Office of Water 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

June 2015

 

2015 Workplan: 

National Water Program 

Response to Climate Change
Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

June 2015
Table of Contents

Introduction 1

National Water Program: Climate Change 2

Actions for 2015

A) Water Infrastructure 3

B) Watersheds and Wetlands 17

C) Coastal and Ocean Waters 30

D) Water Quality 44

E) Working with Tribes 55

F) Cross-Cutting Program Coordination 59

Appendices

1. EPA National Water Program: Climate Change Priority Actions 65

2. EPA Regional Water Programs: Climate Change 66

Common Priority Actions 

3. EPA Regional Water Programs: Climate Change 68

Innovations

4. Potential State Agency Clean Water and Drinking Water 70

Climate Change Adaptation Actions

5. EPA National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup Members 72
Page left intentionally blank. 
1

Introduction

This Workplan describes the actions that the National Water Program is 

planning to take in 2015 to implement the National Water Program 2012 

Strategy: Response to Climate Change. 

The National Water Program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) released the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to 

Climate Change (2012 Strategy) in December 2012 as an update to the

climate change strategy released in 2008. The 2012 Strategy describes longterm goals for the management of sustainable water resources in light of 

climate change. It is intended to be a roadmap to guide program planning 

and inform decision-makers during the Agency’s planning and budgeting 

process. 

This Workplan builds on substantial work conducted in 2012-2014 to implement the 2012 

Strategy. These implementation actions by EPA water programs at the national and regional 

levels are described in annual “highlights of progress” reports for 2012-2014 (available here).

The five long-term programmatic “vision 

areas” described in the 2012 Strategy 

provide the framework for this Workplan. 

These five areas are:

1. water infrastructure;

2. watersheds and wetlands;

3. coastal and ocean waters;

4. water quality; and

5. working with Tribes. 

The Workplan includes a brief summary of the 19 goals and 53 supporting actions described in 

the 2012 Strategy that support each of these five vision areas. For each of the 19 goals, the 

Plan describes specific implementation actions expected to be taken in 2015 by:

 National water program offices within the Office of Water at EPA Headquarters;

 Water programs in the ten EPA regional offices; and 

 EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) offices and laboratories. 

These national and regional actions, supported by research initiatives, constitute the best 

progress that the Agency is able to make toward achieving climate change adaptation goals for 

EPA water programs given the resources that are presently available.
2

The program office within the 

Office of Water responsible for the

national adaptation action is also 

identified (see text box for 

abbreviations of national water 

program offices). 

In 2014, each EPA national 

program office and Regional office 

developed a general climate change 

adaptation implementation plan (found here). Each plan includes “priority actions” and many 

of these actions continue to be priorities in 2015. “Priority actions” from the Office of Water 

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan for national programs are identified 

throughout the document and are summarized in Appendix 1. 

In addition, water programs in EPA’s ten Regional offices play an important role in adapting 

clean water and drinking water programs to a changing climate. Each regional office developed 

a climate change adaptation implementation plan last year and many of the actions in these 

plans relate to water programs. In addition, regional water programs worked with the Office of 

Water to identify a common set of priority actions and these actions are listed in this document

under the goal that the action supports and are summarized in Appendix 2. Finally, Regional

water programs are implementing an impressive range of innovative programs and policies for 

climate change adaptation that respond to the specific challenges in that Region. These 

innovations are identified throughout the document and are summarized in Appendix 3. 

In 2015, the National Water Program is committed 

to working with State agencies to build the program 

and policy foundation to support climate 

adaptation actions by States that implement clean 

water and drinking water programs. EPA identified 

ten actions that state agencies might take to adapt 

to a changing climate in the Fiscal Year 2015 

Addendum to the 2014 National Program Guidance.

These ten actions are identified in Appendix 4. 

To prepare for and support state work to 

implement climate adaptation actions, EPA has 

organized a series of Headquarters/Regional office 

teams to address key policy topics that need to be 

better defined to support state implementation 

actions in 2015 and later years. These five policy 

initiatives are listed below and identified in text 

boxes at appropriate places in this Workplan.

Headquarters/Region

Climate Program/Policy

Development Teams

1) Clean Water/Drinking Water State 

Revolving Loan Funds (OWM/OGWDW/ 

Regions 6 and 9)

2) NPDES Permits (OWM/Regions 5 and 8)

3) Water Quality Planning and 

Management (OWOW/Region 1 and 10)

4) Water Quality Criteria and Standards

(OST/Regions 4 and 7)

5) Sanitary Surveys (OGWDW/Regions 2, 3 

and 6)

EPA National Water Program Offices

OGWDW: Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

OST: Office of Science and Technology

OW/IO: Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water 

OWM: Office of Wastewater Management

OWOW: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
3

National Water Program: Climate Change 

Actions for 2015 

A) Water Infrastructure:

Goal 1: Build the body of information and tools needed to incorporate 

climate change into planning and decision making 

 Strategic Action 1: Improve access to vetted climate and hydrological science, 

modeling, and assessment tools through the Climate Ready Water Utilities 

program.

 Strategic Action 2: Assist wastewater and water utilities to reduce greenhouse gas 

emissions and increase long-term sustainability with a combination of energy efficiency, 

co-generation, and increased use of renewable energy resources.

 Strategic Action 3: Work with the States and public water systems, particularly small 

water systems, to identify and plan for climate change challenges to drinking water 

safety and to assist in meeting health based drinking water standards.

 Strategic Action 4: Promote sustainable design approaches to provide for the long-term 

sustainability of infrastructure and operations.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Issue an updated Version 3.0 of the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool 

(CREAT) to improve this tool to help water utilities in development of climate resilience 

plans. CREAT 3.0 will be upgraded from desktop software to a web-based tool, among 

other improvements. EPA will conduct two pilots of the beta 3.0 web tool - one in 

March 2015 with the water utility in Oakland, California and the other in mid-April 2015 

Vision Statement: In the face of a changing climate, resilient and adaptable 

drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities (water sector) ensure 

clean and safe water to protect the nation’s public health and environment 

by making smart investment decisions to improve the sustainability of their 

infrastructure and operations and the communities they serve, while 

reducing greenhouse gas emissions through greater energy efficiency. 

Goal

1
4

in Spartansburg, South Carolina. CREAT 3.0 will be made available as a free download on 

the EPA website in fall 2015. (OGWDW)

 Promote the use of CREAT by water utilities, including providing technical 

assistance to 23 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in 

conducting comprehensive climate-related risk assessments using CREAT 

in ongoing collaborative process as part of a Water Utility Climate 

Resilience Support Project. (For a list of participating utilities, visit: 

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/index.cfm.) (OGWDW)

 Using CREAT, provide four utility training workshops to be held in the vicinity of Los 

Angeles, California; Portland, Oregon; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Des Moines, Iowa. 

Twenty to thirty utilities will be trained in each workshop. (OGWDW)

 Provide three coastal resilience trainings for water sector utilities and technical 

assistance providers. These two-day training events will focus on how drinking water, 

wastewater, and stormwater utilities can understand and adapt to impacts from coastal 

storm events and related threats using two new EPA tools: CREAT and the Storm Surge 

Inundation and Hurricane Strike Frequency Map. Locations are as follows:

• June 16-17, 2015: Boca Raton, Florida 

• June 25-26, 2015: Mobile, Alabama

• July 21-22, 2015: West Babylon, New York 

 Provide assistance to Georgetown University Climate Center to re-launch the EPA 

Climate Ready Water Utilities Toolbox on the Georgetown Climate Clearinghouse 

website. (OGWDW)

 Carry out climate resilience and sustainability pilots to focus in on sustainability and 

financial components to help select the best adaptation strategies and improve 

implementation. Regional workshops to be held in Faribault, Minnesota and Blair, 

Nebraska. (OGWDW)

 Work with Rural Community Assistance Partnership and other 

associations to update the “Preparing for Extreme Weather Events:

Workshop Planner for the Water Sector” based on feedback from 

Emergency Response/Climate Ready Water Utilities workshops and 

technical assistance providers. Focus on making tool web-based, 

updating data/content, and improving the facilitation process. (OGWDW)

 Continue to develop an interactive, multimedia guide to assist water utilities in 

increasing their drought preparedness and resilience. This drought response guide is 

based on lessons learned from six water utilities across diverse regions of the country. 

(OGWDW) 

National 

Priority 

Action

National 

Priority 

Action
5

 Encourage the Clean Water and Drinking 

Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and 

DWSRF) to incorporate climate change 

considerations into their processes. 

(OWM/OGWDW) 

Activities planned in 2015 include:

o Continue a dialogue on "SRF Program Response to Climate Change Adaptation 

Needs" (OGWDW and OWM)

o Begin development of a paper on CWSRF eligibilities, which will include 

information on eligible climate and extreme weather resilience projects. (OWM)

o Continue meetings of the Headquarters-Regional SRF climate project team to 

explore ways to further promote the incorporation of climate change 

considerations at the state level. The Team will build on its benchmarking work 

to communicate to States what is being done in the SRFs to consider climate 

change and to encourage States to build on those efforts. Actions include 

promoting peer-to-peer learning opportunities and sharing and highlighting best 

practices. (OGWDW and OWM and Regions 6 and 9)

o Develop an indicator measure for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 National Water 

Program Guidance concerning the integration of climate resilience 

considerations into SRF programs. (OGWDW and OWM)

 Work with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and state energy offices to initiate 

energy management training programs for drinking water and wastewater utilities in 

several States, modeled after the successful efforts led by OWM and several EPA 

Regions. The training programs will focus on helping water and wastewater utilities 

assess their current energy usage, undertake energy audits, identify energy efficiency 

projects, and help these utilities identify and apply for federal, state, or local funding.

(OWM)

 Continue to work with assistance providers like the National Rural Water Association as 

they train small systems using the Rural and Small Systems Guidebook for a 

Sustainable Utility. (OWM)

 In collaboration with utility stakeholders, including the Water Environment Federation, 

National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), and others, continue to 

promote the use of best practices that highlight a range of sustainable management 

practices for utilities to consider, including those that help build climate resilience 

based on EPA’s “Moving Towards Sustainability: Sustainable and Effective Practices for 

Creating Your Water Utility Roadmap.” (OWM)

 Under the Promoting Sustainable Rural Water and Wastewater Memorandum of 

Agreement (MOA), EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue 

Headquarters/Region 

Climate Project Team:

State Revolving Funds

National 

Priority 

Action
6

to collaborate on promoting sustainable practices such as asset management and 

energy efficiency. (OWM)

 Plan a videoconference to help EPA Regions engage SRFs on climate change and 

extreme weather issues (in addition to other sustainability topics). (OWM and 

OGWDW)

 Work with utilities and communities to analyze a range of infrastructure alternatives 

using the Alternatives Analysis Criteria Guide. (OWM) 

Regional Program Actions

• Actions Common to All Regions

 Promote Community Engagement on Climate Resilience Using Tools from the Climate 

Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Initiative and Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) 

Program: Work with municipal and private utilities to promote the use of CREAT to 

recognize and respond to climate change risks and support communities in building 

climate resilience using tools such as the new workbook for developing risk-based 

climate adaptation plans developed by the National Estuary Program.

 Work with State Revolving Loan Fund Programs to recognize climate change impacts.

• Additional Regional Actions

Region 1

 The State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program will continue to use its annual SRF reviews to 

encourage States to consider resiliency projects in their SRF funding decisions each 

year.

 Continue support for energy efficiency improvements at water utilities. One drinking 

water facility has reached Zero Net Energy, three wastewater facilities are near Zero Net 

Energy, and at least eight others are working on plans to reach this goal. Completion 

dates for proposed Zero Net Energy facilities are mostly unknown, while others have

completion dates between 2016 and 2018.

 Partner with U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to develop a 

research agenda to help wastewater facilities more easily reach Zero Net Energy 

through new methods such as microbial fuel cells.

 Partner with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (USACE) to leverage resources to enhance capabilities of wastewater and 

drinking water utilities to recover from power outages. An outreach campaign will be 

developed to market the use, by utilities, of a USACE database of critical generators.
7

 Conduct a Water-Energy Interdependency Workshop for water utilities in western 

Massachusetts.

 Conduct two Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) Tabletop 

Exercises/Workshops in Maine and Connecticut.

 Complete a Water Health and Economic Analysis Tool (WHEAT) pilot in North Kingston, 

Rhode Island.

 Plan and initiate two Small System Resilience Pilots, based on tools developed through 

the national pilot with the Berwick, Maine Water System.

 Work with Massachusetts Water Works Association to assess the adequacy of drinking 

water construction design standards in addressing future impacts from climate change.

 Work with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission to develop 

climate preparedness guidance for water and wastewater facilities with a focus on 

preparing for extreme weather events.

 As a follow-up to the New England Hurricane Summit held in 2013, which 

focused on key issues and lessons learned from Tropical Storm Irene and 

Hurricane Sandy, coordinate with state Emergency Management Assistance 

Compacts and water sector contacts to discuss ways to establish an interstate water mutual aid program for New England.

 Continue to enhance partnerships with FEMA and USACE to advance water emergency 

response preparedness in New England, including promoting use of the Emergency 

Power Facility Assessment Tool (EPFAT), a database of electrical and generator 

capabilities for water systems. 

