RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
Public Workshop
January 26, 2022
URBAN FOREST, WATER, AND
CLIMATE PROJECT
Office of Sustainability and
Riverside Public Utilities
RiversideCA.gov
2 This public workshop is being recorded and will be posted on the website.
Visit: RiversideCA.gov/Media
Search: Urban Forest, Water and Climate Project
HELLO AND WELCOME
Meeting Agenda
• Council Directive
• Data gathering process
• Overview of Riverside’s water resources & challenges
• Riverside’s climate change challenges
• Benefits of Trees and preliminary tree canopy analysis • Q&A session
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3 INTRODUCTIONS
1. How long have you resided in
Riverside?
2. What Ward do you live in?
Online Participants: Please use the poll box for your responses.
Call-in Participants: Please take the online survey available at https://www.riversideca.gov/press/urban-forest-water-and-climate-project RiversideCA.gov
4 “…evaluate current climate conditions
impacting or being impacted by the City's
water supply such as temperature,
pollution and carbon sequestration
benefits resulting from tree canopies,
greenspaces, and tributaries to the Santa
Ana River.”
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
Climate
Change
Nature
Based Assets
Water
RiversideCA.gov
5 Inform the City’s sustainability and water management policies to help adapt to climate changes
Set recommendations on steps needed to maintain or increase the City’s climate (nature-based) assets
Establish how increases or decreases in irrigation affect the City’s climate assets
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE
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6 ACTIONS TO DATE
Literature Research
Evaluated City’s
existing data sets
Data gap analysis
iTree Resource
Analysis
Analysis of
relevant existing
City policies
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7 RIVERSIDE’S WATER RESOURCES
100%
Of the City’s potable
(drinking) water has been
supplied from local
groundwater sources since
2009
Serves a Population of
306,140
69K
Service Connections
RiversideCA.gov
8 WATER CHALLENGES
Groundwater Conditions
Rainfall is 22% below historical annual average resulting in historical lows of water levels
Climate Change
Less snowpack, shorter winters and longer, drier summers.
Urban Growth
Increase in population and associated water needs is
projected to be greater than Riverside’s available water supply sources within 10 years.
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9 MAKING CONSERVATION A CA WAY OF LIFE
New Water Efficiency Regulations – In 2018, the California State Legislature enacted two bills Senate Bill (SB) 606 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668, to establish a new foundation for long-term improvements in water conservation and drought planning to adapt to climate change and the resulting longer and more intense droughts in California.
State regulatory agencies are
conducting research to estimate the
water demand of urban tree canopy
and assess the risks to urban trees
from this legislation.
SB 606 and AB 1668 affect water
conservation and drought
planning for urban water suppliers,
among other sector water
suppliers.
Use Water
More Wisely
Strengthen
Local
Drought
Resilience
Improve
Agricultural
Water Use
Efficiency &
Drought
Planning
Eliminate
Water Waste
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10 1. What is your biggest concern about water?
2. How did the most recent drought impact you?
3. How did you prioritize your outdoor water use?
4. With its limited water sources, how would you
like the City to prioritize water on City-
managed properties?
LET’S ENGAGE ABOUT WATER
Online Participants: Please use the poll box for your responses.
Call-in Participants: Please take the online survey available at https://www.riversideca.gov/press/urban-forest-water-and-climate-project RiversideCA.gov
11 for the Los Angeles Region (including Riverside)
2018 CALIFORNIA CLIMATE ASSESSMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Continued future warming over the region.
Extreme temperatures are expected to increase.
Despite small changes in average precipitation, dry and wet extremes are both expected to increase.
Projections indicate that wildfire may increase over
southern California.
RiversideCA.gov
12 RIVERSIDE AVERAGE ANNUAL MAX TEMP.
70 75
80 85
90 95
1950
1956
1962
1968
1974
1980
1986
1992
1998
2004
2010
2016
2022
2028
2034
2040
2046
2052
2058
2064
2070
2076
2082
2088
2094
2100
Average Annual Maximum
Temperature (Farenheit
Degrees)
Average Annual Maximum Temperature for Riverside, California Observed (1950 - 2005) | Average of Modeled ( RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 2006-2100) Data Source: California Energy Commission, CalAdapt Data: https://cal-adapt.org/tools/extreme-heat/ Observed Avg. Max.
