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J uly 20, 2012 Version

AGENDA Hudson Valley Climate Change Network

When: Monday, August 13, 2012 12:00 noon 4:00 pm
Where: Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg, NY

12:00 to 1:00 Networking BYO Lunch OPTIONAL
Note: Please check-in before 1:00 pm so we can begin promptly at 1:00

1:00 to 1:15 Greetings & Introductions
Emilie Hauser, Hudson River Estuary Training Program and Kristin Marcell, Hudson River Estuary Program

1:15 to 1:30 Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability PlanSpeaker TBD

1:30 to 2:00 Effect of Land Use on Runoff Volume in Small Hudson Valley Watersheds
Art DeGaetano, Cornell University and NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center
This presentation will highlight research that examines the percentage of rainfall that becomes runoff in
different watersheds, and the response time (time between heaviest rainfall and highest flow) in each basin. This
information was compared between the different land use types (reflecting urban, residential and rural
environments). Using knowledge of green infrastructure capacities, this rainfall and runoff information was
used to calculate the potential implementation of green infrastructure to mitigate flooding and has application
for future climate change scenarios. See abstract on next page.

2:00 to 3:00 Attitudes of Hudson River Estuary Watershed Municipal Officials about Climate Change
Shorna Allred, Cornell University & Allison M. Chatrchyan, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
Study findings on Hudson Valley local government officials attitudes toward climate change and their
perceptions of climate change associated risks taking place in their communities will be presented. Current
mitigation and adaptation actions implemented by local communities, as well as potential municipal outreach
resources will be discussed. See abstract on next page.

3:00 to 3:55 Knowledge & Project Exchange
Attendees share information on climate change projects they are working on, either in a professional capacity or
on a volunteer basis.
Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability Planning Consortium - Energy Working Group Manna J o Greene
Climate Smart Communities Mark Lowery
Sustainable Shorelines Project Betsy Blair
City of Kingston Climate Action Plan Emilie Hauser
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Bridget Doxsee
Others TBD

3:55 to 4:00 Wrap-up & Evaluations


Register by Friday Aug.10, 2012:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HVCCNAug13






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J uly 20, 2012 Version

ABSTRACTS
Attitudes of Hudson River Estuary Watershed Municipal Officials toward Climate Change
Shorna Allred*, Allison Chatrchyan*, Maureen Mullen
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This presentation will focus on data gathered from a survey and in-depth interviews with Hudson Valley
municipal officials. The goal of this project was to determine Hudson Valley local government officials
attitudes toward climate change and perceptions of climate change taking place in their communities. We
also determined local government officials views of risks, vulnerabilities, and issues associated with
climate change as it will impact the natural resources and infrastructure under their jurisdiction. We
will discuss what actions local governments are taking to mitigate and adapt to climate change as well as
why some are not. Results also show local government officials views of adaptations and policy options
which might address issues resulting from climate change. We also offer suggestions on the most
effective ways of reaching municipal officials with information about climate change threats at a local
level including the resources that will help local government officials implement solutions and
adaptations.

*Speaker: Shorna Allred, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Dept. of Natural Resources,
Cornell University
*Speaker: Allison Morrill Chatrchyan, Environment & Energy Program Leader and CCE Energy &
Climate Change Team Cornell University Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
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Maureen Mullen, Cornell University, Communications Outreach Assistant, Dept. of Natural Resources,
Cornell University

Effect of Land Use on Runoff Volume in Small Hudson Valley Watersheds
Paula J Brown
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, Stephen Shaw
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and Art DeGaetano*

Radar estimated hourly rainfall volume and USGS streamflow data are used to investigate steam
response characteristics on 10 small (< 45km2) watersheds in the Hudson Valley. The sample of
watersheds was selected to reflect different land use characteristics, reflecting urban, residential and
rural environments. The rainfall and stream gauge data were analyzed to determine the percentage of
rainfall that became runoff in each watershed as well as the response time (time between heaviest
rainfall and highest flow) in each basin. This information was compared between the different land use
types. Data were collected for approximately 30 rainfall events between 2002 and 2010.

Our results show that the urban basins respond quickly to heavy rainfall with peak flow nearly coincident
with the heaviest rainfall. In more rural watersheds, the lag between peak rainfall and streamflow is
longer. In terms of runoff volume, the percent of rainfall volume being translated into runoff varied from
15 to 40% but was only loosely connected to land use. Based on these rainfall-runoff relationships, we
computed the volume of rainfall that would need to be captured by green-infrastructure (e.g. rain gardens
or rain barrels) to reduce runoff. For a 55 mm rainfall, typical of those heavy rainfall events that have
seen an increase in occurrence over the last 40 years, over 1 million cubic meters (300 million gallons) of
water would need to be temporarily stored to achieve a 66% reduction in runoff volume. As a typical rain
barrel holds, 0.227 m3 (60 gals) of water, over 4,700,000 rain barrels would be required to achieve this
reduction in runoff.

* Speaker: Art DeGaetano, Professor and Assoc. Chair Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University
and Director, NOAA Northeast Regional Climate Center
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Paula J Brown, Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University
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Stephen B. Shaw, Assistant Professor SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry