This paper examines the potential impacts of climate change on the Great Plains. The paper is intended as a resource for the formal and informal education communities. The paper's content is based on the results from numerous sources -- most especially from the chapter in the National Assessment Synthesis Foundation report entitled: Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change for the Great Plains authored by Linda A. Joyce, Dennis Ojima, George A. Seielstad, Robert Harriss, and Jill Lackett. Other information contained here is from workshops in what were originally four regions (Northern Great Plains; Central Great Plains; and Southern Great Plains and Southwest-Rio Grande Basin -- now merged into one region -- making 3 Great Plains regions) attended by representatives from government, industry, academic, tribal, and non-governmental organizations, as well as regional assessment research, and other research papers. Throughout the analyses there were contributions to workshops and assessment research from stakeholders from many walks of life e.g., farmers, ranchers, and Native Americans, as well as scientists. Participants identified many potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of climate change that were of concern to them, four are discussed here: changes in timing and quantity of water; weather extremes; invasive species and biodiversity; and quality of rural life on the Great Plains. Each topic of concern is discussed below, with strategies to address potential impacts also provided.

Some of the identified topics are already issues of concern to society for reasons other than climate change. For example, climate change could increase the frequency of flooding events. Floods are a potential problem because some communities and infrastructure are built in inappropriate locations or based on building codes that cannot withstand projected flood conditions. Potential climate impacts provide one more reason for taking actions that may well make sense for other reasons. It is important to realize that some of the projected climate changes and their impacts will be gradual while others will be more noticeable or immediate. Also, because we are talking about changes and impacts that could develop over the next 100 years, there is time to plan and then take actions that should make it easier to moderate the negative impacts. Because it is likely that the positive impacts will take care of themselves as people identify the opportunities they present, this analysis focuses primarily on potential negative outcomes meriting attention

For additional information on this region, please see:

• the Northern Great Plains Regional Workshop and Assessment reports and website.
• the Central Great Plains Regional Workshop and Assessment reports and website.
• the Southern Great Plains-Rio Grande Workshops and Assessment report and website.
• Also see the National Assessment Synthesis reports -- Overview and Foundation documents.

This paper was developed by Dr. Lynne M. Carter.  Special thanks to Dr. Linda Joyce for permission to use the NAST Great Plains report as the basis for this document and for her comments and suggestions. Thanks also to Jill Lackett, Dr. Robert Harriss, and Dr. Leigh Welling, regional assessment directors or co-chairs for the 3 Great Plains regions, for their contributions to and reviews of the information contained in this paper.