Project Profile: Determine the Vulnerability of Park Water Supplies to Climate Change

Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY23-26 $2,108,000

Angels Landing and the Virgin River in Zion National Park.

NPS Photo

Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY23-26 $2,108,000

The National Park Service (NPS) is launching a comprehensive project with the primary goal of increasing the security and sustainability of NPS water supplies for people. This complex project involves assessing the vulnerability of park water supplies to the impacts of climate change, recommending climate adaptation strategies to parks, developing geospatial tools and databases, assessing NPS water rights, and identifying critical water data gaps. Climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) will be informed by science and will consider climate change effects, adaptation options, resource protection concerns, and water policy constraints.

Why? Water is essential for NPS operations, including providing water for visitors, park staff, firefighting activities, irrigation, and concessions. Climate change threatens the availability and quality of water resources, making it necessary to evaluate their vulnerability. Maintaining resilient NPS water supplies despite aging infrastructure, increasing water demands, and added stresses on water supply sources from climate change, population growth, and commercial development near parks requires a strong understanding of hydrologic systems and science-informed capital investments in NPS water facilities.

What Else? CCVAs and water right evaluations will be conducted for specific high-priority parks with significant water supply improvement needs and/or suspected vulnerabilities.

Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of out nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.