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Oregon Live for Environmental News
EFFECT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE ROGUE VALLEYmate change could hit Rogue Valley hard If global warming continues unabated, summer temperatures in the Rogue River Valley could rise up to 15 degrees by 2080, making the weather in the southern Oregon valley similar to Sacramento's, Oregon researchers said in a report released today. The changes would likely boost wildfires, the researchers said, and spell trouble for fish, forests, pears, pinot noir and people, who would see snowpack and water supplies dwindle. The report, drafted by the University of Oregon's Climate Leadership Initiative and the Ashland-based National Center for Conservation Science & Policy, is the first of four that will try to boil down climate change predictions to a regional scale in southern Oregon. The study's authors used the global Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's "business as usual" scenario to make the projections. That scenario assumes that most countries fail to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bob Doppelt, director of the leadership initiative, noted that atmospheric carbon levels are already above the IPCC's estimates from last year for the business-as-usual scenario. And temperature increases are likely even under best-case scenarios, he said. "We wanted to paint the picture of the likely consequences of climate change if there is no change" in society's response, Doppelt said. "Even if the effect in the valley is half of that or a third of that, it's pretty significant. It's already hot down there in the summer." The Rogue River Valley, beginning near Crater Lake and running to Gold Beach, has 302,000 residents. It's considered a powerhouse system for wild salmon, and its whitewater runs draw tourists from around the globe. The researchers, with help from a U.S. Forest Service bioclimatologist, applied three global climate change models to the valley. In those models, the global forecasts are more certain than regional ones, particularly regarding precipitation, but Doppelt said the general trends should hold. Among their findings: Average annual temperatures will increase by 1 to 3 degrees by 2040 and 4 to 8 degrees by 2080. Summer temperatures could increase dramatically, rising 7 degrees to 15 degrees by 2080. Snow accumulation could decline by 25 to 75 percent by 2040, and up to 94 percent by 2080, reducing summer streamflows, water quality and water supply. Big winter storms and rainfall could increase, boosting flooding. A longer summer with higher temperatures will likely increase wildfires and could create lethal stream conditions for native fish such as salmon and steelhead, similar to conditions on the lower Klamath River during the 2002 fish kill. The report says local governments, businesses and homeowners need to start taking the effects of global warming into account now. That includes politically tough and potentially expensive measures such as restricting development in wildfire-prone areas and floodplains, restructuring timber harvests, setting aside more habitat and restoring more streams. -- Scott Learn; scottlearn@news.oregonian.com
Ashland Adopts Wetlands Ordinance The Ashland City Council approved an ordinance that establishes protective buffer zones around streams and wetlands. Buildings in commercial zones within historic districts can be rebuilt if they are destroyed, but buildings in commercial zones outside historic districts won't automatically be rebuilt if they are within the buffer areas. Rather, rebuilding plans would have to go through the city's planning process, and applicants would have to try to find a place on their property to rebuild that lies outside stream and wetland buffer zones. The new law creates buffer zones of up to 50 feet on either side of streams and up to 50 feet from the edge of wetlands. Ordinances requiring buffer zones or setbacks are commonly used by cities in an effort to preserve wetlands and streams. In previous decades, wetlands often were drained and filled as cities expanded. More recently, planners and researchers have advocated retaining them as a means to absorb and filter storm runoff. --The Associated Press
Ashland Group Pushes for 'Transition Town' Status by John Darling for the Tidings
Lance Bisaccia and Shaktari Belew of Transition Towns. A group of Ashlanders will apply in the coming month to make Ashland a Transition Town, a step that will provide the framework for citizens to form groups to strategize for sustainability in energy, food, water, finance and other areas. At the same time, Ashland has just gotten its first trainer — one of only 22 in the nation — to educate participants in sustainability initiatives, meaning a community actively working toward energy and resource sustainability and "resiliency" in the face of upcoming challenges from climate change, declining oil supply and a contracting economy. Monthly meetings of the "Sustainability Leaders Dialog" at Peace House have been drawing over 50 people who want to certify Ashland, then move onto creating teams that work on different areas, such as food, water, housing and energy, said Shaktari Belew, who just finished the one-week training with Transitions USA in San Francisco and has developed a one-hour PowerPoint presentation for local groups and towns. The large number of Ashlanders are already conversant with sustainability and ready to move forward in volunteer teams indicate the pathway is open for certification of as a Transition Town, she noted.
The Oregon Green Expo Green Technology & Renewable Energy We invite you to join us in bringing together the most progressive entrepreneurs and organizations in our region - the pioneers and innovators in the green and sustainable industries. 2009 Oregon Green Expo Exhibitors apply now for the 2010 Expo and receive not only the Early Bird Registration Special plus a Bonus Package of Extended Promotion on our website and monthly e-newsletters for showcasing your business through June 2010. Deadline for this month's exclusive offer is November 15th, 2009. Call (541) 773-8200 and reserve your space today!
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