As California’s climate changes, it has become clear many communities will need to adapt to new conditions. However, adaptation is challenging, particularly given the complex web of agencies and organizations involved. This complexity can undermine efforts to ensure adaptation strategies are applied equitably.
This project will map the various institutions and actors that make up the governance network overseeing climate adaptation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta). A survey will be distributed to community organizations, local and tribal entities and government agencies, both regional and local. The survey will assess, among other variables, stakeholders’ perceptions of climate adaptation, and will gather data on adaptation projects in the Delta. The survey will also seek information about what structural and capital characteristics already exist to help groups learn and cooperate and will assess current organizational capacity.
The Delta is the main source of water supply for two-thirds of California, a hotspot for biodiversity and for many people, home. All these facts make effective adaptation critical. The web-based map produced by this project — which will be accompanied by at least two in-depth case studies — will help the public better understand the state of climate adaptation and inform the development of new governance strategies, especially in climate-vulnerable communities.