Abstract

This report, prepared by the Climate Change Technical Subcommittee of the central Puget Sound (WA) Regional Water Supply Planning Process, is a literature review of the impacts of climate change on groundwater, focusing on studies that may be relevant to the Puget Sound lowlands region. The report notes that no single groundwater model has emerged as appropriate for evaluating the impacts of climate change for all watersheds. The studies reviewed suggest substantial differences in the estimates of potential impacts of climate change on groundwater. This is due to the importance of site specific effects, such as groundwater pumping, rates of recharge, and arid versus humid environments.