City of Hailey Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
This project focuses on conducting a comprehensive literature review of historic and future climate trends relevant to the City of Hailey, Idaho. The review will cover climate indicators such as temperature, precipitation, snowpack, and extreme weather events. It will also assess projections of future trends using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) as modeled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The project will result in a compilation of historic data, visual aids (e.g., charts, maps, and graphics), and a detailed report for City Staff to utilize in climate resilience planning.
Project Objectives
Historic Climate Indicator Trends:
Perform a literature review on climate indicator trends for Hailey, ID, or the next-most geographically precise area available. The review will emphasize the last 50 years of trends and extend up to the present. The primary focus will be on:
- Temperature
- Precipitation
- Snowpack (with a focus on Ketchum weather stations, if data from Hailey is unavailable)
- Wildfire
- Flooding
- Drought
- Extreme/unusual weather events
- Secondary indicators will be included as capacity allows, covering topics like river health, flora/fauna trends, growing season trends, air quality, and public health incidence.
Visual Communication of Climate Trends:
Assemble and curate charts, maps, and graphics that communicate both historic and projected climate trends. These resources will include technical data as well as accessible visuals for general public use.
Future Climate Indicator Projections:
Conduct a literature review for future climate indicator trends, focusing on RCP 4.5 (intermediate emissions) and RCP 8.5 (high emissions). The review will include projections of climate trends such as temperature, precipitation, and other relevant indicators.
Data Catalogue Creation:
Compile a well-organized catalogue of datasets and literature sources in Excel, ensuring ease of navigation for City of Hailey Staff. The catalogue will be organized by topic area and will serve as a reference for future climate resilience efforts.
Iterative Collaboration with City Staff:
Work closely with City of Hailey staff to draft descriptive text and summarize literature findings and graphics. The project will be divided into sections on historic trends and future projections, focusing on primary climate indicators and addressing secondary indicators where feasible.
People
- Dr. Brittany Brand, Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences and Director of Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute
- Emily Rodrigue, City Planner/Resilience Planner (Community Development Department),
- Emily Williams, Sustainability and Grants Coordinator (Public Works Department)