 Continue to enhance partnerships between EPA, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD), and Connecticut and Rhode Island state water agencies to 

coordinate support for Hurricane Sandy relief resiliency efforts for water and 

wastewater utilities.

 Work with EPA OGWDW on two CREAT pilots in Manchester-by-the-Sea, 

Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Region 2

 Continue to participate in the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Office’s Wastewater Technical 

Coordination Team. Activities include a meeting in January 2015 which featured

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
8

speakers on power supply issues for the wastewater sector covering topics such as 

combined heating and power, biogas collection, energy efficiency, and microgrids for 

wastewater treatment power needs.

 Continue to participate along with state water and wastewater system representatives 

in the New Jersey Water Sector Security Working Group Meetings. The working group 

is a water security advisory committee that ensures the protection, preparedness and 

resiliency of New Jersey's critical water and wastewater system infrastructure.

 Continue to provide support for the National Disaster Resilience Competition in 2015. 

This Competition will award $1 billion in HUD/Rockefeller Foundation funding to design 

resilient recovery activities across the U.S. plus $181 million in funding for areas affected 

by Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee in the Northeastern United 

States. Phase 1 winners will be announced in June 2015 and Phase 2 winners in 

December 2015. (See HUDNo_14-109 for more information).

 The Hurricane Sandy Green Team will implement the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding 

Strategy and implement and construct recovery projects and ideas with regards to 

environmental compliance, green infrastructure, climate change, sustainability, and 

resilient solutions. 

 Region 2’s experience with the Hurricane Sandy recovery will be used by EPA nationally 

to develop a Recovery Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and identify a Recovery 

Coordinator in each Region. 

 Region 2 and the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative will host CREAT training in 

Region 2 for water and wastewater utility staff.

Region 3 

 Continue efforts to work with state and local partners to raise awareness of water 

utility energy efficiencies by:

o Partner with the State of Maryland to develop a water/wastewater energy 

efficiency partnership with the goal assisting local facilities in obtaining a free 

energy assessment and educating staff, management, and governance on 

energy. 

 Team will conduct 10 energy audits at wastewater treatment plants, and 

 Hold 2 energy workshops for water and wastewater operators. 

o Continue to work with existing clients on energy efficiency projects in 

Pennsylvania and Delaware.

o Partner with the Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operator’s 

Association to conduct a one-day energy efficiency training at Whitpain 

Township, Pennsylvania on 6/17/15 and present a water/wastewater continuing 

education 3-5 credit hour course related to energy efficiency.
9

o Continue to encourage State Capacity Development programs include energy 

efficiency in their workplans by incorporating:

 energy conservation in the assessment and ranking of drinking 

water systems, and

 energy conservation in a State’s Capacity Development Strategy 

when revising its Strategy.

 Participate with energy and waste program staff on cross-program workgroups related 

to anaerobic digestion and biogas.

 Continue use of annual SRF reviews to encourage States to consider climate change, 

resiliency, and sustainability projects in their SRF funding decisions each year.

Region 4

 Assist and support the development of Energy Management Initiatives with Tennessee 

Department of Environment and Conservation, Alabama Department of Environmental 

Management, and Region 4 Tribes with United South and Eastern Tribes. (As resources 

allow additional States will be added.)

 Include assistance to utilities in developing vulnerability assessments to the anticipated 

effects of climate changes through the Region’s Energy Management Initiative to 

reduce energy consumption at wastewater and drinking water utilities.

 Coordinate with SRF Managers on incorporating components of green infrastructure 

and energy management into water and wastewater capital project loans.

 Work on development of screening criteria to identify water and wastewater facilities 

on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at risk of inundation in the event of a 

storm event and storm surge comparable to Hurricane Sandy using the recently 

developed Storm Surge Inundation Map and other tools.

 Assist and support the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative’s CREAT technical 

assistance pilot projects at wastewater and drinking water utilities in Lee County, 

Alabama and at the Seminole Tribe Utilities in Florida.

 Provide outreach to States on available resources to assess drinking water and 

wastewater sector resiliency to severe climate impacts.

Region 5

 Increase climate–readiness at water utilities using sustainable water infrastructure 

approaches by:

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
10

o Incorporating sustainable water infrastructure conditions into National Pollutant 

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, compliance assistance and 

enforcement settlements, where appropriate;

o Promoting energy management and other sustainable at utilities as resources 

allow, specifically through the Ohio Energy Pilot; and

o Promoting awareness and encourage use of the Climate Ready Water Utilities 

Tools with an aim toward incorporating climate change impacts into resiliency 

planning by drinking water and wastewater utilities.

Region 6

 Host Climate Resiliency Workshops featuring CREAT in Austin and Houston, Texas, and 

at the Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico.

 Continue focus on drought planning and response. 

 Promote energy efficiency at water utilities through a series of workshops, focusing on 

the U.S.-Mexico Border area.

 Continue to require that ten percent of regional DWSRF and CWSRF programs support 

green projects.

 Work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Middle Rio Grande 

Council of Governments, and other federal and state agencies to develop a climate 

change planning scenario project that identifies the benefits of adaptive practices for 

transportation and other infrastructure choices in light of a changing climate.

Region 7

 Work with three water utilities which agreed to be part of the CREAT Training with the 

Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative.

 Work with Missouri in encouraging water utilities at the local level to use the 

Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT) and Water Health and Economic Analysis 

Tool (WHEAT) Training. 

 Work with Region 7 States regarding options related to inclusion of climate change 

considerations in the Safe Drinking Water Act Sanitary Survey program.

 Encourage the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to incorporate 

climate change considerations into their intended use plans and point systems.

 Utilize SRF’s revised Annual Review Checklists which incorporate sustainability and 

climate change questions. Communicate with state programs regarding nontraditional 
11

program eligibilities, including an entire section on climate and extreme weather 

resilience.

 Encourage sustainable practicing such as green infrastructure and energy reduction in 

supplemental environmental projects when negotiating enforcement. Monitor results 

of such actions. 

Region 8

 Hold a Region 8 Water Climate Change Workshop with the EPA Headquarters to conduct 

an in-person training session on the recently updated Vulnerability Self-Assessment 

Tool (VSAT) and Water Health and Economic Analysis Tool (WHEAT) in June 2015 in 

Helena, Montana. Region 8 will assist in planning and coordination, WSD will handle all 

aspects of the training (through professional trainers), register participants, and provide 

all training materials.

 Work with EPA Headquarters to provide assistance using CREAT in Region 8 with two 

water system utilities: 1) Bozeman, Montana, and 2) Helena, Montana. Communities 

will receive technical assistance in the use of the CREAT. 

Region 9

 Work with ORD to publish and conduct outreach on “Food Waste to Energy,” a 

publication describing the feedstock, technologies, partnerships, and funding 

mechanisms six Water Resource Recovery Facilities have pursued to implement codigestion projects and increase on-site renewable energy production.

 As follow-up to a 2014 workshop in California entitled “Water Sector Emergency 

Response, Extreme Event, and Climate Variability Planning,” support the preparation of 

Drought Resilience guidance based on the experience of the Tuolumne (California) 

Utilities District. EPA Headquarters plans to complete this guidance in spring of 2015.

 Provide training to state DWSRF programs on drinking water system water loss control 

approaches with hands-on and interactive water auditing practice using the American 

Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Free Water Audit Software. Reducing real losses in 

water systems is an ideal drought mitigation approach with substantial economic and 

environmental co-benefits.

 Work with EPA Headquarters to provide technical assistance using CREAT for utilities in

San Diego, Redwood Valley, and Los Angeles, California.
12

Region 10

 Work with the Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative to conduct risk assessments for 

Homer, Alaska and Sandpoint, Idaho. Region 10 will work with CRWU to organize and 

host a two-day workshop in April 2015 in Anchorage for Alaska drinking water and 

wastewater utilities on using CREAT.

 Continue to hold discussions with each state during its annual SRF reviews to 

encourage the States to consider resiliency projects in their SRF funding decisions.

 Work to provide drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater facilities with up-todate information on projected impacts from climate change to their utilities. 

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Partner with U.S. Army to demonstrate approaches to minimizing water use by taking a 

systems-oriented approach to design and operation. This “Net Zero” partnership is 

expected to develop cost-effective tools, technology, and approaches for sustainable 

water resource management and performance verification data for new, decentralized, 

cost effective, energy efficient waste water treatment technologies.
13

Goal 2: Support Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) to 

sustainably manage water resources

 Strategic Action 5: Understand and promote through technical assistance the 

use of water supply management strategies.

 Strategic Action 6: Evaluate and provide technical assistance on the use of water 

demand management strategies.

 Strategic Action 7: Increase cross-sector knowledge of water supply climate challenges 

and develop watershed specific information to inform decision making.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 In cooperation with EPA Regional offices, expand the number of 

WaterSense partners nationally and in each Region, with a goal of a 150 

additional partners annually. Include a measure addressing this work in 

the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 National Water Program Guidance. (OWM)

 WaterSense will continue to carry out the H2Otel Challenge. As part of the 2015

program, EPA is encouraging WaterSense partners to join a Recruiting Rally to sign 

hotels up for the Challenge, the winner of which will be rewarded with free technical 

assistance for hotels in their area. Participating hotels will also be provided additional 

tools and training. (OWM)

 WaterSense plans to release a final specification for flushometer-type commercial 

toilets. Subject to the progress of research, the program also plans to release draft 

specifications for soil moisture based irrigation controllers and landscape irrigation 

sprinklers. (OWM)

Regional Program Actions

• Actions Common to All Regions

 Develop Regional WaterSense Partners: Work with States, Tribes, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to promote the WaterSense Program in the region. 

• Additional Regional Actions

Goal

2

National 

Priority 

Action
14

Region 1

 Promote WaterSense Program and support New England WaterSense Partners 

including:

o Support regional WaterSense partners in program campaigns (i.e. Fix-a-LeakWeek; H20tel Hotels Challenge; Shower Better; Sprinkler Spruce-up etc.);

o Recruitment, outreach, media support, and presentations at various Region 1

meetings, events;

o Participate in New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) Water Resources 

Committee; and 

o Participate in the WaterSense Coordinators National Workgroup. 

Region 2

 Region 2‘s WaterSense program is working with Clearwater, an environmental 

organization located in the Hudson Valley, New York, to help them develop an online 

radio spot about the WaterSense program. 

 Collaborate with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 

Office of Climate Change’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program on the 

WaterSense program. The CSC is a state-local partnership to meet climate challenges in 

ways that are consistent with community goals and its membership includes over 140 

cities, villages, towns, and counties. The Region 2 WaterSense liaison is on the CSC 

webinar agenda for 2015 to present WaterSense to the Climate Smart Communities

program.

Region 3

 Promote the WaterSense program including: 

o Fix a Leak Week (March 2015);

o Earth Day activities (April 2015)

o Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (May 2015)

o National Drinking Water Week (May 2015);

o Maryland Rural Water Conference (May 2015)

o Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Conference (August 2015)

o Delaware Green Tourism Conference (September 2015)

o Participate in the WaterSense National Workgroup (conference calls, national 

coordinator meeting, and other related activities); and

o WaterSense Coordinators Conference Call (every quarter).

 Region 3 is conducting a study in the Delmarva Peninsula to evaluate the effects that 

climate change imposes on socio-economic and natural resources. The objective of 

this study is to build upon the integrated sustainability approach championed by ORD 

using the Triple Value (3V) Model. This study will set the stage to developing a cohesive, 

integrated strategy for achieving environmental, economic, and social progress. The 
15

project is a collaborative effort among the Region, ORD, and Delaware, Maryland, and 

Virginia.

Region 4

 Develop consumer water conservation awareness and regional metrics of water 

conservation.

Region 6

 Provide Urban Waters Federal Partnership support to City of New Orleans proposal 

development for the HUD National Disaster Resilience Competition. City will be 

proposing project features that will address integrated water management in more 

sustainable and resilient ways. 

 Recruit thirty additional WaterSense partners each year as part of a regional water 

efficiency and conservation campaign.

Region 8

 Promote early collaboration among federal agencies/States/Tribes/municipalities on 

water supply projects and other water infrastructure to encourage the consideration of 

climate change impacts. 

Region 9 

 Work with the national WaterSense program on Water Loss Control, including follow-up 

from a webinar on this topic in 2014, providing an overview of free water loss control 

tools, and describing successful water loss control programs and policies.

 Work with the national WaterSense program and Stop Waste.org to include 

WaterSense products in Quantity Quotes, an on-line bulk purchasing 

platform. With this fast and simple tool, institutional customers 

(e.g. multifamily building owners, public housing authorities, etc.) have been 

able to locate ENERGY STAR products, contact suppliers, and negotiate 

prices. Beginning in January 2015, these customers will be able to use this 

same tool to obtain WaterSense products (January 2015).

 Coordinate with HUD and the national WaterSense program to develop a webinar series 

for HUD project officers and grantees. The series will provide introductory information 

about relevant tools and resources and help HUD incorporate water efficiency into 

its core programs (January through August 2015).

