Potential Climate Impacts and Adaptation Strategies in the Great Plains

In the Great Plains, climate change is expected to result in more frequent and intense droughts, severe rainfall events, and heat waves. Adapting to changing conditions will require coordination in the research and observation capabilities of multiple organizations, institutions, and government programs. In light of these needs, researchers worked with federal, state, tribal, university, and non-governmental organization partners to (1) synthesize the current state of ecosystems in the Great Plains; (2) assess the ability of human and ecological communities in the region to adapt to climate change; and (3) develop a process to improve future assessments of the vulnerability of the region’s natural and cultural resources to climate change.

A key finding of the assessment is that multiple climatic and non-climatic stressors put agriculture, water, ecosystems, and rural and tribal communities at risk. For example, rising temperatures and a projected increase in extreme summer temperatures in the Great Plains could have significant implications for water availability for conservation efforts, energy production, and agriculture. This project resulted in an improved understanding of the base knowledge of various agencies related to climate change impacts and potential response strategies for dealing with its effects.