Climate Change & Flooding in Snohomish County: New Dynamically-Downscaled Hydrologic Model Projections

Abstract

We produced new projections of future streamflow, with a particular emphasis on flooding, for the Snohomish and Stillaguamish Rivers. Our results show that peak flows will increase in the future, with increases ranging from about 10 to 40% on average by the end of the century, depending on the river location or flood statistics considered. Funded by Snohomish County, these new results will support the County’s efforts to incorporate climate change impacts in floodplain management decisions.