Temperature
1950 2005
Forecast Avg. Max. Temperature
(2 Scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5)
2006 2100
By 2100
Average Annual
Maximum
Temperature
Increases
5-8°F
Year 2020
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13 Average
Hottest Day
INCREASING EXTREMES IN WEATHER
2005 2100(+ 4° to 10° F)
110° F
114°-120° F
Number of Days
Above 102° F
15 Days/Year
60-90
Days/Year
Additionally:
1. Duration and depth of
drought;
2. Intensity of extreme
precipitation; and
3. More days needing air
conditioning and fewer
days requiring
heat.
Data Source: California Energy Commission, CalAdapt Data: https://cal-adapt.org/tools/ RiversideCA.gov
14 CLIMATE CHANGE = THREAT MULTIPLIER
WildfireWildfire
Wildfire
Air Pollution
Flooding
Vector-Borne
Diseases
Vector-Borne
Diseases
Vector-Borne
Diseases
Health & FinanceHealth & Finance
Health & Finance
Drought
Note: The term, “Threat Multiplier” was coined by the Department of Defense in reference to climate change impacts on U.S. Security.
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15 30X30 PLAN – EMBODIED IN 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN
Environmental Stewardship Goal 4.5. Maintain and conserve 30% of Riverside’s natural lands in green space including, but not limited to, agricultural lands and urban forests in order to protect and restore Riverside’s rich biodiversity and accelerate the natural removal of carbon, furthering our community’s climate resilience.
October 2020: Governor
Newsom signed Nature
Based Solutions
Executive Order N-82-20
Elevated the role of
natural and working
lands in the fight against
climate change &
advancing biodiversity
conservation
30x30 is part of
an international
movement to use
conservation of
natural areas to
protect biodiversity
and combat climate
change.
RiversideCA.gov
16 CARB SCOPING PLAN: NATURAL & WORKING LAND SOLUTIONS
Statewide Goal:
Carbon-Neutrality by 2045
• Include Natural and Working
Lands Emissions Sources and
Sinks
• Minimize Emissions from
Sources
• Maximize Emissions Sinks
Source: CARB, 2022 Scoping Plan Update Modeling
and Scenario Workshop, Natural and Working Lands,
December 2, 2021
RiversideCA.gov
17 1. Please identify how much you think climate
change threatens your personal health,
safety, and quality of life?
2. Please select 3 of the most important actions
the City can take to address climate
change.
• Support urban forests, open space and
agriculture
• Ensure
Riverside’s electricity is carbon-neutral
• Support electric vehicle charging and other zero-
carbon fueling (e.g., hydrogen)
• Make it easier to walk, bike or take transit instead
of using
a car
• Require all-electric new buildings
• Prepare and implement a climate action plan
LET’S ENGAGE ABOUT CLIMATE
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18 NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS – CLIMATE ASSETS
tourism &
recreation
biodiversity &
habitat
carbon
sequestration
climat
eadaptation
economic
development
food and fiber
health & safety
water supply &
quality
5 farmland
urban green-space
seagrass
CO2
riparian areas
rangeland forests wetlands grasslands
Riverside’s
Natural &
Working
Lands
Urban
Forestry &
Tree
Canopy
Graphics Source: CARB, 2022 Scoping Plan Update, Kick-Off Focus Area Workshop, Natural and Working Lands, June 9, 2021 RiversideCA.gov
19 “In urban areas, expanding the tree canopy by
planting trees along streets and walkways and in parks
and yards and managing the existing canopy
increases carbon sequestration … and can help
reduce heat island effects, support water infrastructure, filter air, and improve health and well-being.
