Climate change information is crucial in planning for SLO water

With reference to Carlyn Christianson’s Viewpoint on water in The Tribune (“Fears and facts about SLO city water,” March 31): I was one of the people she alluded to and therefore I am owed the right to respond.

▪  Christianson’s utility department adviser had stated at two meetings I attended that he had not yet taken climate change into account.

▪  This is a statement received from Vanessa Berlowitz, producer of “Planet Earth,” “Frozen Planet” and “Planet Earth 2,” dated April 1: “It is unclear what the future ramifications of climate change will be. This is my opinion based on consultation with the National Science Foundation and NASA climate scientists during the filming of ‘Frozen Planet.’ I was lucky enough to witness climate science projects firsthand both at the North and South Poles. One thing that all scientists at the front line agree to is that there will be increased climate unpredictability in the next 50 years, which will result in more drought, more flooding, unpredictable rains, etc. The scientists continue to estimate that the magnitude of the issue is going to increase.”

The above suggests that climate change information is crucial in drawing conclusions about our available water, and therefore Christianson’s comments are inaccurate.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 8:35 PM with the headline "Climate change information is crucial in planning for SLO water."