The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutYSC March 15 2023 PacketYakima Sustainability Committee Agenda March 15, 2023 City Hall — Council Chambers 4:30 p.m. — This meeting is in -person, live -streamed at wwwa i a a. ov, and telecast live on Y-PAC, Spectrum Cable Channel 194. Public comments may be made in person or by phone. You may call in and participate by dialing 1-253-215- 8782 or 1-971-247-1195, enter meeting ID 913 3324 2427#, participant ID #, and meeting password 617202#. 1. Call to Order 3. Approval of Minutes 4. Public Comment There will be 35 minutes allotted for public comment with two and a half (2 1/2) minutes per speaker to allow audience participation as many opportunities as possible. Written communication and e-mail messages are strongly encouraged. 5. Discussion on Anaerobic Digester Grant 6. Presentations: a. Climate Change in the Yakima Valley - Steve Ghan, Climate Scientist b. Air Quality Report — Karina Solorio, Civic Spark Fellow 7. Other Business 8. Adjournment Next Meeting: April 19, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. Yakima Sustainability Committee Minutes for March 15, 2023 1. Call to order by Chair Jeff Scott at 4:34 p.m. 2. Roll Call: members present Jeff Scott, Ray Paolella, Jennifer Hickenbottom (via Zoom), Jeremy Leavitt, Marcelino Osorio (via Zoom), Dan Schapiro City staff: Rosylen Oglesby, Sy Ruiz, Trace Braldburfi, Karina Solorio 3. Ray moved to approve the Minutes from Fe Motion passed. 4. Public Comment: Michele Nelson Jars for Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 her involvement with glass recycling. She of increased traffic in the city if the Yakin Coleen Anderson offered two new buildings and develop ur Paul Tabayoyon, Asian Pacific Islan public policy experience as an additi 5. Trace updated the committee on the'aaero additional grant was not obtained, the City of much smaller capacity than originally planne partnerships for additional funding. 1 concern about the effects expanded. ion Plan --to electrify on of Yakima County, offered his littee resource. bic digester grant. Since an Yakima only has the budget for a d. The city has unsuccessfully sought 6. Steve Ghan presented his work by modeling precipitation in the region. He expressed high confidence that warmer temperatures will drive increasingly earlier runoff from snow packs but lower confidence in how the quantity of precipitation will change. Adaptation measures include additional storage to capture the early runoff. Karina gave a presentation on air quality in Yakima. Historical data shows that winter months generally have worse air quality. In recent years, late summer also shows periods of unhealthy air quality. Nitrates generated from agricultural practices contribute to poor air quality and related health issues. 7. The committee discussed the next steps. There is interest in identifying "low - hanging fruit" in terms of incentives available to citizens as well as grants available to the city for conservation and/or renewable energy. An inventory of the city vehicle fleet and buildings would be a starting place to consider efficiency improvements. It was noted that the committee is tasked with drafting a Climate Action Plan with one-year, five-year, and ten-year time frames. An emissions assessment and reduction goals would generally be included among 'the, first steps for a plan. 8. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. until the next meeting scheduled on April 19, 2023. OMIMHWAMU Lessons Winter snow fell as rain Mountain Snow Roza Canal closed in May to conserve water for summer months UM Yakima River Discharge Jan Feb Mar 0 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec —Mean 2015 __2000-2019 Depleted Irrigation C%"r') ,##1 Press PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER WSDA estimates 2015 drought damage topped $700 million Drier soil ♦ • �•e• Wildfires spread faster Okanogan complex fire 'is ILE state's largestih histor- ... and wider JEW l I / I I I JL q? 1.1, XI d I, Jt L, I I IYl J_s 0 Warmer water kills fish Simulating Climate in the Western U.S. Annual Precipitation Annual Temperature Observed Observed Simulated 1980-2000 46N 44N 5 3 42N —2 ION .7 38N 5. 5 36N 34N 32N 46N 44N 5 3 QN —2 1 4ON 0.7 36N 0.5 36N 34N 32N N, ............. R 124A 122W 1 MW I I RW 116W 114W 112W I, IDW In" W i1mulated 1980-2000 zR,ji 12,44 122W 1 7UN I I FJW 116W 114W 112W IDW 1,"W 1HW 46N Jit 25 44N 15 42N - -to 40N 0 —5 36N 34 N 32N ON 25 44N 20 15 42N to 40N 5 0 5eN —5 36N 34N )2N Ghan et al. (2006) March Snow Water Observed Simulated 1980-2000 A L 01 ... ... ... 124W 127W Y, 20W 1 1 16W 11 4W 112 W 1 IDW 108'R 106W Application to Climate Change • IPCC A1B Scenario • Simulate 1977-2100 • • •-•-11-- •:1 /11q qi I1:1 11 1960 190 2000 200 2040 200 2080 210 Application to Climate Change 9 IPCC AlB Scenario ,D CAM3 and CLM3 run offline, using SST & sea ice from CCSM simulation • SST bias correction: T* - Tobs + (T - T) • Sea ice bias correction: C — Cobs+ do dT (T — T) ,D Greenhouse gas and aerosol from CCSM simulation ,D 2'x2.5' resolution 9 Simulate 1977-2100 ,D Focus on change between 1980-2000 and 2080-2100 Climate Change Western U.S. MERMI rr �r rrr ~ t h t 1 . �°d&W 124W 122W 12"uW IM 114W field IIN IIJRW (2080-2100)/(1980-2000) mm/day n.s o. a �E3,1 —0# 2 1 —dS.S Surface Elevation deg C Regional Mean Snow Water Surfdt* Ejew4on (�O) I 60%loss = 20%/deg 3 C warming 30-40% of normal Trends in April Snowpack in the Western United States, 1955-2016 Pervent change: 40 10 0 w 0 0 :o 1,0C►0 � Elsner et al. (2010) Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume 2 Chapter 24 The climate -related events of 2015 provide a glimpse into the Northwest's