RESILIENCE MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

RESILIENCE, MOUNTAIN SYSTEMS, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE HEI DI STELTZER, CLAIRE MACPHERSON, LIANE JOLLON AND SJP HD

A resilient system is one that bounces back A resilient community (human-natural system) is one that includes change; it is one that is not static. The system may shift to an undesirable state, but does not remain in the undesirable state. ◦ Ex. Animas River water quality pre, during, and post spill.

Concept of resilience

Adaptive Cycle

Resilience practice Resilience is the long-term capacity of a system to deal with change and continue to develop and adapt, yet remain within critical thresholds. • Keep the system in its current state or better • Science-based assessment of the resilience of human-natural systems is done to inform community decisions

Adaptive cycle • Keep the system in its current state or better

Department of Energy, Berkeley Lab Sustainable Focus Area 2. 0 Phase II: Overarching objective: Determine key climate drivers that control water availability, nutrient cycling and metals mobility within and from mountainous watersheds

Colorado watersheds impacted by metals § Streams in 11 different headwater areas of Colorado have naturally high concentrations of metals and/or acidity. § Mixed metal suite similar to many DOE sites (Fe, Mn, As, Hg, etc. ) § How will climate-induced changes in hydrology and vegetation impact metals mobility and export in the future?

High-temporal resolution monitoring of water quality parameters (e. g. p. H, ORP, DO, specific conductivity) Abrupt conductivity increases = TDS increases sampling event (e. g. metals) TDS increase due to Mg. Cl 2 application from Ken Williams, DOE, LBNL

Adaptive Cycle

Purpose of our group Potential Purpose Statement (draft, draft 1) The purpose of the XXXXX group (yet to be formally named) is to foster communication, coordination and collaborative action after the Gold King Mine spill incident; to restore public confidence; to support resiliency in our communities; to ensure better planning and improved public safety for the future; and to promote local economic health while honoring institutional authorities and decision making. Example Activity – resilience practice To create an All Hazards unified watershed plan to provide for public and environmental health within the Animas River watershed. • monitor to plan, • then communicate, • return to improved monitoring or revised planning