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
16

Region 10 

 Expand outreach opportunities to potential WaterSense partners as well as 

broadening the use of WaterSense certified fixtures through the following activities:

o Work with EPA Region 9, EPA Headquarters, and HUD on a series of webinars to 

introduce HUD Headquarters and Regional staff to WaterSense and related 

programs. 

o Enhance the H2otel Challenge by holding a Sustainable Lodging Workshop for up 

to 80 hotels from Washington State in May.

o Work with Seattle Public Utilities on a Public Service Announcement.

o Present on WaterSense at continuing education courses for real estate agents

and appraisers.

o Work with Cascade Water Alliance and the Master Builders Association joint 

BuiltGreen/WaterSense certification and incentive program for builders 

including Habitat for Humanity.

o Partner with our entities in Idaho and Eastern Washington on Fix-A-Leak Week 

press and social media to encourage the public to reduce the more than a trillion 

gallons of treated water that is wasted every year on leaks.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Partner with the U.S. Army to demonstrate approaches to minimizing water use by 

taking a systems-oriented approach to design and operation. This “Net Zero” 

partnership is expected to develop cost-effective tools, technology, and approaches for 

sustainable water resource management and performance verification data for new, 

decentralized, cost effective, energy efficient waste water treatment technologies.

 Work on research to assess the vulnerability of Pacific Northwest hydrologic 

landscapes and streamflow to climate change will report on a changes analysis for 

Oregon, Washington, and Idaho hydrologic landscapes. 
17

B) Watersheds and Wetlands: 

Goal 3: Identify, protect, and maintain a network of healthy 

watersheds and supportive habitat corridor networks

 Strategic Action 8: Develop a national framework and support efforts to 

protect remaining healthy watersheds and aquatic ecosystems.

 Strategic Action 9: Collaborate with partners on terrestrial ecosystems and hydrology so 

that effects on water quality and aquatic ecosystems are considered.

 Strategic Action 10: Integrate protection of healthy watersheds throughout the 

National Water Program core programs.

 Strategic Action 11: Increase public awareness of the role and importance of healthy 

watersheds in reducing the impacts of climate change.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program (www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds) continues to 

work with States to build the capacity to identify and protect our nation’s remaining 

healthy watersheds and to build the resilience of these watersheds to a changing 

climate. (OWOW)

 The Healthy Watersheds Program will complete three projects to further assess and 

identify healthy watersheds: a Montana Prairie Pothole Assessment; A Report on the 

Aquatic Ecological Health of the Clinch and Powell River System; and the Tennessee 

Integrated Assessment of Watershed Health report. These efforts continue to build 

state and local capacity to identify and protect healthy watersheds using a systems 

approach that recognizes watersheds as dynamic, interconnected ecosystems. (OWOW)

Vision Statement: Watersheds are protected, maintained and restored to 

ensure climate resilience and to preserve the social and economic benefits 

they provide; and the nation’s wetlands are maintained and improved using 

integrated approaches that recognize their inherent value as well as their role 

in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Goal

3
18

 The Healthy Watersheds Consortium Grant Program will be launched in summer 2015 

to accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy freshwater ecosystems and 

their watersheds across the country to expand the program’s reach into numerous 

watersheds across the country. The grant will leverage a moderate federal investment 

with other partners and resources to grow state healthy watersheds programs and to 

sponsor local projects to protect and maintain intact watersheds. The successful grantee 

will administer a sub-award program to support either healthy watershed program 

development projects or local demonstration/training projects. (OWOW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Work with the Resilient Taunton Watershed Network using a tool developed in 2014 to 

conduct municipal outreach and work to build capacity at the local and regional level to 

target actions to improve climate resilience. 

 Complete the RARE (Regional Applied Research Effort) project to refine the Watershed 

Management and Optimization Support Tool (WMOST V2) to consider how to meet 

high and low flows in the Monponsett Pond Watershed in Halifax, Massachusetts using 

green infrastructure and other water management techniques in the most cost effective 

manner.

 Work with University of Massachusetts Conservation Assessment and Prioritization 

System (CAPS) to consider how to better use the CAPS data in targeting protection of 

vulnerable wetlands and areas of high ecological integrity and in improving stream 

continuity for habitat protection and climate resilience. 

Region 3 

 Continue to support the Watershed Resources Registry (WRR) as a watershed level, 

web-based GIS (geographic information system) planning tool. The WRR has potential 

to be used as a tool for climate change adaptation planning. The WRR team will work to 

ensure climate change related information layers are included in in the WRR.

 With the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office, develop communication strategies about 

the importance and role of healthy watersheds and a healthy watersheds protection 

goal for the Draft Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Produce a report on the impacts of nitrogen deposition on plant biodiversity that 

accounts for the interactive impacts with climate change. This work connects with 
19

modeling efforts to understand connections between hydrology, climate change, and air 

quality, with a focus on impacts to ecosystems and ecosystem services. 

 Using multimedia modeling that integrates atmospheric behavior and hydrology with 

effects of climate change, produce scenarios of air-water nitrogen budgets and 

associated ecosystem services for the Mississippi River basin. This effort will link 

multiple, media-specific behavior and impact models to gain a systems-based 

understanding of these interconnected systems. 

 Research the interactive effects of climate change and nitrogen deposition on 

ecosystems and ecosystem services and produce a report on how climate change 

affects the impacts nitrogen emissions and deposition on various ecological critical 

loads.

 Model ecosystem response to changes in climate and nitrogen loading in watersheds.

The model will be calibrated and validated for specific watersheds to ensure it is able to 

adequately represent actual system behavior. 
20

Goal 4: Incorporate climate resilience into watershed restoration and 

floodplain management.

 Strategic Action 12: Consider a means of accounting for climate change in EPA 

funded and other watershed restoration projects.

 Strategic Action 13: Work with federal, state, interstate, tribal, and local partners to

protect and restore the natural resources and functions of riverine and coastal 

floodplains as a means of building resiliency and protecting water quality.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 The National Water Program will implement newly established Flood Risk Management 

Standard. This work will include review of interagency implementing guidelines for the 

Standard and application of the Standard to water programs as appropriate. (OW/IO) 

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Work with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and a community (probably 

Colchester, Vermont) to pilot flood resilience checklist and consider ways to connect 

wetland restoration and flood protection for climate resilience.

Region 2

 The Region continues to be involved with the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Office’s Coastal 

Flood Management Technical Coordination Team. The team is working on, for 

example, a living breakwaters project off Staten Island and a review of National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) planning considerations including Coastal Zone 

Management Act and living shorelines and the Corps “Systems Approach to Geomorphic 

Engineering (SAGE).”

Regions 2 and 3

 The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary continues efforts toward climate change 

adaption planning by expanding upon the work of the climate change adaptation plan 

of 2010 developed through Climate Ready Estuaries program funding. They continue to 

host workshops and develop education materials for municipalities within the Basin. 

Projects underway include: 

Goal

4
21

o promoting a living shorelines process document that combines their knowledge 

of the Delaware Estuary Living Shorelines Initiative planning, installation, and 

outreach processes and best practices;

o holding biannual climate outreach roundtables; and 

o recruiting communities for the Weathering Change program in which the 

agencies work with the community to help them understand the weatherrelated changes that are beginning to happen in their community. 

Region 4

 Work with Gulf of Mexico Alliance to include climate change considerations in projects 

and programs under the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource 

Damage Assessment and Restore Act procedures.

 Work with the Governors South Atlantic Alliance to include climate change 

considerations into Alliance efforts.

Region 6

 Continue efforts with Urban Waters small grants grantees in education and outreach 

of green infrastructure, wetland recitation, and awareness of the Lake Pontchartrain 

ecosystem in Louisiana. 

Region 8

 Continue working on incorporating climate resiliency into Colorado flood recovery 

efforts, including water/wastewater infrastructure and river/watershed planning 

support based on resiliency, sustainability, green infrastructure, climate adaptation, and 

smart growth principles.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 EPA’s Office of Research and Development and NOAA will produce a final report based 

on stormwater and climate change workshops held in the Great Lakes and Chesapeake 

Bay. The report focuses on lessons learned about the impacts of climate and land-use 

change on water quality and precipitation-driven flooding, and the implications for 

stormwater management. The report explores stormwater adaptations, particularly 

green infrastructure or other low-impact development strategies; and identifies 

information gaps and other barriers preventing local-level consideration and 

implementation of these strategies. The report will be final in 2015.
22

Goal 5: Watershed protection practices incorporate source water 

protection to protect drinking water supplies

 Strategic Action 14: Encourage States to update their source water delineations, 

assessments or protection plans to address anticipated climate change impacts.

 Strategic Action 15: Continue to support collaborative efforts to increase state and local 

awareness of source water protection needs and opportunities, and encourage inclusion 

of source water protection areas in local climate change adaptation initiatives.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 A Headquarters/Region team will continue to review 

options related to inclusion of climate change 

considerations in the Safe Drinking Water Act Sanitary 

Survey program which provides for on-site review of 

drinking water systems on a three year rotating basis. 

The workgroup will consult with States on a draft 

updated Sanitary Survey Learners Guide, including weather-related resiliency aspects, 

and have a final revised Guide to share with EPA Regions and States for training 

purposes by the end of the fiscal year. (OGWDW)

 The Office of Water will review opportunities to enhance Drinking Water Mapping 

Application for Protecting Source Waters (DWMAPS) with updated FEMA floodplain 

maps and with assessments of streamflow based on precipitation models or scenarios. 

These tools could assist States and public water systems plan for potential climate 

change effects on their water resources. (OGWDW) 

 The Office of Water will seek opportunities to encourage federal agencies, States, and 

public water systems (PWSs) to include climate change adaptation in state or local 

source water protection initiatives, and to include source water protection in climate

change adaptation initiatives, pending availability of funding. (OGWDW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Promote integration of Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act (CWA/SDWA) and 

understanding of climate change impacts through a regional pilot to map impaired 

waters against drinking water sources in New Hampshire and coordination with other 

water programs (e.g. 319/Nonpoint Source).

Goal

5

Headquarters/Region 

Climate Project Team:

Sanitary Surveys
23

 Advance state-wide Source Water Protection Collaboratives in Maine and Connecticut.

 Continue partnerships with U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources 

Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and U.S. Forest Service to support source water 

protection in priority watersheds.

 Coordinate with Region 1 emergency preparedness and enforcement programs to 

implement key actions of the Merrimack River Initiative to protect source water 

quality including GIS mapping of contaminant threats, outreach to underground storage 

tank owners, healthy community grants, water utility coordination, and emergency 

preparedness workshops.

Region 3

 Work with States and source water protection partners to raise awareness of climate 

change impacts and encourage the incorporation of climate adaptation actions into 

source water assessments and protection plans.

 Work with States to increase CWA and SDWA collaboration for source water 

protection.

 Support the efforts of the Source Water Collaborative.

Region 5

 Target highly vulnerable public water systems for source water protection by:

o Continuing to revise guidance/process document to include climate 

change considerations in source water assessments and protection 

plans. Begin implementing the revised guidance through technical 

assistance and outreach:

 Reference the updated methodology in the Wisconsin Community Action 

Program (WISCAP), Midwest Assistance Program (MAP), and Inter-Tribal 

Council of Michigan (ITCMI) renewed contracts to direct technical 

assistance providers to use the revised methodology and conduct 

adaptation activities with climate-related resources when assisting Tribes 

with source water protection projects.

o Providing outreach/education on climate readiness and Source Water Protection 

to systems vulnerable to impacts of climate change.

o Revising State Annual Resource Deployment Plan encouraging State Source 

Water Protection (SWP) programs to consider climate change in updated 

assessments and protection activities.

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
24

Region 7

 Work with States to increase CWA and SDWA collaboration for source water 

protection and reduction of non-point source pollution. 

 Work with States during SRF set-aside workplan reviews to encourage source water 

delineations, assessments or protection plans. 

Region 8

 Provide funding through the Region 8 Nonpoint Source Program for fire-afflicted 

communities to improve source water protection. The State of Colorado set aside 

$400,000 funding in 2013 for nonpoint source-eligible activities and will continue to 

work in 2015 with that funding to address recovery from the Waldo Canyon and High 

Park fires. 

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Develop decision support tool and technical guidance on aquifer storage and recovery 

(ASR) practices with the goal of improving sustainability of water resources under future 

climate and land use conditions.
25

Goal 6: Incorporate climate change considerations into the wetlands 

program, including the Clean Water Act 404 program

 Strategic Action 16: Consider the effects of climate change, as appropriate, when 

making significant degradation determinations in the Clean Water Act (CWA)

Section 404 wetlands permitting and enforcement program.

 Strategic Action 17: Evaluate, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

how wetland and stream compensation projects could be selected, designed, and sited 

to aid in reducing the effects of climate change.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 OW and ORD are working in collaboration on a framework and inventory of relative 

wetland vulnerabilities at multiple scales, based on integration of information on 

vulnerability assessment methods and wetlands classification systems. The results are 

intended to support efforts of OW programs (e.g., Clean Water Act Section 404 

Program, Healthy Watersheds Initiative, and National Wetlands Condition Assessment) 

and other stakeholders to integrate climate change considerations into wetlands 

programs and activities. A stakeholder workshop consisting of experts from EPA and 

other federal and state agencies, the Association of State Wetland Managers, academia, 

consulting firms, and non-governmental organizations was held in January 2015 to 

obtain feedback on the approach and preliminary results. A draft of the framework and 

inventory, examining wetlands attributes of extent and community composition, will be 

ready for review in the autumn of 2015. (OWOW)

 OW will continue the analysis and implementation phase of the Clean Water Act Section 

404 Program Assessment in cooperation with the USACE which may include evaluating 

the potential to propose one or more climate change action items as an area of joint 

work. (OWOW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Establish a climate working group with Resource Agencies and the USACE to identify 

actions that integrate climate change considerations into CWA Section 404 and Section 

10 permits.

