climate change.
“Climate change isn’t a distant threat – it is already impacting communities here in California,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “EPA’s expertise can help water utilities adapt to the public health and environmental challenges of drought and climate change.”
The Redwood Valley County Water District will participate in a multi-year program using EPA’s Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool to prepare for impacts from climate change including drought and water quality challenges. The software allows users to input their water utility information, analyze that information along with climate modeling, and then identify potential impacts for prioritization and planning. The Water District serves approximately 5,000 people in Redwood Valley, the Redwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and 200 farms.
