The first report of the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts 2011
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts 2011
Wisconsin s Changing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation was produced by the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), a project of the at the and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The printing cost of this report was funded in part through the Wisconsin FOCUS ON ENERGY Program, and in part by the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment. Copyright 2011 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Recommended citation: Wisconsin s Changing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation. 2011. Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts., and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. The full report and supporting documents are available for free download at www.wicci.wisc.edu
Richard C. Lathrop Co-Chair, WICCI Science Council Co-Chairs and Managing Editor John J. Magnuson Co-Chair, WICCI Science Council Elizabeth Katt-Reinders Managing Editor Elizabeth Katt-Reinders Lead Authors Steve Pomplun Graphic Designer Danielle Lamberson Philipp Alison Coulson Sharon Dunwoody Richard C. Lathrop David S. Liebl University of Wisconsin-Extension Editorial Team John J. Magnuson Steve Pomplun Tom Sinclair John R. (Jack) Sullivan Dreux J. Watermolen David Webb Craig Anderson Tim Asplund Carolyn Betz William L. Bland Gene Clark University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Alison Coulson Avery Dorland Sharon Gayan H.J. (Bud) Harris University of Wisconsin-Green Bay David Hart University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Contributing Authors James Hurley University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute and the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute George Kraft University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Extension Christopher J. Kucharik James LaGro Olivia LeDee David S. Liebl University of Wisconsin-Extension John Lyons Karl Martin Sandra McLellan University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Mike Meyer Matthew Mitro Philip Moy University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Pete Nowak Jonathan Patz Kenneth W. Potter Daniel J. Vimont William D. Walker Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Dreux J. Watermolen
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts Science Council Members Erin Crain Section Chief, Ecological Inventory and Monitoring Division of Land Sharon Dunwoody School of Journalism and Mass Communication Lewis Gilbert Associate Director H.J. (Bud) Harris Emeritus Natural and Applied Sciences University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Barry Johnson Chief, Long Term Resource Monitoring Branch Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center United States Geological Survey George Kraft Water Resources Director Center for Watershed Science and Education Director Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Extension Christopher J. Kucharik Assistant Department of Agronomy College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment John Kutzbach Emeritus Center for Climatic Research James LaGro, Jr. Department of Urban and Regional Planning Richard C. Lathrop (Co-Chair) Research Limnologist David S. Liebl Faculty Associate Engineering Professional Development and Statewide Stormwater Specialist University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension John J. Magnuson (Co-Chair) Emeritus Center for Limnology Kristen Malecki Epidemiologist/Assistant Scientist Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and Associate Director Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) Population Health Sciences Sandra McLellan Associate Scientist Great Lakes WATER Institute University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Philip Moy Fisheries and Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Pete Nowak Jonathan Patz Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment Kenneth W. Potter Civil and Environmental Engineering John R. (Jack) Sullivan Director, Bureau of Science Services Division of Enforcement & Science Daniel J. Vimont Assistant Center for Climatic Research William D. Walker Policy Analyst Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Darrell Zastrow Deputy Division Administrator Division of Forestry Patricia Leavenworth (Agency Liaison to the Science Council) State Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service United States Department of Agriculture
Contents Summary.......................................................................................... 6 Introduction.....................................................................................10 PART 1: CHANGES Chapter 1: Climate Change in Wisconsin: Past, Present and Future........................... 14 Chapter 2: Understanding Adaptation.......................................................... 34 PART 2: IMPACTS Chapter 3: Water Resources................................................................... 44 Chapter 4: Natural Habitats and Biodiversity.................................................. 68 Chapter 5: Agriculture and the Soil Resource.................................................. 92 Chapter 6: Coastal Resources................................................................ 106 Chapter 7: People and Their Environment.................................................... 118 PART 3: ACTION Chapter 8: Implementing Adaptation......................................................... 136 Chapter 9: Moving Forward................................................................... 148 APPENDIX Working Group Executive Summaries.......................................................... 160