Goal

6
26

 Continue partnership with the USACE to promote low-impact development (LID) in 

CWA Section 404 projects through the pre-application process.

 Provide priority points in the Wetland Program Development Grants Competition for 

projects targeting climate change adaptation.

Region 4

 Consider effects of climate change as appropriate when evaluating Least 

Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternatives (LEDPA) in the context of CWA 

Section 404 Wetlands Permitting.

 Ensure water conservation and efficiency measures are considered, where 

appropriate, as part of wetlands 404 permitting before new water resource projects 

are approved.

Region 7

 Work with the USACE and Clean Water Act Section 404 programs to 

incorporate climate change impacts in permits, compensation plans and 

draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents. 

Region 10 

 Continue to include climate change analyses in Environmental Impact Statements 

(EISs) under EPA Region 10’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 

404 programs related to water issues.

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
27

Goal 7: Improve baseline information on wetland extent, condition and 

performance to inform effective adaptation to climate change

 Strategic Action 18: Expand wetland mapping by supporting wetland mapping 

coalitions and training on use of the new federal Wetland Mapping Standard.

 Strategic Action 19: Produce a statistically valid, ecological condition assessment of the 

nation’s wetlands.

 Strategic Action 20: Work with partners and stakeholders to develop information and 

tools to support long term planning and priority setting for wetland restoration projects.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions 

National Program Actions

 The Wetlands Program Development Grants are supporting projects relevant to 

developing information and tools related to climate change and long term planning and 

priority setting for wetland restoration projects. To increase coastal resiliency, EPA is 

supporting two projects that will enhance appropriate use and understanding of living 

shorelines:

o Via a Wetland Program Development Grant, Restore America’s Estuaries will 

develop and operate a Living Shorelines Academy to advance the use of living 

shorelines by providing targeted outreach and training to a range of 

stakeholders. The Academy will include a web-based national data repository, 

regional training workshops, and a national technology transfer meeting. 

o The Delaware Center for Inland Bays and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary 

will conduct marine contractor trainings on the proper use and installation of 

living shorelines as an alternative to traditional erosion control structures such 

as bulkheads and seawalls. Contractors in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey

will be invited. (OWOW)

 In 2015, EPA expects to complete its analysis of the data and release the results of the 

first National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) for public comment. The NWCA 

is a statistical survey of the quality of our Nation’s wetlands. This assessment data will 

help provide a baseline of wetland condition that will help understand changes in 

wetland condition over time as a result of climate change and other factors. (OWOW)

 EPA is currently supporting a number of Regional Wetland Program Development 

Grants to support updating the National Wetlands Inventory to ensure that mapping 

efforts are current. (OWOW)

Goal

7
28

Regional Program Actions

Region 1 

 Continue to work with Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and 

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address the threats of sea level rise 

to coastal wetlands. CZM is generating site-specific information and maps to identify 

and communicate vulnerability, risk, and impacts to Massachusetts's coastal wetlands 

under various scenarios of sea level rise. The data and information generated will result 

in more accurate and informed forecasting of coastal wetland changes, including areas 

of loss, areas where marsh migration may be supported, and areas that are predicted to 

undergo changes in wetland types.

 Continue to work with the Maine Department of Conservation’s Natural Areas 

Program to start identifying sites with high resilience to climate change for targeted 

protection efforts, based on the results of the “Conservation Planning for Tidal Marsh 

Migration Due to Sea Level Rise” project. The goal of this project is to minimize net loss 

of tidal marsh habitat and its incumbent functions and values by identifying and 

initiating conservation planning for landscapes that will be needed to accommodate 

marsh migration. 

Region 3

 Continue to actively engage with ORD’s National Center for Environmental Assessment/ 

Global Change Impacts & Adaptation Program’s Wetland/Climate Vulnerability 

Assessment Project. The project aims to identify wetlands and functions sensitive to 

climate change impacts and assess approaches for integrating climate science into OW 

programs (e.g., CWA Section 404 and Healthy Waters Initiative) practices. The MidAtlantic has been selected as a case study due to the comprehensive wetland database 

available for this work. The project and its resultant framework and inventory will be an 

important resource for the Region’s climate change adaptation program. 

 Work collaboratively with state partners to build their capacity to develop and 

implement wetland monitoring and assessment programs to establish current wetland 

condition. Region 3 has several States with comprehensive wetland monitoring 

programs. Collection of wetland condition data will help States to predict and adapt to 

future climate changes. Region 3 affectively using the Wetland Program Development 

Grants to do this work incorporating climate adaptation priorities in the Request for 

Proposals. 
29

Region 8 

 Emphasize importance of preservation, restoration and management of 

wetlands and riparian natural resources as potential tools in response to 

climate change impacts to land use decision makers by focusing the

Enhanced State and Tribal Program on pilot communities who would be 

receptive to using tools developed through the wetlands grants 

program to identify priority wetlands for protection.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Develop an inventory of wetland vulnerabilities based on integration of vulnerability 

assessment methods, resilience theory, and wetlands classifications. This includes 

characterizing resilience and vulnerability across a range of spatial scales; analyzing 

vulnerability assessment and adaptation methodologies through the use of case studies; 

and providing information on vulnerabilities and potential adaptation responses for EPA 

wetland regulatory programs. 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
30

C) Coastal and Ocean Waters

Goal 8: Collaborate to ensure information and methodologies for ocean 

and coastal areas are collected, produced, analyzed, and easily available

 Strategic Action 21: Collaborate to ensure that synergy occurs, lessons learned 

are transferred, federal efforts effectively help local communities, and efforts are 

not duplicative or at cross-purposes.

 Strategic Action 22: Work within EPA and with the U.S. Global Change Research 

Program and other federal, tribal, and state agencies to collect, produce, analyze, and 

format knowledge and information needed to protect ocean and coastal areas and 

make it easily available.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Climate Ready Estuaries will publish its fourth lessons learned document; featuring the 

work of National Estuary Programs. Work will begin on the fifth document in the series. 

(OWOW)

 Protection of coral reefs from the impacts of climate change requires federal, state, and 

territory governments to form partnerships with other key players, including industry, to 

reduce the rates of greenhouse gas emissions. As coral reefs continue to decline 

globally, reef managers must strengthen efforts to build resilience into their ecosystems 

by working with communities to address local threats. Through involvement with the 

United States Coral Reef Task Force Climate Change Working Group, EPA will continue 

support the development of these efforts. (OWOW)

Vision Statement: Adverse effects of climate change and unintended adverse 

consequences of responses to climate change have been successfully 

prevented or reduced in the ocean and coastal environment. Federal, tribal, 

state, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions are working 

cooperatively; and information necessary to integrate climate change 

considerations into ocean and coastal management is produced, readily 

available, and used.

Goal

8
31

 EPA will participate in a range of interagency efforts to coordinate climate change

adaptation efforts of various federal agencies including:

o National Ocean Policy implementation plan and related working groups; and 

o Interagency Ocean Acidification Working Group. (OWOW)

 EPA is working with other federal agencies to identify the carbon sequestration benefits 

associated with coastal wetlands. This “blue carbon” ecosystems are significant in 

national greenhouse gas (GHG) accounts and are being lost at an alarming rate. These 

ecosystems also provide benefits such as habitat, storm protection, water quality and 

recreation. (OWOW)

 In Fiscal Year 2014, EPA funded its first blue carbon pilot project, with Tampa Bay 

National Estuary Program (NEP). Tampa Bay project will quantify GHG reductions from 

acres of blue carbon ecosystems protected and restored by the NEP over past 10 years. 

In 2015, EPA will work with NEPs to develop potential blue carbon projects. Examples 

of potential NEP pilot projects: 

o assessment and feasibility studies, including mapping

o on-the-ground validation of inventory methods

o cost/benefit analyses

o documentation and sharing of best practices

o outreach and education (OWOW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 As federal co-chair for the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) in 2015, and cochair of NROC’s Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem Health Committee, EPA Region 1 will 

continue to participate in a wide range of interagency efforts to collect and 

disseminate data on ocean uses and natural resources that will support climate change 

vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning (see www.northeastoceandata.org).

 Region 1 and NROC partners will complete marsh migration guidance material for 

coastal managers based on analysis of various models and a highly successful workshop 

in December 2014. EPA also will continue to help coordinate the marsh migration 

“community of practice” that’s evolved out of this effort to advance a regional approach 

on marsh migration management and policy implications. 

 Region 1 will continue to co-chair steering committee that’s leading a joint effort by 

NROC and the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal and Ocean Observing 

Systems to develop an Integrated Sentinel Monitoring for Climate Change in 
32

Northeastern Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems “science and implementation plan” by 

April 2015. The plan will be used to help secure additional funding to develop a regional 

strategy and establish a sentinel monitoring network.

Region 3

 The Region will continue to collect water quality information in the Delaware Estuary 

and in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (a coastal region running from Massachusetts to North 

Carolina). Once this information has been analyzed, the data will be released to the 

Mid-Atlantic States to assist and contribute to sound environmental management 

decisions regarding climate change and the associated effects of climate change. This

information, and the methodologies associated with collecting this information, is being 

coordinated with ORD. 
33

Goal 9: EPA geographically targeted programs support and build networks 

of local, tribal, state, regional and federal collaborators to take effective 

adaptation measures for coastal and ocean environments

 Strategic Action 23: Work with the National Water Program’s larger geographic 

programs to incorporate climate change considerations, focusing on both the natural 

and built environments.

 Strategic Action 24: Address climate change adaptation and build stakeholder capacity 

when implementing National Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and 

Management Plans and through the Climate Ready Estuaries Program.

 Strategic Action 25: Conduct outreach and education, and provide technical assistance 

to state and local watershed organizations and communities to build adaptive capacity 

in coastal areas outside the NEP and Large Aquatic Ecosystem programs.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions 

National Program Actions

 Encourage the National Estuary Programs and other watershed managers 

at the state and local level to use the Watershed Climate Change 

Adaptation Planning Workbook developed by the National Estuary 

Program. (OWOW)

 EPA will work with National Estuary Programs to include climate risk vulnerability in 

Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) as these plans are 

revised and updated over the next several years. (OWOW) 

 Climate Ready Estuaries will provide technical assistance to NEPs and grant funding to 

demonstrate how climate change adaptation can improve habitat and water quality. 

(OWOW)

 Climate Ready Estuaries will be supporting the National Estuary Programs so they can 

create risk-based climate change vulnerability assessments. These will be among the 

first risk-based plans in the country and will serve as national examples of how to assess 

climate change risk. (OWOW)

Regional Program Actions

• Action Common to All Regions

Goal

9

National 

Priority 

Action
34

 Promote Use of Tools from CRWU and CRE: Work with municipal and private water 

utilities to promote the use of CREAT to recognize and respond to climate change risks, 

and with National Estuary Program partners to promote the use of the new Climate 

Ready Estuaries Vulnerability Assessment Handbook to develop local climate resilience 

plans. 

• Additional Regional Actions

Region 1

 Work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on their Casco Bay Maine 

Climate Change Adaptation Project as part of their Regional Resiliency Assessment 

Program that is focusing on critical infrastructure, including wastewater and drinking 

water.

 Work with ORD and the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program to initiate RARE 

(Regional Applied Research Effort) and RESES (Regional Sustainable Environmental 

Science) climate change projects for the Mattapoisett Water System and other 

watershed communities in Massachusetts

 Work with the six New England National Estuary Programs to scope out a joint project 

to conduct vulnerability assessments for their respective Comprehensive Conservation 

and Management Plans under a single contract, as required by new national program 

guidance.

 The Long Island Sound Study and Mass Bays Program will incorporate actions to 

address climate change in their respective updated Comprehensive Conservation 

Management Plans (CCMP). 

 The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program will work with state and local partners to 

implement its recently completed vulnerability assessment of water infrastructure 

and environmental justice communities in the New Bedford Harbor area funded under 

the Climate Ready Estuaries program.

Region 2

 The Peconic Estuary Program (PEP) received funding from the Climate Ready Estuaries

program to update beginning in 2015 the Critical Lands Protection Strategy to include 

lands that are vulnerable to climate change impacts. 

 The Peconic Estuary Program will be working on an action plan called “Actions Now and 

for the Future” that will describe specific projects and their timelines to be taken over 

the next five years. Climate change is included as a key subject, and the document 

describes PEP’s strategy and intended actions on incorporating climate change into the 

Program. Goals that will be achieved over time include providing tools to local 
35

governments and other stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the 

Peconic Estuary, ensuring climate change is considered in prioritizing and selecting PEP 

projects, educating stakeholders about the impacts of climate change on estuary 

resources. 

 The Barnegat Bay Program is continuing to promote and develop climate adaptation 

strategies and tools in support of the Climate Ready Estuaries program, including 

providing technical assistance to the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management in 

their multi-jurisdictional natural hazards mitigation plan and Ocean County Department 

of Planning in the Long Term Community Recovery plan.

