2015 Mediated Modeling Workshop


A day long workshop linking science, planning and policy

Over 50 members from state, local and regional organizations attended an interactive day-long workshop tackling the best approaches to ensure water quality in the Lake Champlain Basin (LCB). Representatives from Quebec, Canada and throughout Vermont participated. Members from the VT EPSCoR Research on Adaptation to Climate Change in the Lake Champlain Basin (RACC) teams provided valuable findings and methods to help policy and decision makers address the state of the Lake and its future. Biogeochemical hydrological data collected in the Missisquoi Bay, at stream bank erosion sites and climate modeling predictions and precipitation trends for the region, coupled with social elements that contribute to this overall ecosystem were shared.

Planners, scientists and policy makers discussed their different roles to play in the utilization of models and other sources of scientific data to anticipate hydrological; terrestrial; human- behavioral and societal- responses to climate change; economic dynamics; zoning and regulatory responses; and market incentive systems.

What's Next?
Climate Change Scenario Development for the LCB: Participants discussed the assessment and evaluation of various climate change and land-use change scenarios in the light of their projected impacts on the watershed and lake systems. Finally, outcomes from an interactive session will lead to the design of a suite of adaptive management intervention scenarios that could be simulated in the next (Spring 2016) version of the RACC IAM.