Frank Burdick’s Log Number: N/A
Submitted by: April Public meeting, August CAC meeting
Category (1,2,3): 1
Status: Closed
Estimated date to
address: N/A
Q. 1.28 April Public meeting – The March 15, 2012 rain in
the Lawton area was a very significant event. Are climate change and large rain
events going to be considered in your process?
Q. 1.28 CAC August meeting - Are you taking into account
long-term weather forecasts (climate change)?
A. Quantifying the impacts of climate change on long-term
weather is a very complex technical issue. This item can be addressed by the
CAC during the alternatives evaluation phase of the project. For example, the
CAC can consider the cost versus the risk of failure (i.e. a larger storm
overwhelming the system), where the risk includes an allowance for larger
rainfalls as a result of climate change. We are reviewing the most up-to-date
rainfall statistics and will consider these when making recommendations.
Large rain events produce very valuable
data for a study like this and will be evaluated in this process. It is
difficult to forecast the impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns. This
study does not include a specific task to address climate change as part of the
measurement.
However, there is a phase of the study
called “alternatives evaluation” where the project team will gather and
evaluate different approaches to manage wet weather flows to the sanitary sewer
system. During this alternatives evaluation phase, the project team, together
with the Citizens Advisory Committee, will have the opportunity to consider the
impacts of climate change when setting the future level of service for the
system through the risk-based design approach. This item can be taken up by the
Citizens Advisory Committee working with the subject matter experts in the Technical
Oversight Advisory Group.
There are no comments.