Region 3

 With the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, continue to provide resources and 

information to municipalities within the Delaware Estuary regarding climate change 

adaptation efforts and working through hurdles. The Partnership for the Delaware 

Estuary, a Climate Ready Estuary, will continue to find resources to conduct living 

shoreline pilot installations and maintenance within the Estuary.

 Support the Maryland Center for Inland Bays and the Delaware Inland Bays National 

Estuary Programs in their climate change adaptation efforts, through activities 

including: incorporation of climate change and sea level rise in public outreach and 

communications; including climate change considerations in comprehensive 

conservation management plans (CCMPs); and convening partners to consider climate 

change adaptation across watersheds.

 The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) has an active collaboration with several climate 

change researcher teams using the CBP’s integrated airshed, watershed, and estuary 

models of the Chesapeake. The work is providing the CBP information for a 2017 

assessment of the influence of climate change on the Chesapeake TMDL (Total 

Maximum Daily Load). Collaborators include Penn State, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 

EPA’s Global Change Research Program, and the University of Maryland. Products to 

date include progress on an optimized watershed management for the Patuxent that 

estimates additional management needed to offset climate change impacts, and a case 

study application in the Chesapeake Bay Program addressing water quality management 

decisions in the face of climate change and other relevant uncertainties.

Region 4

 Promote the Climate Ready Estuaries program in Region 4 NEPs and work with the 

NEPs to revise and update the NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management 

Plans (CCMPs) to address vulnerabilities to climate change. 
36

Region 5

 Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) will continue to restore and maintain 

the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem in the 

face of climate change by:

o Adjusting long-term monitoring program schedules and methodologies, as 

appropriate.

o Integrating climate change into Great Lakes Restoration Initiative-funded projects 

and other GLNPO funding mechanisms to ensure that the latest science informs 

project design.

o Directing necessary revisions to Great Lakes strategic implementation documents, 

while working with federal, state, tribal and binational partners, using the latest 

climate change information.

Region 6

 Support the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program project as they conduct a 

programmatic climate change vulnerability assessment, develop adaptation 

strategies, and educate stakeholders about projected climate change impacts in coastal 

marsh habitats in the Coastal Bend area of Texas. The projects results will be 

disseminated more broadly through the Climate Ready Estuaries program.

 Support the efforts of three NEPs (Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Galveston 

Bay Estuary Program, and Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program) along the 

Gulf of Mexico in their efforts to develop sea level rise adaptations and to support 

coastal natural resource and community resiliency.

 Provide project engineering and design, project management, ecological science 

technical services, and public outreach support in the ongoing efforts of the interagency 

Coastal Wetlands, Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program to restore coastal 

wetland habitat in Louisiana. 

Region 9 

 “As part of the Making a Visible Difference in Communities initiative, Region 9 is working 

with American Samoa on climate change resiliency. The effort will include long-term 

infrastructure planning, potentially using CREAT (late Fiscal Year 2015 – Fiscal Year 

2016), and assessing coral reef vulnerability as a result of ocean acidification and 

nonpoint source and stormwater pollution.”

 Update the Coral Reef Strategy for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands to highlight 

accomplishments from the 2013 strategy and lay out actions for the next year to reduce 

pollution threats to coral reefs. This work will include coordination of coral reef 

programs (e.g. Coral Reef Task Force, local watershed projects, local coral management 
37

efforts), and integration of coral reef protection with EPA programs across divisions at 

Region 9 and at Headquarters. The Region will provide leadership on ocean acidification 

and impacts to coral reefs within EPA and to the Coral Reef Task Force.

Region 10 

 Work with the Puget Sound National Estuary Program to continue funding projects 

that promote and support adaptation and resiliency to climate change impacts. 

Draft and/or incorporate grant assistance agreement criteria - consistent with 

regional and national programs- to integrate climate adaptation and resiliency into 

Puget Sound Geographic Program funded projects.
38

Goal 10: Address climate driven environmental changes in coastal areas 

and ensure that mitigation and adaptation are conducted in an 

environmentally responsible manner

 Strategic Action 26: Support coastal wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water 

infrastructure owners and operators in reducing climate risks and encourage adaptation 

in coastal areas.

 Strategic Action 27: Support climate readiness of coastal communities, including hazard 

mitigation, pre-disaster planning, preparedness, and recovery efforts.

 Strategic Action 28: Support preparation and response planning for diverse impacts to 

coastal aquatic environments.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Complete development of initial screening criteria to identify water and 

wastewater facilities on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at risk 

of inundation in the event of a storm surge comparable to Hurricane 

Sandy and work with utilities to address risks. (OW/IO, OGWDW, and 

Region 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)

 Work with NOAA and the National Hurricane Center to develop an interactive webbased Storm Surge Inundation Map that illustrates storm surge inundation scenarios

based on FEMA flood plain maps and sea, lake, and overland surge from hurricanes 

(SLOSH) models. Map launched on EPA website in January 2015. An additional layer 

which displays historical hurricane strike data in coastal counties will be added to the 

map in 2015. All map data will be incorporated into CREAT. (OGWDW)

 Host at least one webinar in coordination with NOAA on the water sector and climate 

change. Session will include a presentation on CREAT and pilots. (OGWDW)

 Promote the Extreme Events Workshop Planner designed to provide everything a utility 

needs to plan, customize, and conduct a workshop focused on planning for more 

frequent and more intense extreme events. Five extreme event scenarios are included 

in the Workshop Planner: flooding; drought; sea level rise; wildfire; and reduced 

snowpack. (OGWDW)

Goal

10

National 

Priority 

Action
39

Regional Program Actions

Region 2

 The Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit, entitled “Balancing Progress 

and Protection”, was held in January in Cape May, New Jersey with about 250 people 

will be in attendance and additional on-line participants. Region 2 presented on tidal 

wetland monitoring and ecosystem valuations. The summit featured over 120 

presentations on subjects including: climate change and resilience of ecosystems, water 

quality, wetland assessment methods, living shoreline techniques, stormwater 

management, nitrogen management for lawns, green infrastructure at school yards, and 

green jobs for youth and education and outreach to schools.

 Region 2 has been participating in the newly created Jamaica Bay Science and 

Resilience Institute Public Agency Council which has worked on assisting the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers with its Rockaway/Jamaica Bay Reformulation Study. The Council 

will begin long term planning work which would initially focus on evaluation and 

integration of existing computer models for the bay. 

 In early 2015, the scientific journal Ecological Indicators will make available in its 

online edition an article by members of Long Island Sound Study's Sentinel Monitoring 

for Climate Change program. The article describes how the multi-state work group 

collaborated to develop a program that would provide warning of climate change 

impacts to the Long Island Sound estuarine and coastal ecosystems. The Sentinel 

Monitoring program started in 2008 with a goal to facilitate timely management 

decisions and adaptation responses to climate change impacts. The article describes a 

novel approach for strategic planning that combines available regional-scale predictions 

and climate drivers (top down) with local monitoring information (bottom up) to 

identify candidate sentinels of climate change. The article discusses how six high priority 

sentinels were identified for inclusion in pilot-scale monitoring programs from a list of 

37 sentinel indicators.

 Work in collaboration with FEMA, NOAA, New York State, and Suffolk and Nassau 

Counties on piloting the use of CommunityViz (a scenario planning tool), 

Health Impact Assessments, and Ecosystem Services Assessments in the 

recovery process. These tool will incorporate important climate data such 

as sea level rise. Region 2 participated in a week-long CommunityViz 

training in January 2015 along with 30 participants from federal, state, 

and local agencies. Participants learned about how to incorporate data 

from EPA’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Screen, FEMA’ HAZUS and NOAA’s Digital COAST 

tools into CommunityViz and also were educated about a range of sustainable 

community planning tools.

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
40

Region 3

 Region 3 is supporting the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Adaptation Pilot as it moves 

forward by providing the science and tools necessary to respond to the impacts of 

climate change. This is a two year “whole government” initiative aimed at bringing the 

full force of coordinated government and the community together to address sea level 

rise and other climate induced changes expected in the Hampton Roads region. 

Region 4

 Promote the beneficial use of suitable dredged material to support environmentally 

sound projects to protect from sea level rise and storm surge. 

 Develop protocols to address the likely increase in emergency dredging from 

hurricanes of increased intensity and other extreme precipitation events that may 

cause unexpected sedimentation and shoaling.

 Region 4 will work with EPA Headquarters in the development of screening criteria to 

identify water and wastewater facilities on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at

risk of inundation in the event of a storm event and storm surge comparable to 

Hurricane Sandy. 

 Continue to cooperate with FEMA on implementing the Memorandum of Agreement

signed in 2010 on the use of smart growth approaches in communities that have been 

impacted by disasters, and to provide information to communities that are planning to 

minimize weather-related impacts.

 Work with EPA Headquarters in piloting Regional Flood Resilience 

Pilot Project for groups of water and wastewater utilities in 

Florida.

Region 6

 Promote the beneficial use of suitable dredged material to support environmentally 

sound projects to provide protection from sea level rise and storm surge.

 Promote landscape scale coastal protection by constructing and providing technical and 

planning assistance for coastal restoration and adaptation projects.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Complete an assessment of the vulnerability of near coastal species and habitats to 

climate change for the Pacific Coast, including Alaska. This project applies a 

generalized rule-based and modeling framework to predict species and habitat 

vulnerability based on generally available data. Relative vulnerability predictions are 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
41

based on species’ biogeographic distributions and life history attributes and habitat 

exposures; synthesize climate projections over regional scales; and enhance the Sea 

Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM). 
42

Goal 11: Ocean environments are protected by EPA programs that 

incorporate shifting environmental conditions and other emerging threats

 Strategic Action 29: Consider climate change impacts on marine water quality in 

National Water Program ocean management authorities, policies, and programs.

 Strategic Action 30: Use available authorities and work with the Regional Ocean 

Organizations and other federal and state agencies through regional ocean groups and 

other networks so that offshore renewable energy production does not adversely affect 

the marine environment.

 Strategic Action 31: Support the evaluation of sub-seabed sequestration of CO2 and any 

proposals for ocean fertilization.

 Strategic Action 32: Participate in interagency development and implementation of 

federal strategies through the National Ocean Council (NOC) and the NOC Strategic 

Action Plans.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions 

National Program Actions

 EPA will continue participation in the Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and 

Ocean Acidification Subcommittee of the National Ocean Council to develop and 

implement Action Plans, including interagency initiatives related to climate change.

(OWOW)

 As part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to assess the current state of the science regarding 

ocean and coastal acidification, the Agency will continue to collaborate with the West 

Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Science Panel and the Northeast Coastal 

Acidification Network (NECAN). Moving forward in 2015, the Agency will be seeking to 

expand our collaborations to include other regional scientific groups, interested States, 

and other stakeholders. (OWOW) 

 EPA will continue to examine the role that the Clean Water Act and existing voluntary 

programs could play in addressing ocean and coastal acidification. The Agency will also 

assess how lessons learned from efforts to address ocean and coastal acidification 

might be transferable amongst regions of the US encountering ocean and coastal 

acidification. (OWOW)

 EPA will continue to work with other agencies and the international community to 

provide technical guidance on sub-seabed carbon sequestration and marine geoengineering and coordinate with federal partners in addressing proposals for carbon 

sequestration in the sub-seabed or other proposals, such as potential fertilization of the 

ocean. (OWOW)

Goal

11
43

 Collaborate with EPA National Center for Environmental Economics to develop 

ecosystem services valuation methodologies to quantify the economic impacts of 

acidification on fisheries in the Pacific Northwest (Puget Sound) and Northeast (Gulf of 

Maine). (OWOW)

 Partner with Washington State Department of Ecology to develop models to determine 

relative contributions of land-based pollution sources to acidification conditions in 

Puget Sound. (OWOW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Continue to participate on the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (NECAN) 

Steering Committee to help coordinate research and management of coastal 

acidification issues, including two publications summarizing findings of the April 2014 

“State of the Science” workshop; a series of stakeholder engagement workshops; and 

working with EPA Headquarters, the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, and University of 

New Hampshire to establish a new ocean acidification monitoring station in Casco Bay.

Region 3 

 Region 3, along with Region 2, is a member of in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning 

Body. This group was created as a result of the National Ocean Policy and an Executive 

Order to collaborate more effectively and efficiently with state and tribal governments 

regarding ocean planning. The Charter for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body 

(Mid-Atlantic RPB) was signed in 2014. The Mid-Atlantic RPB is currently working on 

finalizing the outline of a Regional Ocean Action Plan. The objective of the Regional 

Ocean Action Plan is to set forth clear goals and objectives associated with sound 

decision making regarding ocean planning while considering the effects of 

anthropogenic (i.e. offshore drilling) and natural (climate change) activities. 

Region 10 

 Work with the States of Washington and Oregon, NOAA, and the 

University of Washington to better coordinate activities and research 

related to ocean acidification in the Pacific Northwest. Also, Region 10 

will complete a Regionally Applied Research Effort to examine isotopic 

analyses of nitrogen to look at how eutrophication interacts with 

acidification in Puget Sound. 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
44

D) Water Quality

Goal 12: Protect waters of the United States and promote management 

of sustainable surface water resources

 Strategic Action 33: Encourage States and communities to incorporate climate 

change considerations into their water quality planning.

 Strategic Action 34: Encourage green infrastructure and low-impact development to 

protect water quality and make watersheds more resilient.

