Vision

By evaluating the risks and impacts of climate change and identifying strategies to address both the local effects of climate change and the Agency’s own contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, San Bernardino Valley can proactively invest in projects and infrastructure to help reduce emissions and prevent greater costs from unforeseen climate impacts.

Ultimately, the CARP highlights key regional climate risks, assesses the Agency’s responsibilities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and outlines principles to guide investments in natural resources, infrastructure, and communities, to help ensure water supply reliability and resilience for the region.

Goals

The four main guiding principles of the CARP are:

• Maintain a diverse water portfolio through recycled water production, stormwater capture, aquifer recharge and strategic water imports
• Protect the water portfolio through conjunctive use planning, watershed restoration initiatives and strategic aquifer recharge
• Improve operational and infrastructure resilience by making strategic investments to maintain reliability and continuity of service
• Connect people to water and climate by leading education and engagement programs

The CARP is an essential, informative roadmap, addressing the regional impacts of climate change and the potential risks from significant climate events, and providing a comprehensive, actionable plan for incorporating climate change impacts into SB Valley’s functions and operations, thereby ensuring reliable access to water in the region for decades to come.

Key Climate Risks

The climate events the CARP outlines, which pose an increasing risk to the region, include

• Drought
• Extreme heat
• Wildfire
• Extreme precipitation and flooding
• Sea level rise
• Landslides
• Liquefaction

Drought and wildfire risk in the area are historically high and expected to increase over time. Some events, such as drought and extreme heat increase the demand for water, whereas events such as wildfires and flooding can damage critical water supply infrastructure. Furthermore, extreme precipitation can precede other events, including landslides, floods, and liquefaction, the latter occurring when a seismic event causes loosely packed, water-logged sediments to lose stability, causing the ground to shift or sink.

These climate risks threaten the reliability and resiliency of the water supply, and SB Valley recognizes the importance of being prepared for the increase in demand for a reliable water supply, and of being able to adapt to the needs from a changing climate.