Urban vegetation and soil management also provide
important co-benefits such as stormwater
management and cooling.”
Source: CARB, CA 2030 NWL Climate Change Implementation Plan, January 2019 Draft, page 17
BENEFITS OF URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
RiversideCA.gov
20 Threats
Climate change | Drought | Soil compaction | Disease | Funding
BENEFITS & COSTS OF URBAN FORESTS
Environmental
• Improved air quality
• Carbon sequestration
• Water quality
enhancement
• Stormwater capture
/reduced runoff
•
Urban heat island
mitigation
•
Shade/energy usage
reduction
Social
• Crime reduction
• Traffic reduction
• Increased public
health
Economic
• Increased property
va
lues
• Improved retail
business
•
Enhanced rental rates
• Infrastructure cost
sav
ings
Costs
• Planting/Removing
• Maintenance
(pruning, mulching,
monitoring)
•W
a t e r i n g
• Removing green
waste
•
Infrastructure damage
• Air Emissions (biogenic
VOC)
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21 WHERE ARE RIVERSIDE’S TREES LOCATED?
Map of tree
density per MSA
parcel from 2016
SAWPA data
RiversideCA.gov
22 Land Cover in Riverside
1,000 randomly selected points sampled to estimate results I-TREE 7.1 CANOPY RESULTS
62,090
MT CO2e
Stored Annually
$3,183,458*
1,226,580
MT CO2e
Sequestered Overall
$62,890,137*
Value of Trees and Shrubs
Climate and CO2e
Air Pollutants
Ozone
267 tons
$122,123
PM2.5
2.17 tons
$145,100
PM10
258 tons
$110,433
Grass & Small
Plants, 10.5%
Water,
0.4%Soil & Bare
Ground, 29%
Impervious
Surfaces
41%
Trees &
Shrubs, 20%
* Using U.S. EPA Social Cost of Carbon at $51.27/MT CO2e RiversideCA.gov
23 1. Trees are considered “green infrastructure”. How important are trees compared to other infrastructure in the City?
2. Please select the three most significant threats facing trees in your neighborhood or in the City.
• Drought
• Insect pests and disease
• Development/land use change (e.g., injury or removal during development)
• Lack of care and/or investment in the urban forest
• Harsh urban growing environment
• Incorrect pruning practices
• Vandalism
• Lack of planting
• Trees do not face any threats
LET’S ENGAGE ABOUT TREES
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24 • "Making Conservation a CA Way of Life" regulations • Urban Water Management Plan (Last Update, June 2021)
• Parks Master Plan
• Urban Forestry Policy (Update Underway)
• Street Tree Maintenance Plan (Update Underway)
• Water Conservation Ordinance (Last update 2021)
• Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Last update 2021)
• Climate Action Plan (Planned for 2022-2025)
• General Plan (Update Planned for 2022-2025)
• Victoria Avenue Policy
EXISTING POLICIES AFFECTING WATER AND CLIMATE ASSETS
RiversideCA.gov
25 What are the top three actions the City can take to support the City’s Urban Forest, recognizing that many of these may require more funding?
• Develop a City heritage tree program
• Allow residents to pant and care for trees in the public right-of-way • Provide sufficient City urban forest management staff and budget • Enhance the standard of care and monitoring for City trees • Provide more tree care and watering education and outreach • Provide incentives to encourage tree planting
• Support water for trees during drought
• New fees, fines, or taxes to fund tree management
• Develop and implement a Citywide Urban Forestry Management Plan • The City does not need to do anything else for the urban forest and trees
CLOSING QUESTION
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26 SURVEY RESULTS
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27 • Incorporate community input and finalize project report • Present report to Board of Public Utilities and City
Council in March
– Receive direction regarding future steps beyond this effort Visit RiversideCA.gov/Media | Search Urban Forest,
Water and Climate Project for future updates
NEXT STEPS
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28 CONTACT INFORMATION
Project Team
Office of Sustainability and RPU
[email protected]
RiversideCA.gov
29 THANK YOU!
Questions?