 Strategic Action 35: Promote consideration of climate change impacts by National 

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting authorities.

 Strategic Action 36: Encourage water quality authorities to consider climate change 

impacts when developing wasteload and load allocations in TMDLs where appropriate

 Strategic Action 37: Identify and protect designated uses that are at risk from climate 

change impacts. 

 Strategic Action 38: Clarify how to re-evaluate aquatic life water quality criteria on 

more regular intervals; and develop information to assist States and Tribes who are 

developing criteria that incorporate climate change considerations for hydrologic 

condition.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Continue to engage outside partner groups and nonprofits through the Green 

Infrastructure Collaborative. Facilitated by EPA’s Green Infrastructure Team, this group 

will work closely together to align public and private knowledge and resources to 

promote the multiple benefits of green infrastructure. (OWM)

 Provide green infrastructure technical assistance to 25 communities for projects 

including green infrastructure design, cost-benefit assessments, and integration of 

green infrastructure into resiliency planning efforts. (OWM)

Vision Statement: Our Nation’s surface water, drinking water, and ground 

water quality are protected, and the risks of climate change to human health 

and the environment are diminished, through a variety of adaptation and 

mitigation strategies.

Goal

12
45

 Hold green infrastructure design charrettes in 4-6 communities in 2015. Workshops 

will focus on leveraging green infrastructure to build community resiliency. (OWM)

 Complete a mobile application version of the Stormwater Calculator, 

including the Climate Change Extension component as a way to 

enhance its utility and promote its use. (OST/ORD)

 Continue working with the National Research Council on their 

Beneficial Use of Graywater and Stormwater: An Assessment of Risks, Costs, and 

Benefits study as they look at the potential role of green infrastructure and graywater 

reuse in improving the quality of water in urban watersheds. A final report is expected 

to be issued around March 2015. (OWM)

 A Headquarters/Regional team will review issues related to 

climate change in Clean Water Act water quality criteria and 

standards and identify possible options for addressing climate 

change in the context of the Water Quality Standards

Program. (OST)

8

 Draft a white paper providing information States and Tribes can use to 

protect aquatic life from negative effects associated with alteration of 

hydrologic conditions, including potential effects from climate change. 

(OST)

 A Headquarters/Regional team will develop a Frequently Asked 

Questions (FAQs) document to address incorporation of climate change into water 

quality standards. (OST)

 A Headquarters team will research the impacts of low (critical) flows on temperature 

to better protect aquatic life from thermal impacts during low flows. (OST)

 A Headquarters/Regional team will work 

to identify ways to better integrate 

climate change considerations into water 

quality management planning projects 

and processes and develop an initial 

report. This project will include 

cooperation with state organizations to identify state agency best practices for climate 

change adaptation for clean water and drinking water programs. (OW/IO)

 EPA and the National Resources Conservation Service are developing an Interagency 

Agreement to collaborate on the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices to 

protect and improve water quality and enhance climate resilience and mitigation 

Headquarters/Region 

Climate Project Team:

Water Quality 

Management Planning

National 

Priority 

Action

Headquarters/Region 

Climate Project Team:

Water Quality Criteria 

and Standards

National 

Priority 

Action

National 

Priority 

Action
46

approaches. The Interagency Agreement will go into effect during 2015 and will guide a 

variety of projects where both organizations have common interests, including the 

effects of climate on agriculture.

 EPA will continue working on a NPDES Strategy to develop the means to incorporate 

climate change considerations into the NPDES program. This includes: improving tools 

and methods to account for increased variability in stream flow, receiving water 

temperatures and precipitation, encouraging prevention and treatment technologies 

such as green infrastructure and water and energy efficiency, increasing awareness 

among permit writers of the climate vulnerabilities of wastewater treatment facilities, 

and working with partners such as USDA to evaluate the risk of Concentrated Animal 

Feeding Operation (CAFO) wastewater discharges associated with climate change. 

(OWM)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Continue to serve on the steering committee of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Northeast Climate Science Center to identify key research needs for effects of climate 

induced changes on thermal regimes.

Region 2

 New Jersey Futures, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and EPA will 

have a series of workshops in early 2015 focusing on the appropriate use of green 

infrastructure in Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) long-term control plans and 

financing options. The first workshop, Reinvesting in Urban Water Infrastructure 

through Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plans was held on January 8, 

2015 in Newark, New Jersey. These workshops will supplement the workshop held in 

September 2014 with New Jersey CSO permittees on how to develop acceptable LongTerm Control Plans (LTCPs) as required under their draft permits. The workshop will 

include sessions on financing water infrastructure upgrades, green infrastructure and 

community involvement. 

Region 3

 Continue support the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Initiative as a peerto-peer support network and capacity building program for communities interested in 

adopting green infrastructure. Continue research on identification of effective GI 

technologies related to stormwater, flooding, and resilience.

 Work actively with state partners to develop meaningful water quality standards for 

wetlands that can be used to better understand and manage wetlands that may be 

impacted by changing climatic conditions.
47

Region 4

 Use the Triennial Review of state water quality standards to work with States on 

changes in stream use classification or standards, where necessary, due to climate 

change induced increasing temperatures or changes in stream flow.

 Encourage States to develop explicit criteria for low flow protection.

 Encourage States to update fact sheets at permit reissuance to include the most up-todate critical low flow as possible and to calculate reasonable potential based on those 

values. 

 Continue to work with States on the incorporation of green infrastructure components 

in MS4 permitting. 

 Work with States to include climate change adaptation provisions 

in the state’s revised Nonpoint Source Management Plans to 

provide flexibility to fund programs and projects to assess, evaluate, 

plan and implement climate change adaptations.

 Work with urban and environmental justice communities to promote and implement 

green infrastructure into the communities to reduce flooding, combined sewer 

overflows, and water quality impairments in these urban communities.

 Region 4 will promote the use of the Stormwater Management Model with the 

Climate Adjustment Tool (SWMM-CAT) to utilities doing planning on improvements to 

their stormwater infrastructure.

Region 5

 Continue encouraging the use of green infrastructure and integrate efforts with Region 

5’s Sustainability and Communities Team.

 Streamline and standardize water quality standards decision-making processes to 

ensure timely, protective decisions by:

o Determining, in consultation with EPA Headquarters, the flexibility allowed to 

change designated uses in surface waters that are adversely impacted by climate 

change and communicate clear guidance to States and Tribes;

o Identifying “best practices” among States and Tribes to streamline variance and 

use designation change submissions.

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
48

Region 6

 Promote use of green infrastructure and continue recognition of green 

infrastructure projects in the Region including addressing new 

opportunities in designing parking lots to use trees to manage 

stormwater and urban heat (see Regional Sustainability Environmental 

Sciences Research Program Project: Parking Lot Strategies to Mitigate 

Storm Water Quality/Volume and Urban Heat Island Effect Using Trees in Green 

Infrastructure).

Region 7 

 Co-chair EPA Headquarters/Regional project team working to identify ways to better 

integrate climate change considerations into water quality management planning 

projects and processes.

 Work within region and outside agencies to promote low impact development practices

(i.e.; green infrastructure, water conservation practices, and energy conservation). 

These actions include Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance to communities, 

integrated planning in Springfield, Missouri and Lawrence, Missouri and municipal 

separate storm sewer system (MS4) annual reports from Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas 

City, Kansas, St. Louis, Muscatine, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.

 Highlight one Clean Water Act Section 319 watershed project from each State that 

incorporates the use of green infrastructure.

 Annually track the implementation of green infrastructure best management practices 

in watershed projects funded and leveraged through the Clean Water Act Section 319 

program. 

Region 8

 Continue education and outreach on the use of green infrastructure and 

implementation of green infrastructure in planning and construction and integrate 

efforts with the Urban Partnership and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.

Region 9

 Promote the inclusion of climate change and asset management planning requirements 

for sanitary and storm sewer systems in NPDES permits. The region launched a website 

(http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/npdes/asset-mgmnt/index.html) in the first 

quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 to provide recommendations and examples of how to 

include asset management provisions in NPDES permits, including a focus on climate 

change. Region 9 will begin drafting relevant language in EPA-issued permits in Guam 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
49

by the end of Fiscal Year 2015 and will work with the California State and Regional 

Water Boards on possible inclusion of relevant provisions in state permits.

Region 10 

 Follow-up from the two-day workshop held in November 2014 on the impacts of 

climate change on stream temperature on cold-water fisheries in the Pacific 

Northwest. The planning committee will be putting together a summary of the meeting 

and other materials to communicate the findings of the group.

 Work with the USACE and the Climate Impacts Group on a project 

called the Time of Emergence. The project will identify the time at 

which a distinctive trend due to climate change is projected to 

emerge from the noise of natural climate variability. This concept, 

referred to as “time of emergence,” can help guide the prioritization 

and timing of climate change adaptation activities. The project is 

expected to be completed in the spring of 2015. 

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Publish final reports from the ORD Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grantees on 

research results examining the consequences of global change for water quality, 

including a bibliography of the research reports and articles published by grantees. 

 Finalize a report on the use and applicability of Robust Decision Making (RDM) 

methods to selected Office of Water programs, focusing on TMDL program. This 

project examines how RDM approaches can be applied by OW and others in a decision 

making process that accounts for the deep uncertainties posed by climate change. 

 Develop information on suburban watershed nitrogen retention, specifically to estimate 

the effectiveness of stormwater management structures. This effort will incorporate 

the projected impacts of climate change to understand how water quality management 

approaches may be affected. 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
50

Goal 13: As the Nation makes decisions to reduce its greenhouse gas 

emissions and develop alternative sources of energy and fuel, the 

National Water Program will work to protect water resources from 

unintended adverse consequences

 Strategic Action 39: Continue to provide perspective on the water resource implications 

of new energy technologies.

 Strategic Action 40: Provide assistance to States and permittees to assure that geologic 

sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) is responsibly managed.

 Strategic Action 41: Continue to work with States to help them identify polluted waters, 

including those affected by biofuels production, and help them develop and implement 

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for those waters.

 Strategic Action 42: Provide informational materials for stakeholders to encourage the 

consideration of alternative sources of energy and fuels that are water efficient and 

maintain water quality.

 Strategic Action 43: As climate change affects the operation or placement of reservoirs, 

EPA will work with other federal agencies and EPA programs to understand the 

combined effects of climate change and hydropower on flows, water temperature, and 

water quality.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 To ensure protection of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs), OGWDW 

worked with co-regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to develop draft technical 

guidance clarifying Underground Injection control Class II permitting requirements for 

hydraulic fracturing with diesel fuels (DFHF). The draft guidance explained the Agency’s 

interpretation of the SDWA statutory term “diesel fuels” for permitting purposes and 

provided guidance recommendations for the EPA’s permit writers to consider when 

establishing permitting requirements for DFHF activities. EPA released the draft 

guidance on February 12, 2014. Final guidance will be published in 2015. (OGWDW)

 In 2014, EPA issued an interpretive memorandum and revised technical guidance for 

DFHF permitting (see note above). Permitting recommendations in the technical 

guidance were written for EPA permit writers but States with primary enforcement 

authority will find them useful in protecting USDWs in their individual states and 

programs. Throughout 2015, OGWDW will work with co-regulators and other 

stakeholders to encourage best practices and ensure that oil and gas development 

occurs safely and responsibly, in a way that protects drinking water resources.

(OGWDW)

Goal

13
51

 OGWDW is working with the carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration permit applicants to 

evaluate and approve Class VI permits for Geologic sequestration projects. (OGWDW)

Regional Program Actions

Region 7

 With EPA Headquarters assistance, review and process anticipated Class 6 underground 

injection control (UIC) permit application. 

 Through Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center grant encourage energy 

efficiency and alternate sources of energy during workshops and energy assessments. 

Region 8 

 Continue to participate in the Geological Sequestration (GS) workgroup to develop 

guidances, share permitting experiences, resources, and technical information, to 

facilitate implementation of CO2 geological sequestration final rules designed to protect 

drinking water resources, while encouraging successful deployment of commercial scale 

sequestration projects. Work with States (notably Montana, Wyoming and North 

Dakota) to help them obtain primacy for the Class VI UIC program, and issue permits for 

projects where state primacy has yet to be established.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Develop an assessment of possible future regional water usage for energy production. 

The study is examining how energy system water demands might change under

different scenarios that constrain greenhouse gas emissions and water use limits, and 

is evaluating some of the environmental implications for the different scenarios. 
52

Goal 14: Collaborate to make hydrological and climate data and 

projections available

 Strategic Action 44: Monitor climate change impacts to surface waters and 

ground water.

 Strategic Action 45: Collaborate with other federal agencies to develop new methods 

for use of updated precipitation, storm frequency, and observational streamflow data, 

as well as methods for evaluating projected changes in low flow conditions.

 Strategic Action 46: Enhance flow estimation using National Hydrography Dataset Plus 

(NHDPlus).