future, because the kinds of extreme events that affected the Northwest in 2015 are projected to become more common. The climate impacts that occurred during this record - breaking warm and dry year highlight the close interrelationships between the climate, the natural and built environment, and the health and well-being of the Northwest's residents. Source: USGCRP. Impacts of Climate Change on Pacific Northwest Native Plants Climate Impacts on Vegetation Disturbance USGCRP 2014 Projected response of some key Pacific Northwest species to climate change by the end of the 21st century based on multiple model output (worst case scenario) UnsAbies pecified r r rr U147f, WMA r TAr Unspecified r rr �r Tsug r heterophylla Unspecified r rr r� r r Pinus contorta . bies grandis Populus tremuloides El 0 Peterson et al. (2014) Conclusions by Peterson et al. • Experimental studies give insights into potential vegetation responses but cannot represent the range of complexity found in most ecosystems. • Subalpine forests may be the Pacific Northwest biome most vulnerable to climatic changes. • There is little model agreement about projected changes for dry coniferous forests, and only limited model output for the shrub - steppe biome. Peterson et al. (2014) Adaptation • Increase storage capacity in the Yakima watershed • Crops that require less water • Selective harvesting of trees Proposed Wymer Reservoir Mitigation . A This presentation aims te, pollution and its effects on presentation: • Air quality at glance • Sources of pollution • Main pollutants • Air quality studies • Effect on health provid Yakima. a brief overview Below is the outline of air of the Pg. 2 • Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report • March 15, 2023 is Air quality At 1 Glance • Yakima's winter months bear more than three times the concentration of PM2.5 as the summer months. • - •• TI arch representsmost polluted month exceeding EPA standard of it good. 13 • Spring and Summer seasons average lower pollution round out the annual air quality average of "good." levels, enough to Pg. 3 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 Dailys, 1999 to 2021 Yakima County. WA FEBJAN P MAY JUN JUL AUG SCP OCTDEC Good 1 days Moderate1.- trr days, r a;=jj Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (35#5 ) 1 days Unhealthy 5 - '5 r 3 0 days Verb Unhealthy w ft3days Hazardous 25 5 rr 31 0 days Pg. 4 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 is 'I A E ""' N f-' E A v TH tI P A PM 2.5 Daily AQI Values in 2005 Jv k tj Full NI I AP APR MINNI, )UH JUL Al U G SEP Oc f riON, DE C' PM 2.5 Daily AQI Values, in 2020 JAH FEB fvl,,,kR APR, M Ay JUN Jut A U Gv SEP OCT HOXI DEC Pg. 5 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee e Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 s I ITM F.,IKM;nO I ME Me • Mobile Sources • Transportation emissions comprise about 39 percent of the State's greenhouse gases. • Stationary Sources • Mining, logging, agriculture processing, and construction industries represent a smaller share of the city's overall emissions but will continue to grow as jobs and productivity growth. • Area Sources • Gas -powered agricultural equipment, spraying processing facilities contribute to air pollution. pesticides, and Pg. 6 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 is LRU1.71Rf�-Tiff • Particulate Matter (PM2 5) —i.e. traffic fumes and wildfire smoke • Particulate Matter (PMj0) — i.e. soot particles • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)—i.e. vehicle engines • Ozone (03)—i.e. ground level Pg. 7 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 0 Air Quality StudiecA • 2014 Yakima Air Wintertime Nitrate Study (YAWNS) • Washington State University and Central Washington University conducted a study to determine the cause of higher -than -usual levels detected during routine air testing in the Yakima area. is American Lung Association 2020 Air Report • The American Lung Association analyzes data monitors to compile the State of the Air report. reports track Americans' exposure to unhealthy ozone levels. from official air quality This annual air quality particle pollution and Pg. 8 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 is • American Lung Association 2020 Air Report • Air quality reached a record high for short-term particle pollution between 2016-2019 • Ranked 5 for 24-hour particle pollution out of 221 metropolitan areas. • Ranked 27 for annual particle pollution out of 202 metropolitan areas. • 2014 Yakima Air Wintertime Nitrate Study (YAWNS) • Likely causes: ammonia from agriculture activities, oxides of nitrogen from vehicles, and the right weather conditions • Nitrate levels were higher than anywhere else in the State. • Over 30% of fine particulate matter in Yakima County is due to ammonium nitrate. Pg. 9 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 is :1: VICITE ! rm d 7771 0 E =..M L-7-X'01M The EPA has confirmed a direct connection between heart disease and PM 2.5 air pollution. • Above average rates of cardiovascular disease in Yakima County. • Other Health Issues: • Methemoglobinemia • Increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage or birth defects • Emphysema • Hypertension • Asthma • Bronchitis • A variety of types of cancer Pg. 10 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 0 i n Ah 0 1=40 rE is Winter Season is commonly prone to high levels of air pollution. is Three main sources of air pollution: • Stationary • Mobile • Area • Studies have indicated that Yakima experiences high pollution, which has a direct health impact on members. levels of air community Pg. 11 9 Yakima Sustainability Committee . Air Quality Report 9 March 15, 2023 is