Climate-Water

Fact Sheet

climate will become warmer and drier
increased runoff in winter and less in summer
less water resources to carry over into summer
in the Great Lakes region:
- possible precipitation increases coupled with reduced runoff

lake level declines
- reduced hydropower production due to lower lake levels and flows
decrease in lake ice extent

as temperature increases, precipitation will increase and a larger area of watershed will produce direct runoff
- lower carryover storage will result in a lower head for hydropower production
lower summer flows and higher water temperatures may reduce water quality
- this has potential to impact thermoelectric water quality control
wetland regions will decrease in size
lower summer water levels may diminish recharge of groundwater and cause small rivers to dry up

Fact Sheet