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 A Headquarters and Region team will review options 

related to inclusion of climate change consideration in the 

NPDES permit program. This project includes 

collaborative work with USGS to complete multiple 

improvements to DFLOW, a statistical tool that calculates 

critical flow statistics used in developing water quality based effluent limits. The tool is 

expected to be available for use by mid-2015. (OWM)

 Work to complete Phase I of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) national Monthly 

Water Balance Model (MWBM), upon which the initial core modeling is done; 

coordinate with launch of the USGS web portal. (OWOW)

 In 2015, EPA will incorporate the ability to evaluate climate impacts in the new 

Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) model. HAWQS will include the ability 

to allow modelers to modify parameters to conduct ‘what-if’ evaluations both with user 

generated data and with pre-set scenarios using CMIP-3 (phase 3 of the Coupled Model 

Intercomparison Project). A user’s guide will accompany the new features. (OW/IO)

Regional Program Actions

Region 2

 EPA Region 2 received funding to conduct ambient monitoring and to pay for repairs to 

EPA facilities and vessels damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The purpose of this two 

year effort is to evaluate the effects of Sandy on water quality in coastal zones. The 

work was done to determine the effects of Sandy on levels of contaminants in 

sediments and receiving waters of sub-basins impacted by combined sewer overflows, 

sanitary sewer overflows, bypassing of wastewater treatment plants, and runoff or 

Goal

14

Headquarters/Region 

Climate Project Team:

NPDES Permits
53

discharge from hazardous waste sites. Most of the sampling was done in 2013 and 

most of the sample analysis and quality assurance was completed in 2014. EPA is 

currently working on data analysis in 2015. The information will be used to determine 

whether additional action or monitoring may be needed. A longer term purpose will be 

to develop a monitoring plan that can serve as a model for future storm response.

 Region 2 will be conducting field sampling activities in summer and autumn 2015 to 

support future requirements for denitrification and outfall relocation at the Bay Park 

sewage treatment plant in Nassau County, New York. The Bay Park facility was heavily 

impacted by Hurricane Sandy and is being reconfigured in order to be more resilient to 

storm surges and sea level rise and also reduce the impact of its effluent on the water 

quality of Reynolds Channel by building a deep ocean outfall. The results of this field 

study could also be used in the System-Wide Eutrophication Model (SWEM) for broader 

considerations such as long term impacts on other areas of the New York Bight.

Region 4

 Evaluate Region 4 States’ current monitoring and assessment practices to encourage the 

capturing of extreme low flow or other climate related conditions, including: 1) 

appropriate biological monitoring and assessment techniques, and 2) water monitoring 

system design.

 Work with States and other water monitoring partners to help establish a long term 

monitoring program to track potential changes in temperature, flow, aquatic biological 

communities, habitat, and chemical constituents that are occurring over time at 

important sentinel reference sites in the Southeast Region.

Region 5

 Improve information on climate change impacts on surface water quality and quantity 

available and used for regulatory and assistance actions by:

o Identify key climate change data sources and parameters for monitoring 

different waterbody types. Determine what data are not currently being 

collected by state and tribal monitoring programs.

o Provide to States and Tribes information to consider when updating their 

monitoring strategies, specifically water quality data gaps and incorporate 

climate change considerations into updated monitoring strategies, where 

possible.

o Work with States to further refine biological monitoring tools (e.g., indices) 

(Illinois, Indiana) and to develop biological criteria (Minnesota, Wisconsin) that 

can capture evidence of nonattainment of aquatic life uses that may be due to 

climate change.
54

o Present options/recommendations regarding potential for a regional monitoring 

network to facilitate data collection on climate change impacts to surface water. 

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Incorporate the capability to estimate the effects of climate change on water 

temperature into linked atmospheric, hydrologic, watershed and ecosystem models. 

This project will assess and develop appropriate connections between a coupled 

meteorological/atmospheric/hydrology model set and ecosystem models and benefit 

cost models to support multi-media, multi-pollutant and health and welfare benefit/cost 

assessments of management strategies. 
55

E) Working With Tribes

Goal 15: Incorporate climate change considerations in the implementation 

of core programs and collaborate with other EPA Offices and federal 

Agencies to work with Tribes on climate change issues on a multi-media 

basis

 Strategic Action 47: Through formal consultation and other mechanisms, incorporate 

climate change as a key consideration in the revised National Water Program Tribal 

Strategy and subsequent implementation of CWA, SDWA, and other core programs.

 Strategic Action 48: Incorporate adaptation into tribal funding mechanisms, and 

collaborate with other EPA and federal funding programs to support sustainability and 

adaptation in tribal communities.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Continue to support the EPA National Water Program State and Tribal Climate Change 

Council as a vehicle for sharing information and hearing the views of States and Tribes 

on climate change issues. (OW/IO)

 Include a presentation on tribal climate change recommendations and findings at the 

Tribal Lands and Water Forum, co-sponsored by EPA and the Institute for 

Environmental Professionals, planned for August 2015. (OW/IO)

 Develop a summary of approaches that to date, Tribes have taken to develop climate 

change vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans, and supporting tools and 

resources that Tribes have used. (OW/IO)

 Identify climate change activities as a priority in the new EPA Office of Water Tribal 

Strategy, which will be developed over the course of 2015. (OW/IO)

Vision Statement: Tribes are able to preserve, adapt, and maintain the 

viability of their culture, traditions, natural resources, and economies in the 

face of a changing climate.

Goal

15
56

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Facilitate a federal-tribal communications collaborative, which will involve dialog among 

tribal environmental directors and regionally-based federal tribal liaisons on climate 

change and other cross-cutting issues. A steering committee will develop the 

framework for the collaborative and will set agendas and strategies.

Region 4

 Work with two Tribes to perform energy management initiative assessments of water 

and wastewater system. 

 Coordinate with the Indian Health Service on energy efficiency analysis tools that can 

be used when designing water system modifications.

Region 7

 Through Tribal Set-Aside infrastructure dollars for CWA and SDWA, evaluate 

infrastructure projects utilizing climate change considerations. 

Region 9

 Utilize revised project ranking criteria for the Fiscal Year 2015 Drinking 

Water State Revolving Fund Tribal Set-Aside grant program to give higher 

priority to tribal systems experiencing serious drought impacts (i.e. systems 

with water supply deficiencies that present a serious health risk). The 

revised criteria also incentivize water conservation by requiring a higher cost share for 

projects from systems where water usage is greater than 150 gallons/person/day.

Region 10 

 Work with Tribes receiving Indian Environmental General Assistance Program funds to 

identify possible projects to make communities more resilient to climate change. 

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Conduct research to evaluate associations between extreme weather events and health 

endpoints using existing health and weather databases. This work includes waterborne 

disease; how weather events associated with climate change alter the risk of 

waterborne and infectious disease; and the sub-populations at increased risk of disease 

associated with climate change. 

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
57

Goal 16: Tribes Have Access to Information on Climate Change for 

Decision-making

 Strategic Action 49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change science, 

information, and tools for Tribes, and incorporate local knowledge.

 Strategic Action 50: Collaborate to develop communication materials relevant for tribal 

uses and tribal audiences.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Continue to support the EPA National Water Program State and Tribal Climate Change 

Council as a vehicle for sharing information and hearing the views of States and Tribes 

on climate change issues. (OW/IO; see also Goal 17)

Regional Program Actions

Region 1

 Coordinate with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies in providing 

support and developing a path forward for addressing shoreline erosion as a result of 

higher intensity storms which is threatening tribal homes and the Tribe’s wastewater 

treatment facility at the Passamaquoddy Tribe – Pleasant Point reservation.

Region 9 

 Continue to provide technical assistance to Tribes for evaluating drought mitigation 

options and drought contingency planning. For example, during the second half of 

Fiscal Year 2015 the Region will hold several drought workshops around the California to 

help participants initiate a water auditing process using American Water Works 

Association’s (AWWA) Free Water Audit Software. We will ensure that a portion of the 

drought mitigation funding provided to any tribe will be dedicated to promoting water 

system and supply resiliency to anticipated future droughts.

 In January 2015, convene a drought interagency meeting among federal and state 

agencies (including California Area Indian Health Service, HUD, USDA, Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, California Office of Emergency Services, and others) to identify and coordinate 

sources of funding to develop sustainable drought mitigation projects. Region 9 will 

review/consider eligible projects under our current infrastructure program authorities 

and guidance (Drinking Water Tribal Set-Aside and Clean Water Indian Set-Aside) to 

support sustainable and drought related projects.

Goal

16
58

Region 10 

 Work with tribal consortium in the Pacific Northwest (e.g., Northwest Indian Fisheries 

Commission) to better understand tribal needs related to water. EPA Region 10 will 

hold three calls in FY 2015 to share information and discuss possible collaborative 

activities.
59

F) Cross-Cutting Program Support

The cross-cutting program support element of the 2012 Strategy includes three goals: 

 Goal 17: Communicate, Collaborate, and Train;

 Goal 18: Track Progress and Measure Outcomes; and

 Goal 19: Identify Climate Change and Water Research Needs.

Specific actions to be implemented in 2015 in support of these goals are described below. 

Goal 17: Communicate, Collaborate, and Train

 Strategic Action 51: Continue building the communication, collaboration, and 

training mechanisms needed to effectively increase adaptive capacity at the 

federal, tribal, state, and local levels.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 Engage key stakeholders in climate change adaptation work by 

continuing to support the EPA National Water Program State and Tribal 

Climate Change Council that advises the National Water Program and 

engaging additional stakeholders using a range of forums and 

mechanisms. (OW/IO)

 Update the National Water Program climate change website to improve 

communication of climate change and water information. (OW/IO)

 Revise the training module on climate change and water programs included within the 

internet-based modules that constitute the Watershed Academy. (OW/IO)

 Work with federal interagency groups to develop technical training on climate change

and water issues through the University Corporation on Atmospheric Research (UCAR). 

(OW/IO)

 Serve as Co-chair of the interagency Federal Water Resources and Climate Change 

Workgroup charged with implementing the National Action Plan: Priorities for 

Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate. (OW/IO)

 Serve as Co-chair of the climate resilience workgroup of the Advisory Committee on 

Water Information. (OW/IO)

Goal

17

National 

Priority 

Action
60

 Support development and implementation of interagency climate adaptation actions 

related to water resources called for in Report to the President by the State, Local, and 

Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience and in the Priority 

Agenda: Enhancing Climate Resilience of America’s Natural Resources. (OW/IO)

Regional Program Actions

• Program Actions Common to All Regions

 Participate in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup: Maintain 

current participation in the EPA National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup, 

including identifying a single point of contact for the regional water program. 

 Support the EPA Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan: 

Help to develop and implement the EPA-wide Climate Change Adaptation 

Implementation Plan (and coordinate between the National Water Program 2012 

Strategy and the EPA regional climate change adaptation implementation plans. 

 Build Internal Climate Change Communications: After the completion of the EPA 

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, draw on materials developed by the 

Office of Water to provide training for regional water program staff on the challenges 

that climate change poses for water programs and familiarize them with the National

Water Program 2012 Strategy and regional climate adaptation plans through a variety of 

means such as “all hands” meetings, webinars, seminars, and dissemination of the 

plans. 

 Build External Climate Change Communications: Support national program efforts to 

inform and educate water program managers in the public and private sectors on 

climate change and water issues through a variety of means such as identifying key 

stakeholders and expanding professional networks, improving educational outreach 

efforts on national and regional EPA climate change websites and in other media, and 

disseminating clear and credible messaging on climate change science and impacts. 

 Address Climate Change in Meetings with States and Tribes: In program meetings with 

States and Tribes in 2015, include discussion of ongoing Agency and regional climate 

change adaptation planning, the National Water Program 2012 Strategy, and climate 

change activities related to state water programs as appropriate. 

 Support Coordination among Federal Agency Regional Offices: Coordinate with the 

Regional offices of other federal agencies on climate change adaptation matters and 

participate, where appropriate, with related interagency cooperative and collaborative 

efforts to address climate change challenges on a regional scale. 
61

• Additional Regional Actions

Region 1

 Beta test and update Region’s new Resilience and Adaptation in New England (RAINE) 

data base for Region 1 intranet site.

 Finalize region’s Vulnerability Assessment Tool data base for Region 1 intranet site.

Regions 1, 2, and 3

 Region 1 has been working with NOAA to develop the www.NEClimateUS.org website, 

which will be a website where regional climate change related documents will be 

made available to the public. Region 1 will work to engage other Northeast EPA 

Regions to continue to populate the website with regional climate change related 

document, tools, reports and data. 

Regions 2 and 3

 In 2013, fifteen federal agencies formed Federal Climate Partners, an 

interagency, working group to address climate change issues in the MidAtlantic region – from New York to Virginia. During the first year, the 

group held three conference calls, where EPA was able to learn from each 

department/agency about their climate change work. During 2015, the 

Federal Climate Partners will continue to network, share information, and 

begin to leverage efforts to better prepare the Region for the impacts of climate change.

Region 5

 The Region will engage the Midwest Natural Resources Group of federal agency senior 

managers to promote cooperation on climate change adaptation and to implement 

“Guiding Principles for Adapting to Climate Change for the Midwest Natural Resources 

Group.”

Region 6

 Provide training for regional staff and managers on climate change adaptation.

 Meet with tribal and environmental justice communities at least once a year to provide 

training on climate science and adaptation opportunities and practices.

Region 7

 Work with state partners and other organizations to:

Regional 

Climate 

Innovation
62

o Promote Water and Climate Change Adaptation Training for Water Program 

Staff;

o Be a WaterSense Partner;

o Promote Use of CREAT by Local Water Utilities;

o Adapt SRFs to Climate Change; 

o Implement Updated NPDES Permit Tools and Training Related to Changes in 

Flows and Water Temperature; and

o Address Climate Change in the Public Water System Supervision (PWSS) program 

Capacity Development Program.

