Changing Water Regimes

Water resources are important to both society and ecosystems. We depend on a reliable, clean supply of drinking water to sustain our health. We also need water for agriculture, energy production, navigation, recreation, and manufacturing, as well as to sustain the balance of the ecosystems that support the diverse flora and fauna across the nation. Many human uses can impact water quality and quantity, putting pressure on the systems that provide our water resources. Climate change is likely to exacerbate these stresses.

Impacts of changing water regimes include:

• Altered Precipitation – changes in the amount and extent of rain and snow events;
• Altered Water Levels – changes in the amount and extent of surface and groundwater levels; and
• Greater Flood Risk – increased seasonal flooding driven by these changes.

These impacts affect conservation efforts focused on land and species. Learn  more about what land trusts are doing to strategically manage water resources to reduce vulnerabilities to changing systems.