Protecting People, Infrastructure, Economies, and Ecosystem Assets: Water Management in the Face of Climate Change

Recent literature outlines significant impacts from climate change on many areas
of the world, with much focus on causes and impacts. However the long-term trends
demand adaptation strategies. While a variety of solutions have been suggested, some
politically viable, others not, perhaps the most significant barrier to a cohesive approach to
climate adaptation is the failure from the public and policy-makers to realize that different
areas will be affected differently and that “one-size-fits-all” policy solutions will not be
successful. In addition, as one area may identify and respond to challenges in their location,
others should be supportive of those efforts, realizing that while such actions may be neither
desirable nor appropriate for them, they may need support for solutions in the future in their
areas. This project was designed as a framework to identify solutions and demonstrate
differences between small regions and locales based on field conditions. The State of
Florida was used as a case example to outline these differences because Florida is faced
with significant challenges in the coming years related to water resources, the use of funds
and political capital, and the potential for economic disruption. The intent is that the results
of this project will lead to a series of recommendations and action steps for policy makers to
conserve the state’s assets. A similar approach can be used in other states and countries to
assess the likely policy and infrastructure needs for different locales.