Region 8

 Develop a Region 8 website that is linked with the National Water Program Climate 

Change website, as well as other sites such as the Western Water Assessment, the 

Western State Water Council, and the U.S. Drought Portal.

 Conduct training/outreach to Region 8 Tribes, municipalities, and other stakeholders 

on climate resiliency and the tools/programs/resources EPA has available to assist in 

various areas. For instance, Region 8 will work with the Wyoming Association of Rural 

Water Systems to conduct a day-long sustainability workshop for drinking water systems 

in Lander, Wyoming in February 2015.
63

Goal 18: Tracking Progress and Measuring Outcomes

 Strategic Action 52: Adopt a phased approach to track programmatic progress 

towards Strategic Actions; achieve commitments reflected in the Agency Strategic 

Plan; and work with the EPA Workgroup to develop outcome measures.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 The National Water Program will publish a report describing highlights of progress in 

implementing the 2012 Strategy in 2014. This report includes the 2014 assessment of 

progress using the seven phases of implementation described in the 2012 Strategy. 

(OW/IO)

 The National Water Program will publish a workplan describing the actions that 

national water program offices and regional offices will implement in 2015 to advance 

the 2012 Strategy. (OW/IO)

 The National Water Program will work with States and stakeholders to develop 

measures relating to progress in adapting water programs to climate change to be 

including in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 National Water Program Guidance. (OW/IO)

Goal

18
64

Goal 19: Climate Change and Water Research Needs

 Strategic Action 53: Work with the Office of Research and Development (ORD), 

other water science agencies, and the water research community to further 

define needs and develop research opportunities to deliver the information 

needed to support implementation of this 2012 Strategy, including providing the 

decision support tools needed by water resource managers.

[Note: Text above from 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change]

2015 Implementation Actions

National Program Actions

 The National Water Program and ORD will conduct a “Water Quality Assessment”

(WQA), to review and synthesize available scientific information on the potential 

effects of climate change on water quality. The goal of this effort is to make scientific 

information about climate change more useful and accessible to EPA Program Offices 

and Regions to support mainstreaming climate concerns into all aspects of the national 

water program. This effort involves three parts: 1) science syntheses; 2) program links; 

and 3) web portal. 

The science syntheses will be summaries of the science literature relevant to selected 

issues of concern to the EPA water program. The Program Links will be short summaries 

of relevant scientific information specifically tailored to the needs of different EPA water 

programs and activities. A web portal will make this information accessible and will be 

updated over time. ORD and OW expect to have most if not all of these reports 

complete in 2015.

Office of Research and Development Projects and Initiatives

 Working with EPA Office of Water, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Policy, and 

Regions, identify EPA-wide climate adaptation priority science needs as part of the EPA 

Climate Adaptation Plan actions. This effort is expected to identify cross-cutting issues

such as understanding climate data sources and limitations.

Goal

19
65

Appendix 1:

National Water Program Priority Actions 

The Office of Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan released in 2014 identified 

“Priority Actions” to be implemented by national water program offices. 

1. Encourage water utilities to use the Climate Resiliency Evaluation and Awareness Tool

(CREAT) and develop Version 3.0 of this tool. 

2. Promote use of an Extreme Events Workshop Planner designed to provide everything a 

water sector utility needs to plan, customize, and conduct a workshop focused on planning for 

extreme events including flooding, drought, sea level rise and storm surges, wildfire, and 

reduced snowpack.

3. In cooperation with EPA Regional offices, expand the number of WaterSense partners

nationally and in each Region, with a goal of a 150 additional partners annually. 

4. Encourage the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to incorporate climate 

change considerations into their processes.

5. Encourage the National Estuary Programs and other watershed managers at the state and 

local level to use the Watershed Climate Change Adaptation Planning Workbook developed by 

the EPA National Estuary Program. 

6. Complete development of initial screening criteria to identify water and wastewater facilities 

on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at risk of inundation in the event of a storm surge

comparable to Hurricane Sandy and work with utilities to address risks. 

7. Complete technical development of the Climate Change Extension within the Stormwater 

Calculator and identify and implement enhancements to improve its utility. 

8. Work with EPA Regional office counterparts to identify ways to better integrate climate 

change considerations into water quality management planning projects and processes and 

develop an initial report. 

9. Draft a white paper providing information States and Tribes can use to protect aquatic life 

from negative effects associated with alteration of hydrologic conditions, including potential 

effects from climate change. 

10. Engage key stakeholders in climate change adaptation work by continuing to support the 

EPA National Water Program State and Tribal Climate Change Council that advises the 

National Water Program and engaging additional stakeholders using a range of forums and 

mechanisms.
66

Appendix 2:

EPA Regional Water Programs: Climate Change 

Common Priority Actions

The Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan identifies climate change 

adaptation activities that each Regional water program will attempt to carry out in 2014 and 

following years.

1. Participate in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup: Maintain current 

participation in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup, including 

identifying a single point of contact for the regional water program. 

2. Support the EPA Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan: Help 

to implement the EPA-wide Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan (and 

coordinate between the National Water Program 2012 Strategy and the EPA regional 

climate change adaptation implementation plans. 

3. Build Internal Climate Change Communications: After the completion of the EPA Climate 

Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, draw on materials developed by the Office of 

Water to provide training for regional water program staff on the challenges that climate 

change poses for water programs and familiarize them with the National Water Program

2012 Strategy and regional climate adaptation plans through a variety of means such as “all 

hands” meetings, webinars, seminars, and dissemination of the plans. 

4. Build External Climate Change Communications: Support national program efforts to 

inform and educate water program managers in the public and private sectors on climate 

change and water issues through a variety of means such as identifying key stakeholders 

and expanding professional networks, improving educational outreach efforts on national 

and regional EPA climate change websites and in other media, and disseminating clear and 

credible messaging on climate change science and impacts. 

5. Address Climate Change in Meetings with States and Tribes: In program meetings with 

States and Tribes in 2015, include discussion of ongoing Agency and regional climate change 

adaptation planning, the National Water Program 2012 Strategy, and climate change 

activities related to State water programs as appropriate. 

6. Support Coordination among Federal Agency Regional Offices: Coordinate with the 

Regional offices of other federal agencies on climate change adaptation matters and 

participate, where appropriate, with related interagency cooperative and collaborative 

efforts to address climate change challenges on a regional scale. 

7. Promote Community Engagement on Climate Resilience Using Tools from the Climate 

Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Initiative and Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) Program: Work 
67

with municipal and private utilities to promote use of CREAT to recognize and respond to 

climate change risks and support communities in building climate resilience using tools such 

as the new workbook for developing risk-based climate adaptation plans developed by the 

National Estuary Program.

8. Develop Regional WaterSense Partners: Work with States, Tribes, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and businesses to promote the WaterSense Program in the region. 

9. Work with State Revolving Loan Fund Programs to recognize climate change impacts.
68

APPENDIX 3

EPA Regional Water Programs:

Climate Change Innovations 

Water programs in EPA’s ten Regional offices play an important role in adapting clean water 

and drinking water programs to a changing climate and are implementing a range of innovative 

programs and policies for climate change adaptation that respond to the specific challenges in 

that Region. These innovations are identified throughout the document and are summarized 

below by the goal that they support.

A) Water Infrastructure

1. Establish an inter-state water mutual aid program for New England water utilities 

(Region 1)

2. Encourage State Capacity Development programs to include energy efficiency in their 

workplans (Region 3) 

3. Work with the WaterSense program and Stop Waste.org to include WaterSense 

products in Quantity Quotes, an on-line bulk purchasing platform (Region 9) 

B) Watersheds and Wetlands

4. Target highly vulnerable public water systems for source water protection (Region 5) 

5. Work with USACE to incorporate climate change impacts in permits, compensation 

plans, and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents (Region 7) 

6. Focus on pilot communities interested in using tools to identify priority wetlands for 

protection (Region 8) 

C) Coastal and Ocean Waters

7. In collaboration with partners pilot use of CommunityViz, a scenario planning tool that 

incorporates important climate data such as sea level rise (Region 2)

8. Pilot Regional Flood Resilience project for groups of water and wastewater utilities in 

Florida (Region 4)

9. Work with States, NOAA, and the University of Washington to coordinate activities and 

research related to ocean acidification in the Pacific Northwest (Region 10)
69

D) Water Quality

10. Work with States to include climate change adaptation provisions in the state’s 

Nonpoint Source Management Plans (Region 4)

11. Promote use of green infrastructure and continue recognition of green infrastructure 

projects in the Region including addressing new opportunities in designing parking lots 

to use trees to manage stormwater and urban heat (Region 6) 

12. Design project to identify the time at which a distinctive trend due to climate change is 

projected to emerge from the noise of natural climate variability (Region 10)

E) Working with Tribes 

13. Utilize revised project ranking criteria for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 

Tribal Set-Aside grant program to give higher priority to tribal systems experiencing 

serious drought impacts (Region 9) 

F) Cross-cutting Program Coordination

14. Fifteen federal agencies formed Federal Climate Partners, an interagency, working 

group to address climate change issues in the Mid-Atlantic region (Regions 2 and 3)
70

Appendix 4

Potential State Agency 

Clean Water and Drinking Water 

Climate Change Adaptation Actions

# Actions for Climate Change Adaptation

State 

Water 

Quality 

Agency

State 

Drinking 

Water 

Agency

1

Promote Water and Climate Change Adaptation Training for 

Water Program Staff: Encourage State staff implementing water 

programs to take online training addressing the challenges that a 

changing climate poses for meeting clean water and drinking water 

goals. 

 

2

Be a WaterSense Partner: Promote water use efficiency by 

wastewater treatment plants and drinking water systems in the 

State by joining the WaterSense program as a partner and 

participating in a State water conservation program.

 

3

Promote Use of Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool 

by Local Water Utilities: Support wastewater treatment plants and 

drinking water systems in use of the CREAT tool to assess the 

vulnerability of plants to a changing climate and identify response 

actions.

 

4

Adapt State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs) to Climate Change: 

Adopt climate change considerations in management of SRF 

drinking water and clean water SRF programs.  

5

Consider Climate Change Impacts in Triennial Review of State 

Water Quality Standards: Work collaboratively with Regions to 

consider if there is the need to begin to address climate change 

impacts in water quality standards.


71

6

Report Climate Change Related Impacts on Waters of the State in 

Integrated Reports Under Clean Water Act Section 303(d) and 

305(b): Discuss and identify the possibility of States’ abilities or 

inabilities to include in integrated reports under Sections 303(d) 

and 305(b) assessment of trends in water conditions related to a 

changing climate, including water temperature, in-stream flow, and 

pH, and the likely impact of future climate change on waters, 

including attainment of water quality standards generally.



7

Update State Water Quality Management (WQM) Plans to 

Address a Changing Climate: Consider the need to revise and

update State Water Quality Management Plans developed under 40 

CFR 130.6 to describe how core clean water program components 

addressed in the plans could be adapted to recognize the 

anticipated long-term changes in water conditions in the State as a 

result of a changing climate. 



8

Update Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Processes to 

Address Climate Change: Review existing certification procedures 

under section 401 of the Clean Water Act to identify how climate 

change impacts on waters, including expected changes in stream 

flow and water temperature, could be considered in reviews of 

federal permits or licenses for under section 401, including reviews 

of major construction projects such as dams. 



9

Implement Updated NPDES Permit Tools and Training Related to 

Changes in Precipitation and Water Temperature: Where 

available, apply updated models and practices for assessing 

vulnerability of water quality to increasing variability of 

precipitation, in-stream flows (high and low) and warming water 

temperature; apply updated models and practices in fit-for-use 

green infrastructure approaches.



10

Address Climate Change in Community Water System Sanitary 

Surveys: Identify elements of the sanitary surveys for community 

water systems that address the risks to drinking water systems 

posed by climate change and address these risks as part of sanitary 

surveys on a 3/5 year basis.



Note: EPA recognizes that some state water programs may have competing needs that may 

impede their ability to undertake these actions.
72

Appendix 5

National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup 

Principal Members

EPA Headquarters

Office of Water: Immediate Office – Mike Shapiro, Jeff Peterson, Karen Metchis, Elana 

Goldstein, Nathan Sell (ORISE)

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water – Curt Baranowski, Mike Muse

Office of Science and Technology – Rachael Novak

Office of Wastewater Management – Veronica Blette, Sarita Hoyt, Lynn Stabenfeldt

Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds – Michael Craghan, Kathleen Kutschenreuter

EPA Regions

Region 1 – Mel Cote

Region 2 – Alexandre Remnek

Region 3 – Regina Poeske, Jennie Saxe

Region 4 – Robert Burns

Region 5 – Kate Balasa

Region 6 – Jim Brown, Barbara Keeler, Robert Todd

Region 7 – Mary Mindrup, Amy Shields

Region 8 – Brent Truskowski

Region 9 – Suzanne Marr, John Kemmerer

Region 10 – Paula Van Haagen, Mike Cox, Krista Mendelman

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. 

Office of Water (4101M)

Washington, D.C. 20460

EPA-850-R-15-003

June 2015

http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange