Reinforce infrastructure to meet expected conditions

Shifts in landscape-level hydrology associated with climate change may pose risks to some facilities and infrastructure. Infrastructure and facilities are designed using historic hydrologic datasets to determine sizing and placement of units that meet access and safety criteria over a designed life-span (e.g. 25-100 years) (Maher et al. 2015). However, current infrastructure will be subjected to conditions expected to exceed historical norms (Milly et al. 2008), placing some facilities and structures at risk (Kilgore et al. 2016; Wilhere et al. 2017). Considering potential changes to hydrology due to climate change may help inform structural reinforcements and safety enhancements that reduce risks (Furniss et al. 2010; Strauch et al. 2015; Williamson et al. 2016; Peterson and Halofsky 2017). Current aged, undersized, and poorly maintained structures are likely to require additional effort to cope with the challenges of extreme heat on surfaces, heavy storm events, high water levels, increased winter soil moisture and extreme events (Strauch et al. 2015; Daniel et al. 2017). Planning and design that reduces risk of infrastructure failure may also benefit biologic integrity and other water quality and aquatic habitat goals (Williams et al. 2015; Peterson and Halofsky 2017).

This strategy addresses actions for adapting infrastructure in forested watersheds, such as roads, skid trails, recreation trails, road-stream crossings, bridges, culverts, dams and other facilities associated with development. Infrastructure and transportation systems designs to avoid structural losses and damages by taking into account storm events and return periods documented in regional historical records (Perica et al. 2013). A changing climate may necessitate critical evaluation of past design concepts and criteria to minimize risks and safety concerns over the designed lifespan of the unit (Kilgore et al. 2016; Douglas et al. 2017; Wilhere et al. 2017; Milly et al. 2015). Roads, skid trails, road-stream crossings, recreation trails, facilities, and other infrastructure are known to affect local landforms and hydrology, particularly where impervious surfaces concentrate water into flow pathways, generating high-velocity runoff and erosion (Croke and Mockler 2001; Wemple et al. 2017; Wemple et al. 2001). Added considerations in design may be necessary to accommodate altered hydrology and reduce risks of damage, failure or total loss. These considerations may be especially important near high-risk areas and where the consequences of lost infrastructure are unacceptable (Furniss et al. 2010; Williams et al. 2015; Peterson and Halofsky 2017).